Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Sookie book cover illustrator: Lisa Desimini

The Art of Books: Lisa Desimini…


…and the Southern Vampire Novels

Sometimes, we really do get what we see when it comes to book covers.

I’ve made no secret about my love of the Southern Vampire novels by Charlaine Harris. I also happen to find the covers as enthralling as what they contain. It’s no surprise when I stand in front of my bookshelves, contemplating what to read, and I pull one of the SV books out just to look at the cover art. Again.

I’d always been delighted with the books’ outer, child-like illustrations juxtaposed against the humorous and sometimes much darker stories. The covers represent, for me, a somewhat innocent whimsy, a sort of shy invitation to come closer…no, closer still…till I’m opening the thing and beginning the journey it intended for me in the first place.

It’s a very humble beginning with the cover of Dead Until Dark at first glance, until you look closer. It’s hard to see in the example above, but Sookie’s expression is closed, yet dazed and so trusting – innocent, as we came to know her in her introduction to the world of readers. She is unaware of the danger that has her in its grip, one Bill Compton, vampire computer geek extraordinaire. Extending ever so unobtrusively over his cape is one tiny fang, accompanied by a seemingly calculating gaze. The cover goes on to prepare us for the dark and sinister with the small burning house in the background. The house is very much alone. But is Sookie? In some ways yes, others - no.

As it turns out, Lisa Desimini, the creator of the wonderful SV covers, is in fact a children’s author, who pens and illustrates her own books as well.

I found it refreshing to visit her site and see where Ms. Desimini’s inspiration comes from. Oh, it definitely comes from the books, I don’t think anyone would dispute that the Southern Vampire book covers represent what is at the heart of each installment, yet looking over the work put into her children’s art as well, it’s no wonder at all where her sense of style comes from. I think it is whimsical, as well as strange, striking, scary, provocative to the senses. All things I find the Sookie books to be, actually.

Readers like for the books they read to have covers that match them, match the stories within. It completes the package, and with the Sookie Stackhouse books, I feel like I’m getting that entire package. The laying of hands on a new SV book, seeing that obviously dedicated work in the cover, is one of the highlights of my reading life each year. I must say, as a reader that does not prefer hardbacks, the artwork looks absolutely gorgeous on the hardback editions. On the mass market releases, the artwork does its job very well; it snags the eye, presents a bit of humor, danger, yet downplayed by vibrant hues and soft touches here and there. On the hardback copies though, this art really comes alive and shines. It’s as if I’m getting an excerpt of the book right on the cover.

I believe book covers should represent what is inside. I believe what is inside should live up to that cover, and vice versa. The Southern Vampire books and Charlaine Harris’ writing do just that; it is a marriage most excellent.

To learn more about Lisa Desimini and her work, visit her site.

from http://lurvalamode.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/the-art-of-books-lisa-desimini

Sookie Stackhouse mysteries also on audio book


Audio Books for download from itunes

http://www.apple.com/itunes



True Blood Music : message board for the songs and they are linked for download /ringtones etc
http://truebloodwiki.hbo.com/wiki/truebloodwiki/page/True+Blood+Music

Frozen Hawaiian Pie

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup mashed ripe banana (about 1 large banana)
1 large orange, peeled and sectioned
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
1/2 cup maraschino cherries
2 (9-inch) ready-made graham cracker crusts
Garnishes: chopped pineapple, maraschino cherries, chopped walnuts, whipped topping, toasted coconut, fresh mint sprigs

RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS Stir together condensed milk and whipped topping. Fold in next 7 ingredients. Pour evenly into graham cracker crusts.Cover and freeze 12 hours or until firm. Remove from freezer, and let stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish, if desired.

Fashion faux pas in Sookieville: Eric's outfit to the orgy

book 2

"The last time I wore an animal hide; but this time I settled for this." Eric had been wearing a long trench
coat. Now he threw it off dramatically, and I could only stand and stare. Normally, Eric was a
blue-jeans-and-T-shirt kind of guy. Tonight, he wore a pink tank top and Lycra leggings. I don't know
where he got them; I didn't know any company made Lycra leggings in Men's X-tra Large Tall. They
were pink and aqua, like the swirls down the sides of Jason's truck.
"Wow," I said, since it was all I could think of to say. "Wow. That's some outfit." When you've got a big guywearing Lycra it doesn't leave a whole lot to the imagination. I resisted the temptation to ask Eric to turn around.
"I don't believe I could be convincing as a queen," Eric said, "but I decided this sent such a mixed signal, almost anything was possible." He fluttered his eyelashes at me. Eric was definitely enjoying this. "Oh, yes," I said, trying to find somewhere else to look.
"Shall I go through your drawers and find something for you to wear?" Eric suggested. He had actually opened the top drawer of my bureau before I said, "No, no! I'll find something!" But I couldn't find anything more informally sexy than shorts and a tee shirt. However, the shorts were some I had left over from my junior high days, and they encased me "like a caterpillar embraces a butterfly," Eric said poetically.
"More like Daisy Dukes," I muttered, wondering if the lace pattern of my bikini underwear would be
imprinted on my butt for the rest of my life. I wore a matching steel blue bra with a dipping white tank top that exposed a lot of the decoration on the bra. This was one of my replacement bras, and Bill hadn't even gotten to see it yet, so I sure hoped nothing happened to it. My tan was still holding up, and I wore my hair loose.
"Hey, our hair's the same color," I said, eyeing us side by side in the mirror.
"Sure is, girlfriend." Eric grinned at me. "But are you blond all the way down?"
"Don't you wish you knew?"
"Yes," he said simply.
"Well, you'll just have to wonder."
"I am," he said. "Blond everywhere."
"I could tell as much from your chest hair."
He raised my arm to check my armpit. "You sillywomen, shaving your body hair," he said, dropping my arm.
I opened my mouth to say something else on the topic, suddenly realized that would lead to disaster, and said instead, "We need to go."

Spunky Hollow Honey Pineapple Pie


Filling Ingredients

Icing
3 whole eggs
1 C. honey
1/4 of a 32-0z can crushed pine-apple (reserve remaining pineapple and
juice)

CAKE:
3 10-z bars cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring
1/4 C. pineapple juice

CRUST:
3/4 C. all-purpose flour
2 T. honey
1 egg yolk
6 T. margarine

Mix all the CRUST ingredients together to make a dough.
Press dough into cheesecake pan that has been coated with an oil spray.
Mix all CAKE ingredients and pour into the crust.

ICING: Boil the icing ingredients together, until slightly thickened. Then mix in remaining pineapple and reserved pineapple juice. Spread icing over top of cheese cake. Bake at 385 degrees for 50 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool for 15 minutes. Remove cheesecake ring off pan, cool at room temperature for 2 hours before serving.


List of pies from Big Patty’s Pie shop


List of pies from Big Patty’s Pie shop

Fried Apple Pie
Frozen Hawaiian Pie
Chocolate Pecan Praline Pie
Chess Pie
7 Layer Jell-O Pie
Peanut Butter Pie
Spunky Hollow Honey Pineapple Pie
Texas Special Sawdust Pie



Sam say "Big Patty's is off I49 south near Bunkie "

View Larger Map

Big Patty's Texas Special Sawdust Pie

Ingredients
7 egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 cups flaked coconut
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell (frozen is fine)
whipped cream
banana, sliced
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
In a mixing bowl, combine egg whites (unbeaten) and sugar by hand; stir in graham cracker crumbs, coconut and pecans until well-blended.
Pour mixture into pie shell.
Bake 25 to 35 minutes, until glossy and set.
Do not overbake.
Let cool to room temperature before serving.
When serving, top with whipped cream and banana slices

Dean watches over Sookie-what a good boy!

TexasBell on the wiki points out these telling events quotes from Bill

I think Bill knows Sam is a shape shifter because of some of the remarks made.
- when Sook saved Bill and the dog came up. He told her he was checking up on her
- when they went for a walk and Bill noticed the dog in the bushes
- when Bill told Sam this is not the time nor the place "to be Marking your territory"!

Sookie books with ISBN#

1. Dead Until Dark (2001, ISBN 0-441-00853-4)
2. Living Dead in Dallas (March 2002, ISBN 0-441-00923-9)
3. Club Dead (May 2003, ISBN 0-441-01051-2)
4. Dead to the World (May 2004, hardcover ISBN 0-441-01167-5, 2005, paperback ISBN 0-441-01218-3)
* "Fairy Dust" from Powers of Detection (October 2004, ISBN 0-441-01197-7)
* "One Word Answer" from Bite (2005, ISBN 0-515-13970-X)
5. Dead as a Doornail (May 2005, hardcover ISBN 0-441-01279-5, April 2006, audio book ISBN 1-4193-3730-0, paperback ISBN 0-441-01333-3)
6. Definitely Dead (May 2006, hardcover ISBN 0-441-01400-3, audio book ISBN 1-4193-9326-X)
7. All Together Dead (May 2007, hardcover ISBN 0-441-01494-1)
* "Dracula Night" from Many Bloody Returns (September 2007, hardcover ISBN 0-441-01522-0)
8. From Dead to Worse (May 2008, hardcover ISBN 0-441-01589-4)

True Blood's Stephen Moyer Is Undead Sexy!

Stephen Moyer curls back his upper lip, revealing one of his — surprise — natural fangs. The star of HBO's True Blood (Sundays at 9 pm/ET) explains that, in his other bloodsucker role, for the 1998 British television series Ultraviolet, "they just whitened these so the camera would pick them up." He runs his index finger down the unusually sharp canine and prods the pointed tip. Playing a vampire, it seems, comes naturally.


These days, a lot of women wouldn't mind baring their necks for Moyer. But while his character, 173-year-old reformed vamp Bill Compton, has the power to "glamour" mortals (control them through a hypnotic stare), Moyer's off-screen magnetism comes from a down-to-earth friendliness. Not to mention intense blue eyes, a cut physique and the habitual use of words like "luv" and "dahling" delivered in a British accent.

If Bill's sexiness is restrained and brooding, Moyer's is more lively. Between takes on the True Blood set, he walks so fast that even his constant companion, Splash, a spaniel-collie mix, has trouble keeping up. "I don't muck about," Moyer says. Growing up in England's predominantly blue-collar Essex County during Britain's Thatcher era, "I was a bit of a geezer — a naughty, not very clever, bad boy. We all were." Moyer and his mates built forts in the forest, lobbed rotten tomatoes at posh golfers and got away with underage drinking at the local pub. His mischievous streak hasn't completely vanished. "He teases me all day long, and pretty much has since Day 1!" says costar Anna Paquin, who plays fetching waitress Sookie Stackhouse. But when cameras roll on a love scene, Moyer kisses her gently, as if he's afraid she might break. When director Alan Ball calls "Cut!" the two stars break into laughter and Moyer gives Paquin's rear end a playful swat. "He's so talented," she says. "And he's great to play off."

With the on-screen heat generated by these two, it's no wonder rumors are swirling about a real-life romance. Though neither will confirm an off-screen relationship, Paquin says that the chemistry between them was instant. "We clicked," she says of the first time they read together. "Bill is a true gentleman. He's polite, respectful, charismatic and very bright. Steve is all those things, too."

Bill's good qualities can't make up for the fact that as a vamp-human couple, he and Sookie face some dangerous, unusual challenges. Moyer has plenty of experience playing a star-crossed lover. Following his graduation from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and a two-year stint with the Royal Shakespeare Company, he toured the world playing Romeo.

After being cast in a British television series at 24, he moved into a purple houseboat on a London canal, where he once entertained rocker Pete Townshend and other famous guests. "In my twenties, I wanted to be at the apex of the adventure and craziness," he says. His partying phase ended when he turned 31, after the birth of his son Billy, now 8. (Daughter Lilac followed two years later.) Moyer and their mother, a writer, separated two years ago and the children live mostly in London with her. During the 15-month shoot of True Blood, they visited L.A., and he flew to the U.K. Still, he understands the pain of Bill's permanent separation from his family. While shooting a scene where new vamp Bill sees his children for the very last time, "I was absolutely in bits," Moyer says.

Nevertheless, he proclaims, "I can't imagine being happier than I am at this exact second. I'm really proud of the gig." It almost didn't happen. After years of sporadic work in Hollywood (such as The Starter Wife mini-series), Moyer decided to return to London permanently. Then the True Blood script arrived. "It was when it wasn't important anymore that somehow I was ready," Moyer says of landing the role. For a moment, he looks as pensive as Bill Compton. Then he smiles. "It's a wonderfully calming position to be in. I feel very honored." And with the show renewed for a second season, fans are eager to see what he'll sink his teeth into next.


http://www.tvguide.com/News/True-Blood-Stephen-20151.aspx

Vampires amongst us: Anna Paquin talks about her new show, True Blood

Let’s face facts: vampires walk amongst us, and it’s only a matter of time before these creatures of darkness overthrow humanity and start to harvest our blood for their own nefarious purposes. Yay! But what would happen if Japanese scientists developed a synthetic substitute for blood that quenched their unholy urge? That’s the idea behind HBO’s new series True Blood - airing in Canada on Movie Central and The Movie Network. In this strange world - adapted by Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball from the Southern Vampire Mystery Books by Charlaine Harris - vampires, who no longer must feed on people to survive, have “come out of the coffin” and are ready to fight for their civil rights. Winnipeg-born, New Zealand-raised actress Anna Paquin stars as Sookie Stackhouse, a vamp-loving waitress in small-town Louisiana who harbours a dark secret. She recently spoke to the Post’s Mark Medley.

How’d you get involved in True Blood?

Well, I was sent the pilot script, and it was Alan Ball, and it was HBO, and I read it, fell in love with it, and auditioned over and over and over again until the said yes.

When you say “over and over and over again,” how many auditions do you mean?

About five.

What was it about Sookie that lured you in?

First of all, the whole world is just so intriguing and odd yet completely real in that all these relationships and the emotional storyline is based in reality. Then you have these fantastical elements, because obviously it’s a show about vampires. And Sookie, she’s so strong and so brave and tough but so sweet and vulnerable and innocent and kind of fearless. [She] just has so much going on. It’s not like one of those female characters where they had to choose between her being sweet and feminine and pretty or tough and strong. She kind of gets to be both. And gets to be at the centre of the action. And is this hopeless romantic, when it comes down to it. [She’s] just so many things. I love that, because that actually gives you a lot to work with as an actress. Sometimes the girl parts aren’t as interesting.

I’d never heard of the books before. Had you read Charlaine Harris’s novels.

No, except when the pilot script landed on my lap. I wanted to know as much about it before I went in and auditioned, so I read the first book, and I’ve read more since then.

Do the books give the series a lot of options looking forward to next season?

There’s so much in her books, and there’s like nine of them at this point. She’s still writing. I feel there will be a never-ending wealth of material for our talented writers to work into TV plot lines.

Speaking of writers, the show is getting a lot of attention because it’s Alan Ball’s return. Were you a fan of Six Feet Under?

Absolutely. I loved Six Feet Under. It was a brilliant, brilliant show. He’s a very unique and talented and brilliant and funny and sweet man and he’s an incredible boss to have....He’s so easy and laid-back and unintimidating and sort of encouraging of you to try things, or play around, and he’s probably the only person I’ve ever worked for who actually is concerned about whether or not you’re having fun.

Were you actively looking to make the change to TV when the script showed up?

I never actively made any decision in my career. I’ve actively pursued people who I think are really talented and interesting and who I think will make me a better actor....Truthfully, [I] really, really, really wanted to do an HBO TV series. I had literally been saying this for six months.

These HBO shows seem to be the Holy Grail for actors.

Well, you get these amazingly writers and directors. The people who come in and direct an episode are majorly talented, incredible directors who aren’t necessarily always incredibly famous yet, but in a year’s time everyone will be like ‘Really, they directed an episode?’ If you go back and watch Six Feet Under, the names that come up, it’s insane. We’ve had a similar trend on our show. And you get to continue with the character - what more does an actor want? You get to keep on growing with that character, and the writers keep on [giving] you new stuff, so you’re never bored, and you’re never staying in one place.

Are you prepared, if the series does well, to spend three, four, five years playing this character?

Hey man, I signed up for seven seasons. I’m all about it. Absolutely. That’s what you call a really high class problem, if you’re show is so successful you’re doing it for 7 years. How amazing is that? Knock on wood.

Are you nervous in the days leading up to a new project’s release?

Yes and no. I don’t read reviews or do the snooping around on blogs to see what people say, because I’ve done that in the past and it’s masochistic....It is nerve-wracking in a way. Not just because it’s my work but because we just finished filming really recently, and we’ve been working on this for over a year - almost continuously working on it - it’s not like a film I did a year ago and suddenly it’s coming out and you’ve kind of had time to feel detached about it. It feels more like the opening night of a play, where you’re still in it.

This is a very socially aware show. What do you think people can learn from watching it?

The obvious thing, for me, is this idea of well, why don’t you go and find out about it for yourself before you make a big judgment. Everyone else is saying “No, they’re scary, they’re dangerous, they’re going to kill us.” And Sookie is more like, “Get to know them”....For every vampire that’s crazy and bloodthirsty and murderous, well, people are too. There’s good people and bad people. There’s good vampires and bad vampires. The unknown isn’t necessarily something you should automatically be afraid of. Educate yourself.

In terms of vampires, there’s this and Twilight coming out. Why do you think they are so timeless?

I didn’t know they were so popular. I still haven’t read any of those Twilight books.

Do you have a favorite vampire movie?

I don’t think I’ve seen more than one vampire movie, ever. Interview With The Vampire. But that wasn’t because it was a vampire movie. It was just a good movie.

Can you explain the rules for the vampires on this show?

On our show a lot of the mythology about vampires - you can’t see them in a mirror, or holy water will burn them, or they can’t be in a room with a cross - all these sorts of things - were, in our world, made up by vampires themselves so they could prove they were not vampires when people were trying to out them and kill them. So, if someone held up a cross and they didn’t die, oh, you’re not a vampire. It was to protect themselves. And then there are certain things like silver - that is Kryptonite for vampires, but they don’t want anybody to know about it. They’ve kept their real weaknesses very, very quiet. They can’t go out at daytime, obviously - it sort of defeats the purpose of the vampire concept - and there are certain procedures for turning someone into a vampire. I don’t know how much of the stuff differs [compared] to other vampire shows because, as I say, I’ve never seen any. Staking [through the heart] still does what staking does. Although ours don’t turn into dust. Ours turn into what could only be described as a big pile of goo.

Season one episodes titles and air dates

• 1. Season 1, Ep 1: Strange Love Aired: 9/7/2008

• 2. Season 1, Ep 2: The First Taste Aired: 9/14/2008

• 3. Season 1, Ep 3: Mine Aired: 9/21/2008

• 4. Season 1, Ep 4: Escape From Dragon House Aired: 9/28/2008

• 5. Season 1, Ep 5: Sparks Fly Out Aired: 10/5/2008

• 6. Season 1, Ep 6: Cold Ground Aired: 10/12/2008

• 7. Season 1, Ep 7: Burning House of Love Aired: 10/19/2008

• 8. Season 1, Ep 8: The Fourth Man in the Fire Aired: 10/26/2008

• 9. Season 1, Ep 9: Plaisir D'Amour Aired: 11/2/2008

• 10. Season 1, Ep 10: I Don't Wanna Know Aired: 11/9/2008

• 11. Season 1, Ep 11: To Love is to Bury Aired: 11/16/2008

• 12. Season 1, Ep 12: You'll Be the Death of Me Aired: 11/23/2008

Maxine Fortenberry's Red Velvet cake

Ingredients
• Vegetable oil for the pans
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring (1 ounce)
• 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Cream Cheese Frosting, recipe follows
• Crushed pecans, for garnish

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil and flour 3 (9 by 1 1/2-inch round) cake pans.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In another large bowl, whisk together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla.
Using a standing mixer, mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined and a smooth batter is formed. Divide the cake batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Place the pans in the oven evenly spaced apart. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through the cooking, until the cake pulls away from the side of the pans, and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
Remove the cakes from the oven and run a knife around the edges to loosen them from the sides of the pans. One at a time, invert the cakes onto a plate and then re-invert them onto a cooling rack, rounded-sides up. Let cool completely.
Frost the cake. Place 1 layer, rounded-side down, in the middle of a rotating cake stand. Using a palette knife or offset spatula spread some of the cream cheese frosting over the top of the cake. (Spread enough frosting to make a 1/4 to 1/2-inch layer.) Carefully set another layer on top, rounded-side down, and repeat. Top with the remaining layer and cover the entire cake with the remaining frosting. Sprinkle the top with the pecans.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 pound cream cheese, softened
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
2 sticks unsalted butter (1 cup), softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand-held electric mixer in a large bowl, mix the cream cheese, sugar, and butter on low speed until incorporated. Increase the speed to high, and mix until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. (Occasionally turn the mixer off, and scrape the down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.)
Reduce the speed of the mixer to low. Add the vanilla, raise the speed to high and mix briefly until fluffy (scrape down the bowl occasionally). Store in the refrigerator until somewhat stiff, before using. May be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Yield: enough to frost a 3 layer (9-inch) cake

Maxine Fortenberry's Tuna Cheese Caserrole

Tuna Noodle Casserole
From: Campbell's Kitchen
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp. chopped pimentos (optional)
1 cup frozen peas
2 cans (about 6 oz. each) tuna, drained and flaked
2 cups hot cooked medium egg noodles
2 tbsp. dry bread crumbs
1 tbsp. butter or margarine


Directions:

Mix soup, milk, pimiento, peas, tuna and noodles in 1 1/2-qt. casserole. Bake at 400°F. for 20 min. or until hot. Stir.
Mix bread crumbs with butter and sprinkle on top. Bake 5 min.
Or use crushed potato chips

Bill's has Fresca



How's your fresca ?

Lafayette Reynold's 'Bad Juju' Cornbread

Southern Corn Bread Recipe

Ingredients
1 cup self-rising cornmeal*
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup milk
3 Tbsp bacon drippings (warmed to liquid)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup of cooked corn, either fresh, defrosted frozen corn, or drained from a can
*Self-rising cornmeal is just cornmeal with the leavening already in it. You can make your own easily. 1 cup of self-rising cornmeal is equivalent to 1 Tbsp of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1 cup minus 1 Tbsp of cornmeal.

Method
1 Preheat oven to 350°F.

2 Combine cornmeal, soda and salt. Add remaining ingredients, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.

3 Spoon into a greased 10-inch cast-iron skillet. Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 8 servings.

Gran's ( Adele Stackhouse's) Pecan Pie

Old Fashioned Pecan Pie

1/2 cup sugar
4 Tbs. butter (softened)
2 eggs beaten
2 Tbs. flour
1 cup dark cane syrup
1/4 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped pecans
1 - 9" unbaked pie crust
1/2 cup pecan halves

Pre-heat oven to 375ºF. Beat together sugar and softened butter. Beat in (one ingredient at a time) eggs, flour, syrup, vanilla and salt. Fold in chopped pecans and pour into pie crust. Decorate top with pecan halves.

Bake 40 minutes on center rack until center of pie is firm.


Amelia tells Sookie that Bill looks familiar

Oh, I'll bet they're expecting you. Was there a tall, dark, and handsome vamp out there with you last night? He sure looked familiar."
"Bill Compton," I said. "Yes, he's lived in Louisiana for years and he's done some work for the queen."
She looked at me, her clear blue eyes surprised. "Oh, I thought he knew your cousin."
"No," I said. "Thanks for getting me up so I could start work, and thanks for being willing to help me."
She was pleased that she was leaving, because I hadn't been what she'd expected, and she wanted to think about me some and make some phone calls to sisters in the craft in the Bon Temps area. "Holly Cleary," I said. "She's the one I know best."

Sookie is told she has fairy blood

Book 6

"I love the smell of fairy. Do you think she knows she has fairy blood?" he asked Sophie-Anne, while I was in the process of transferring my lipstick.My head snapped back then. I stared right into his eyes, and he stared right back at me. He was still holding me, and I understood that he was ensuring I would smell like him and he would smell like me, as if we'd actually done the deed. He definitely wasn't up for the real thing, which was a relief. "I what?" I hadn't heard him correctly, I was sure. "I have what?" "He has a nose for it," the queen said. "My Andre." She looked faintly proud. "I was hanging around with my friend Claudine earlier in the day," I said. "She's a fairy. That's where the smell is coming from." I really must need to shower. "You permit?" Andre asked, and without waiting for an answer, he jabbed my wounded arm with a fingernail, right above the bandage.
""Yow!" I said in protest.
He let a little blood trickle onto his finger, and he put it in his mouth. He rolled it around, as if it were a sip of wine, and at last he said, "No, this smell of fairy is not from association. It's in your blood." Andre looked at me in a way that was meant to tell me that his words made it a done deal. "You have a little streak of fairy. Maybe your grandmother or your grandfather was half-fey?"
"I don't know anything about it," I said, knowing I sounded stupid, but not knowing what else to say. "If any of my grandparents were other than a hundred percent human, they didn't pass that information along."
"No, they wouldn't," the queen said, matter-of-factly. "Most humans of fairy descent hide the fact, because they don't really believe it. They prefer to think their parents are mad." She shrugged. Inexplicable! "But that blood would explain why you have supernatural suitors and not human admirers."

Bill explains Lorena to Sookie

book 4 bill explains lorena to sookie

"If you have something to say, you better go on and say it," I told him.
He nodded, almost to himself. "I have to explain," he said. His white hands arranged themselves in his lap. "Lorena and I—"
I flinched involuntarily. I never wanted to hear that name again. He'd dumped me for Lorena.
"I have to tell you," he said, almost angrily. He'd seen me twitch. "Give me this chance." After a second, I waved a hand to tell him to continue.
"The reason I went to Jackson when she called me is that I couldn't help myself," he said.
My eyebrows flew up. I'd heardthat before. It means, "I have no self-control," or, "It seemed worth it at the time, and I wasn't thinking north of my belt."
"We were lovers long ago. As Eric says he told you, vampire liaisons don't tend to last long, though they're very intense while they are ongoing. However, what Eric did not tell you was that Lorena was the vampire who brought me over."
"To the Dark Side?" I asked, and then I bit my lip. This was no subject for levity.
"Yes," Bill agreed seriously. "And we were together after that, as lovers, which is not always the case."
"But you had broken up . . ."
"Yes, about eighty years ago, we came to the point where we couldn't tolerate each other any longer. I hadn't seen Lorena since, though I'd heard of her doings, of course."
"Oh, sure," I said expressionlessly. "But I had to obey her summons. This is absolutely imperative. When your maker calls, you must respond." His voice was urgent.
I nodded, trying to look understanding. I guess I didn't do too good a job.
"She ordered me to leave you," he said. His dark eyes were peering into mine. "She said she would kill you if I didn't."
I was losing my temper. I bit the inside of my cheek, real hard, to make myself focus. "So, without explanation or discussion with me, you decided what was best for me and for you." "I had to," he said. "Ihad to do her bidding. And I knew she was capable of harming you."
"Well, you got that right." In fact, Lorena had done her dead level best to harm me right into the grave. But I'd gotten her first—okay, by a fluke, but it had worked. "And now you no longer love me," Bill said, with the slightest of questions in his voice. I didn't have any clear answer. "I don't know," I said. "I wouldn't think you'd want to come back to me. After all, I killed yourmom. " And there was the slightest of questions in my voice, too, but mostly I was bitter. "Then we need more time apart. When I return, if you consent, we'll talk again. A kiss good-bye?" To my shame, I would love to kiss Bill again. But it was such a bad idea, even wanting it seemed wrong. We stood, and I gave him a quick brush of lips to the cheek. His white skin shone with a little glow that distinguished vampires from humans. It had surprised me to learn that not everyone saw them like I did. "Are you seeing the Were?" he asked, when he was nearly out the door. He sounded as though the words had been pulled out of him by their roots. "Which one?" I asked, resisting the temptation to bat my eyelashes. He deserved no answer, and he knew it. "How long will you be gone?" I asked more briskly, and he looked at me with some speculation.

a lttle Swedish anyone

For those who love Eric....

Here's what he muttered in Swedish when Sookie came in Fantasia for the first time:

Vår lilla djurpark börjar växa till sig...

Our little zoo starts to grow...

Pam answers: Jag vet.
I know....

You can also watch Eric (Alex Skarsgard) on a Swedish morning chat show here :

We hear more about Eric forcing Bill to tell Sookie the truth

Pam and Sookie
bk 7

I shrugged. “Pam, I’ve been as straight with him as I can be. I think maybe he’s worried about something else. You’re exaggerating my importance in Eric’s scheme of things. If he has any kind of undying love for me, then he’s sure not telling me about it. And I never see him. And he knows about Quinn.”

“He made Bill confess to you, didn’t he?”

“Well, Eric was there,” I said uncertainly. “Do you think Bill would ever have told you if Eric hadn’t commanded him to?”
I’d done my best to forget that night altogether. In the back of my mind, I’d known the strange timing of Bill’s revelation was significant, but I just hadn’t wanted to think about it.

“Why do you think Eric would give a flying fuck what Bill had been ordered to do, much less reveal it to a human woman, if he didn’t have inappropriate feelings for you?”
I’d never put it to myself quite like that. I’d been so ripped up by Bill’s confession—the queen had planted him to seduce me (if necessary) to gain my trust—that I hadn’t thought of why Eric had forced Bill into the position of telling me about the plot.

Eric and Sookie
bk 7

“You don’t know him any more than you really knew Bill.”
That sliced down where it hurt.
“At least I’m pretty damn sure he wasn’t ordered to get me in bed so I’d be a political asset!”
“It’s better that you knew about Bill,” Eric said.
“Yes, it’s better,” I agreed. “That doesn’t mean I enjoyed the process.”
“I knew that would be hard. But I had to make him tell you.”
“Why?”
Eric seemed stumped. I don’t know any other way to put it. He looked away, off into the darkness of the woods. “It wasn’t right,” he said at last.
“True. But maybe you just wanted to be sure I wouldn’t ever love him again?”
“Maybe both things,” he said.

Bill explains more to Sookie about being sent by the Queen

book 8

Except that when Sophie-Anne told me to pursue you . . . I was reluctant, Sookie. At first, I didn’t want to even pretend to have a permanent relationship with a human woman. I thought it degraded me. I only came into the bar to identify you when I couldn’t put it off any longer. And that evening didn’t turn out like I’d planned. I went outside with the drainers, and things happened. When you were the one who came to my aid, I decided it was fate. I did what I had been told to do by my queen. In so doing, I fell into a trap I couldn’t escape. I still can’t.”

How Pam became a Vampire

bk 7

When she nodded, I found myself saying, “When did you meet Eric?”
I’d always been curious, and tonight Pam seemed to be in a sharing mood.

“I met him in London the last night of my life.” Her voice was level, coming out of the shadowy darkness. I could see half her face in the overhead security light, and she looked quite calm. “I risked everything for love . You’ll laugh to hear this.”

I wasn’t remotely close to laughing.

“I was a very wild girl for my times. Young ladies weren’t supposed to be alone with gentlemen, or any males, for that matter. A far cry from now.” Pam’s lips curved upward in a brief smile. “But I was a romantic, and bold. I slipped out of my house late at night to meet the cousin of my dearest friend, the girl who lived right next door. The cousin was visiting from Bristol, and we were very attracted to each other.

My parents didn’t consider him to be my equal in social class, so I knew they wouldn’t let him court me. And if I were caught alone with him at night, it would be the end of me. No marriage, unless my parents could force him to wed me. So, no future at all.” Pam shook her head. “Crazy to think of now. Those were the times women didn’t have choices. The ironic part is, our meeting was quite innocent. A few kisses, a lot of sentimental claptrap, undying love. Yada yada yada.”
“On my way back to my house, trying to move so silently through the garden, I met Eric. There was no way to slip silently enough to avoid him .”

For a long moment, she was quiet. “And it really was the end of me.” “Why’d he turn you?” I settled lower in my chair and crossed my legs. This was an unexpected and fascinating conversation. “I think he was lonely,” she said, a faint note of surprise in her voice. “His last companion had struck out on her own, since children can’t stay with their maker for long. After a few years, the child must strike out on its own, though it may come back to the maker, and must if the maker calls.” “Weren’t you angry with him?” She seemed to be trying to remember. “At first, I was shocked,” Pam said. “After he’d drained me, he put me in bed in my own room, and of course my family thought I’d died of some mysterious ailment, and they buried me. Eric dug me up, so I wouldn’t wake up in my coffin and have to dig my own way out. That was a great help. He held me and explained it all to me.

Up until the night I died, I’d always been a very conventional woman underneath my daring tendencies. I was used to wearing layers and layers of clothes. You would be amazed at the dress I died in: the sleeves, the trim. The fabric in the skirt alone could make you three dresses!” Pam looked fondly reminiscent, nothing more. “After I’d awakened, I discovered being a vampire freed some wild thing in me.” “After what he did, you didn’t want to kill him?” “No,” she said instantly. “I wanted to have sex with him, and I did. We had sex many, many times.” She grinned. “The tie between maker and child doesn’t have to be sexual, but with us it was. That changed quite soon, actually, as my tastes broadened. I wanted to try everything I’d been denied in my human life.”

“So you actually liked it, being a vampire? You were glad?” Pam shrugged. “Yes, I’ve always loved being what I am. It took me a few days to understand my new nature. I’d never even heard of a vampire before I became one.” I couldn’t imagine the shock of Pam’s awakening. Her self-proclaimed quick adjustment to her new state amazed me.

Sookie and Pam talk about Bill's betrayl with the Queen

Book 7

“I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY.” I unlocked my car and tossed my purse
inside. Then I turned to face Pam, though I was tempted to get in the car and go home.
“We didn’t know,” the vampire said. She walked slowly, so I could see her coming. Sam
had left two lawn chairs out in front of his trailer, set at right angles to the rear of the bar,and I got them out of his yard and set them by the car. Pam took the hint and perched in one while I took the other.
I drew a deep, silent breath. I had wondered ever since I returned from New Orleans if all the vamps in Shreveport had known Bill’s secret purpose in courting me. “I wouldn’t have told you,” Pam said, “even if I had known Bill had been charged with a mission, because…vampires first.” She shrugged. “But I promise you that I didn’t know.”I bobbed my head in acknowledgment, and a little pocket of tension in me finally relaxed.
But I had no idea how to respond.
“I must say, Sookie, that you have caused a tremendous amount of trouble in our area.”Pam didn’t seem perturbed by that; she was just stating a fact. I hardly felt I could apologize. “These days Bill is full of anger, but he doesn’t know who to hate. He feels guilty, and no one likes that. Eric is frustrated that he can’t remember the time he was in hiding at your house, and he doesn’t know what he owes you. He’s angry that the queen has annexed you for her own purposes, through Bill, and thus poached on Eric’s territory, as he sees it. Felicia thinks you are the bogeyman, since so many of the Fangtasia bartender shave died while you were around. Longshadow, Chow.” She smiled. “Oh, and your friend, Charles Twining.”
“None of that was my fault.”
“I don’t see that that makes any difference,” Pam said, her voice curiously gentle. “Now that we know you have fairy blood, thanks to Andre, it would be easy to write all this off.
But I don’t think that’s it, do you? I’ve known many humans descended from the fae, and none of them have been telepathic. I think that’s just you, Sookie. Of course, knowing you have this streak of fairy makes one wonder how you would taste. I certainly enjoyed the sip I got when the maenad maimed you, though that was tainted with her poison. We love fairies, as you know.”
“Love them to death,” I said under my breath, but of course Pam heard.
“Sometimes,” she agreed with a little smile. That Pam.
“So what’s the bottom line here?” I was ready to go home and just be human, all by
myself. “When I say ‘we’ didn’t know about Bill’s agreement with the queen, that includes Eric,” Pam said simply.
I looked down at my feet, struggling to keep my face under control.
“Eric feels especially angry about this,” Pam said. She was picking her words now. “He is angry at Bill because Bill made an agreement with the queen that bypassed Eric. He is angry that he didn’t discern Bill’s plan. He is angry at you because you got under his skin.
He is angry at the queen because she is more devious than he is. Of course, that’s why she’s the queen. Eric will never be a king, unless he can control himself better.”

Bill and Sookie 2nd time Bill comes in to Merlotts

[Sookie takes Bill’s hand and the voices fade away]
[Rock music playing on radio]
Sookie: Your hand is cool.
Bill: Yes, uh - - I’m afraid I’m not as warm as the men that you must be accustomed to.
Sookie: What men?
[scoffs]
Sookie: What can I get for you tonight?
Bill: What are you?
Sookie: I told you. I’m a waitress.
Bill: No. You’re something more than that. You’re something more than human.
Sookie: I beg your pardon?
Bill: Sookie. That’s an unusual name, Sookie. Is it short for something else?
Sookie: Nope. Just - - just plain Sookie.
Bill: May I call on you sometime?
Sookie: Call on me?
Bill: Uh, may I come and visit with you at your home?

Bill and Sookie after Rattray's attack on bill

Transcript ep 1

Bill: You wanna drink the blood they collected?
Sookie: No.
Bill: I understand it makes humans feel more healthy. Improves their sex life.
Sookie: I’m as healthy as a horse. And I have no sex life to speak of, so - -you can just keep it.
Bill: You could always sell it.
Sookie: I wouldn’t touch it.
[Bill gets up quickly and comes to Sookie]
[Music playing]
Bill: What are you?
Sooke: Well… I - I’m - - I’m Sookie Stackhouse and I’m a waitress. What’s your name?
Bill: Bill.
[giggles]
Sookie: Bill? I - - I thought it might be Antoine or Basil or - - Or, heh - - or, like, Langord, maybe. But, Bill?
[laughs]
Sookie: Vampire Bill. Oh, my. So… Silver, huh? I thought that only affected werewolves. I-I-I’m not implying that werewolves exist. I mean, that’s just what you always see in the movies.
Bill: I’d appreciate it if you didn’t share this information with anyone. We don’t like for our weaknesses to be made public knowledge.
Sookie: Yeah, okay. Well, see ya, Bill. I gotta get back to work.

Bill and Sookie after Rattray's attack on Sookie

Ep 1 transcript

it was the vampire. I could see his glow. I could feel his tongue moving on my head. He was licking my head wound. I could hardly begrudge him.
"Do I taste different from other people?" I asked.
"Yes," he said in a thick voice. "What are you?"
It was the third time he'd asked. Third time's the charm, Gran always said.
"Hey, I'm not dead," I said. I suddenly remembered I'd expected to check out for good. I wiggled my arm, the one that had been broken. It was weak, but it wasn't flopping any longer. I could feel my legs, and I wiggled them, too. I breathed in and out experimentally and was pleased with the resulting mild ache. I struggled to sit up. That proved to be quite an effort, but not an impossibility. It was like my first fever-free day after I'd had pneumonia as a kid. Feeble but blissful. I was aware I'd survived something awful.
Before I finished straightening, he'd put his arms under me and cradled me to him. He leaned back against a tree. Ifelt very comfortable sitting on his lap, my head against his chest.
"What I am, is telepathic," I said. "I can hear people's thoughts."
"Even mine?" He sounded merely curious.
"No. That's why I like you so much," I said, floating on a sea of pinkish well-being. I couldn't seem to be bothered with camouflaging my thoughts. I felt his chest rumble as he laughed. The laugh was a little rusty.

Sookie saves Bills and realizes she cant read his mind

Transcript ep 1

"I'm sorry I didn't get here faster," I said apologetically. "You'll feel better in a minute, right? Do you want me to leave?"
That made me feel pretty good until he added, "They might come back, and I can't fight yet." His cool voice was uneven, but I couldn't exactly say I'd heard him panting.
I made a sour face at him, and while he was recovering, I took a few precautions. I sat with my back to him, giving him some privacy. I know how unpleasant it is to be stared at when you're hurting. I hunkered down on the pavement, keeping watch on the parking lot. Several cars left, and others came in, but none came down to our end by the woods. By the movement of the air around me, I knew when the vampire had sat up.
He didn't speak right away. I turned my head to the left to look at him. He was closer than I'd thought.
His big dark eyes looked into mine. His fangs had retracted; I was a little disappointed about that.
"Thank you," he said stiffly.
So he wasn't thrilled about being rescued by a woman. Typical guy.
Since he was being so ungracious, I felt I could do something
rude, too, and I listened to him, opening my mind completely.
And I heard ... nothing.
"Oh," I said, hearing the shock in my own voice, hardly knowing what I was saying. "I can't hear you."
"Thank you!" the vampire said, moving his lips exaggeratedly. "No, no ... I can hear you speak, but..." and in my excitement,
I did something I ordinarily would never do, because it was pushy, and personal, and revealed I was disabled. I turned fully to him and put my
hands on both sides of his white face, and I looked at him intently. I focused with all my energy.Nothing. It was like having to listen to the radio all the time, to stations you didn't get to select, and then suddenly tuning in to a wavelength you couldn't receive. It was heaven.
His eyes were getting wider and darker, though he was holding absolutely still. "Oh, excuse me," I said with a gasp of embarrassment. I snatched my hands away and resumed staring at the parkinglot. I began babbling about Mack and Denise, all the time thinking how marvelous it would be to have a companion I could not hear unless he chose to speak out loud. How beautiful his silence was."... so I figured I better come out here to see how you were," I concluded, and had no idea what I'd been saying."You came out here to rescue me. It was brave," he said in a voice so seductive it would have shivered DeeAnne right out of her red nylon panties. "Now you cut that out," I said tartly, coming right down to earth with a thud. He looked astonished for a whole second before his face returned to its white smoothness. "Aren't you afraid to be alone with a hungry vampire?" he asked, something arch and yet dangerous running beneath the words. "Nope." "Are you assuming that since you came to my rescue that you're safe, that I harbor an ounce of sentimental feeling after all these years? Vampires often turn on those who trust them. We don't have human values, you know."

Sookie talks about not being able to reading minds

book 2

In the months before I'd met Bill, and found that he treasured that disability of mine—my gift, as he saw it—I'd done my best to pretend to myself and everyone else that I couldn't really "read" minds. But since Bill had liberated me from the little prison I'd built for myself, I'd been practicing and experimenting, with Bill's encouragement. For him, I had put into words the things I'd been feeling for years. Some people sent a clear, strong message, like Alcee. Most people were more off-and-on, like Bud Dearborn. It depended a lot on how strong their emotions were, how clear-headed they were, what the weather was, for all I knew. Some people were murky as hell, and it was almost impossible to tell what they were thinking. I could get a reading of their moods, maybe, but that was all. I had admitted that if I was touching people while I tried to read their thoughts, it made the picture clearer—like getting cable, after having only an antenna. And I'd found that if I "sent" a person relaxing images, I could flow through his brain like water.

Eric, Bill and Pam tell Sookie about maenad

Book 2

"Why a maenad?" I asked, startling all of them. I hoped I was pronouncing the word correctly. "Naiads are water and dryads are trees, right? So why a maenad, out there in the woods? Weren't maenads just women driven mad by the god Bacchus?"
"Sookie, you have unexpected depths," Eric said, after an appreciable pause. I didn't tell him I'd learned that from reading a mystery. Let him think I read ancient Greek literature in the original language. It couldn't hurt.
Chow said, "The god entered some women so completely that they became immortal, or very close to it. Bacchus was the god of the grape, of course, so bars are very interesting to maenads. In fact, so interesting that they don't like other creatures of the darkness becoming involved. Maenads consider that
the violence sparked by the consumption of alcohol belongs to them; that's what they feed off, now that no one formally worships their god. And they are attracted to pride."
That rang a chime. Hadn't Bill and I both been feeling our pride, tonight?
"We had only heard rumors one was in the area," Eric said. "Until Bill brought you in."
"So what was she warning you of? What does she want?"
"Tribute," Pam said. "We think.""What kind?"
Pam shrugged. It seemed that was the only answer I was going to get.
"Or what?" I asked. Again with the stares. I gave a deep sigh of exasperation. "What's she gonna do if you don't pay her tribute?"
"Send her madness." Bill sounded worried.
"Into the bar? Merlotte's?" Though there were plenty of bars in the area.
The vampires eyed each other. "Or into one of us," Chow said. "It has happened. The Halloween massacre of 1876, in St. Petersburg."
They all nodded solemnly. "I was there," Eric said. "It took twenty of us to clean up. And we had to stake Gregory, it took all of us to do that. The maenad, Phryne, received tribute after that, you can be sure."
For the vampires to stake one of their own, things had to be pretty serious. Eric had staked a vampire who had stolen from him, and Bill had told me Eric had had to pay a severe penalty. Who to, Bill hadn't
said, and I hadn't asked. There were some things I could live quite well without knowing. "So you'll give a tribute to this maenad?"
They were exchanging thoughts on this, I could tell. "Yes," Eric said. "It is better if we do."
"I guess maenads are pretty hard to kill," Bill said, a question in his voice.
Eric shuddered. "Oh, yes," he said. "Oh, yes."

Favorite quotes from True Blood episode 11

So you are looking up killers in the yellow pages? -SM

You can’t spend 24 hours a day with me for the rest of my life -SS
Sure I can -SM

Why is the way home always longer than the way there? -SS

I can't listen to politicians no more I get a seizure TB

I love riding in the cars – SM
You can hang your head right out the window - SS

You can live almost exactly the same life as you did before except you will be awake at night BC

You suck-hahha yes, that right –yes you do suck! J

You are the worst maker ever … J

I don’t obey anybody those days are over J

Man up, my friend she’s only one night old EN

No he’s a dick – dick dick dick J

If any harm were to come to her because of my absence you would be …without her helpful skills BC

I will return the favor- you most definitely will. BC/EN

How would you like to learn how a real vampire feeds? EN

It was probably the best day of my life when you walked in looking for a job SM

Stop fighting you stupid men SS

I rescind your invitation SS to BC

My living room is wrecked I have a killer, a vampire and a shape shifter on my plate right about now I’m not thinking about being with anybody -SS

Niall and Sookie discuss if Jason has fae characteristics

Niall and Sookie bk 8

“I want to keep our relationship a secret,” he said. “I am so glad to know you finally, and I want to know you better.” He laid his hand against my cheek. “But I have powerful enemies, and I wouldn’t want them to think of harming you to get at me.”

I nodded. I understood. But it was kind of deflating to have a brand-new relative and be forbidden to talk about him. Niall’s hand left my cheek to drift down to my own hand.
“What about Jason?” I asked. “Are you gonna talk to him, too?”

“Jason,” he said, his face showing distaste. “Somehow the essential spark passed Jason by. I know he is made of the same material as you, but in him the blood has only shown itself in his ability to attract lovers, which after all is not much recommendation. He wouldn’t understand or appreciate our connection.”

Great-grandfather sounded pretty snotty when he said that. I started to say something in Jason’s defense, but then I closed my mouth. I had to admit to my most secret self that Niall was almost certainly right. Jason would be full of demands, and he would talk.

Where you can find Sookie short stories

Short stories can be found in these anthologies:

Unusual Suspects (contains short story, “Lucky”)
Ace, December 2008, ISBN-10: 0-441-01637-5;

Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (contains short story, “Gift Wrap”) A Must Read! Read after Book 8.
Ace, October 7, 2008, ISBN-10: 0-441-01633-2; ISBN-13: 978-0-441-01633-4

Many Bloody Returns (contains short story, “Dracula Night”) Cute story, about Sookie & Eric, but not crucial to the plot lines like some of the others.
Ace 2007, ISBN-10: 0-441-01522-0; ISBN13: 978-0-441-01522-1

My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding (contains short story "Tacky") Sookie-universe story but no Sookie. St. Martin's Griffin 2006, ISBN 0-312-34360-4

Bite [contains short story "One Word Answer"] A Must Read! Suggested read before Book 6.
Jove 2005, ISBN 0-515-13970-X

Night's Edge (novella) [a Sookie-universe story, although Sookie herself does not appear in it] OUT OF PRINT Harlequin, Oct. 2004, ISBN 0-373-77010-3

Powers of Detection (contains short story, “Fairy Dust”) OUT OF PRINT A Must Read!
Ace 2004, ISBN 0-441-01197-7

Some of the Sookie-verse characters and their associated back stories appear in short stories. Here are some guidelines for finding out more....

  • Readers of 'Fairy Dust' from Powers of Detection (Dana Stabenow ~ editor) will find out more about the fairy triplets. Sookie is also featured in this short story.
  • 'Dancers In The Dark' from the Night's Edge Anthology (Maggie Shane) features a romance/thriller set in the fictional city of Rhodes. While Sookie is not featured, the world is part of the 'Sookieverse' and the two main characters from this short story reappear in All Together Dead, in the city of Rhodes.
  • 'One Word Answer' is from the Bite Anthology, usually found under Laurel K. Hamilton as author. Some backstory on cousin Hadley is provided in this short story
  • 'Dracula Night' from the Many Blood Returns anthology (Charlaine Harris & Toni L. P. Kelner ~ editors) finds Sookie as the only human invited to Fangtasia's annual gala celebration of Dracula's birth.

Special thanks to Sonofnorway for compiling this list.

Eric makes Bill tell Sookie why he really returned to Bon Temp

Book 6

Eric folded his arms across his chest and looked down at them.
"Bill?" I said.
"Ask him why he came back to Bon Temps, Sookie," Eric said very quietly.
"Well, old Mr. Compton died, and he wanted to reclaim his …" I couldn't even describe the expression on Bill's face. My heart began to beat faster. Dread gathered in a knot in my stomach. "Bill?"
have scared me more. I might not be able to read a vampire's mind, but in this case his body language said it all. Eric was turning away because he didn't want to watch the knife sliding in.
"Sookie, you would find out when you saw the queen … Maybe I could have kept it from you, because you won't understand … but Eric has taken care of that." Bill gave Eric's back a look that could have drilled a hole through Eric's heart. "When your cousin Hadley was becoming the queen's favorite …"
And suddenly I saw it all, knew what he was going to say, and I rose up on the hospital bed with a gasp,one hand to my chest because I felt my heart shattering. But Bill's voice went on, even though I shook my head violently.
"Apparently, Hadley talked about you and your gift a lot, to impress the queen and keep her interest.
And the queen knew I was originally from Bon Temps. On some nights, I've wondered if she sent someone to kill the last Compton and hurry things along. But maybe he truly died of old age." Bill was looking down at the floor, didn't see my left hand extended to him in a "stop" motion.
"She ordered me to return to my human home, to put myself in your way, to seduce you if I had to …"
I couldn't breathe. No matter how my right hand pressed to my chest, I couldn't stop the decimation of my heart, the slide of the knife deeper into my flesh.
"She wanted your gift harnessed for her own use," he said, and he opened his mouth to say more. My eyes were so blurred with tears that I couldn't see properly, couldn't see what expression was on his face
and didn't care anyway. But I could not cry while he was anywhere near me. I would not.
"Get out," I said, with a terrible effort. Whatever else happened, I could not bear for him to see the pain he had caused.
He tried to look me straight in the eyes, but mine were too full. Whatever he wanted to convey, it was lost on me. "Please let me finish," he said.
"I never want to see you again, ever in my life," I whispered. "Ever."
He didn't speak. His lips moved, as if he were trying to form a word or phrase, but I shook my head.
"Get out," I told him, in a voice so choked with hatred and anguish that it didn't sound like my own. Bill turned and walked past the curtain and out of the emergency room. Eric did not turn around to see my face, thank God. He reached back to pat me on the leg before he left, too.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to kill someone with my bare hands.
I had to be by myself. I could not let anyone see me suffer this much. The pain was tied up with a rage
so profound that I had never felt its like. I was sick with anger and hurt.

Later page 179 "You have to let me say this, just once," he said. "I loved you. I love you."
I raised a hand to protest, and he said, "No, let me finish. She sent me there, true. But when I met you—after I came to know you—I really … loved you."
How long after he'd taken me to bed had this supposed love come about? How could I possibly believe him, since he'd lied so convincingly from the very moment I'd met him—playing disinterested because he could read my fascination with the first vampire I'd ever met?
"I risked my life for you," I said, the words coming out in a halting sequence. "I gave Eric power over me forever, for your sake, when I took his blood. I killed someone for you. This is not something I take for granted, even if you do … even if that's everyday existence for you. It's not, for me. I don't know if I can
ever not hate you."
I got up, slowly and painfully, and to my relief he didn't make the mistake of trying to help me. "You probably saved my life tonight," I said, looking down at him. "And I thank you for that. But don't come into Merlotte's any more, don't hang around in my woods, and don't do anything else for me. I don't want to see you again."
"I love you," he said stubbornly, as if that fact were so amazing and such an undeniable truth that I should believe him. Well, I had, and look at where it had gotten me.
"Those words are not a magical formula," I said. "They're not going to open my heart to you."
Bill was over a hundred and thirty years old, but at that moment I felt I could match him. I dragged myself inside, shut the door behind me and locked it, and made myself go down the hall to the bedroom.

Sookie tells Bill about Eric

book 5

“Or your blessing.” He put one of his cool hands on my cheek. “No fever,” he said to himself. “You’ll heal.” Then he sat up straighter. “You slept with Eric while he was staying with you.”
“Why are you asking, if you already know?” There was such a thing as too much honesty.
“I’m not asking. I knew when I saw you together. I smelled him all over you; I could tell how you felt about him. We’ve had each other’s blood. It’s hard to resist Eric,” Bill went on in a detached way. “He’s
as vital as you are, and you share a zest for life. But I’m sure you know that . . .” He paused, seemed to be trying to think how to frame what he wanted to say.
“I know that you’d be happy if I never slept with anyone else in my life,” I said, putting his thoughts into words for him.
“And how do you feel about me?”
“The same. Oh, but wait, you alreadydid sleep with someone else. Before we even broke up.” Bill looked away, the line of his jaw like granite. “Okay, that’s water under the bridge. No, I don’t want to think about you with Selah, or with anyone. But my head knows that’s unreasonable.”
“Is it unreasonable to hope that we’ll be together again?”
I considered the circumstances that had turned me against Bill. I thought of his infidelity with Lorena; but she had been his maker, and he had had to obey her. Everything I’d heard from other vamps had confirmed what he’d told me about that relationship. I thought of his near-rape of me in the trunk of a car; but he’d been starved and tortured, and hadn’t known what he was doing. The minute he’d come to his senses, he’d stopped.
I remembered how happy I’d been when I’d had what I thought was his love. I’d never felt more secure in my life. How false a feeling that had been: He’d become so absorbed in his work for the Queen of Louisiana that I’d begun to come in a distant second. Out of all the vampires who could have walked into Merlotte’s Bar, I’d gotten the workaholic.
“I don’t know if we can ever have the same relationship again,” I said. “It might be possible, when I’m a little less raw from the pain of it. But I’m glad you’re here tonight, and I wish you would lie down with me for a little while . . . if you want to.” I moved over on the narrow bed and turned on my right side, so the wounded shoulder was up. Bill lay down behind me and put his arm over me. No one could approach me without him knowing. I felt perfectly secure, absolutely safe, and cherished. “I’m so glad you’re here,”

Bill tells Sookie that Lorena was the vampire who brought me over..

Book 3

"I have to tell you," he said, almost angrily. He'd seen me twitch. "Give me this chance." After a second, I waved a hand to tell him to continue.
"The reason I went to Jackson when she called me is that I couldn't help myself," he said.
My eyebrows flew up. I'd heard that before. It means, "I have no self-control," or, "It seemed worth it at the time, and I wasn't thinking north of my belt."
"We were lovers long ago. As Eric says he told you, vampire liaisons don't tend to last long, though they're very intense while they are ongoing. However, what Eric did not tell you was that Lorena was the vampire who brought me over."

and

Sookie: "I *never* did. But even if I had, you know what? It would serve you right you betraying son of a bitch."
Bill: "You're right."
...
Sookie: "...Eric and Pam and Chow came to tell me you'd been snatched."
Bill: "And they told you...?"
Sookie: "That you were planning on leaving me. Yes. They told me."
Bill: "I already got paid back for that piece of madness."

Sookie meets and kills Lorena

book 3

I would have been dead in a minute if she hadn't been as shocked as I was. I twisted my arm from her grasp and pivoted around Bill in his chair. Her fangs were all out, and she was snarling at me over Bill's head. She was a blond, like me, but her eyes were brown and her build was smaller; she was a tiny woman. She had dried blood on her hands, and I knew it was Bill's. A flame started up inside me.

I could feel it flicker through my eyes. "You must be his little human bitch whore," she said. "He was fucking me, all this time, you understand. The minute he saw me, he forgot about you, except for pity." Well, Lorena wasn't elegant, but she knew where to sink the verbal knife. I batted the words aside, because she wanted to distract me. I shifted my grip on the stake to be ready, and she leaped across Bill to land on top of me.

As she moved, without a conscious decision I whipped up the stake and pointed it at an angle. As she came down on me, the sharp point went in her chest and out the other side. Then we were on the floor. I was still gripping the end of the stake, and she was holding herself off of me with her
arms. She looked down at the wood in her chest, astonished.

Then she looked in my eyes, her mouth agape, her fangs retracting. "No," she said. Her eyes went dull. I used the stake to push her to my left side, and I scrambled up off the floor. I was panting, and my hands shook violently. She didn't move. The whole incident had been so swift and so quiet that it hardly felt real. Bill's eyes went from the thing on the floor to me. His expression was unreadable. "Well," I told him, "I killed her ass."

Eric and Bill quarrel and get kicked out of Sookies house

End of bk 3

"Oh, by the way, Bill, the queen called Fangtasia this evening to find out why you are late with her little job. She had been unable to reach you at your home for several nights, she said." Bill resumed brushing my hair. "

I will call her back later," he said. "From my place. She'll be glad to hear that I've completed it." "You nearly lost everything," Eric said, his sudden outburst startling everyone in
the room. Pam slipped out the front door after she'd looked from Eric to Bill.

That kind of scared me. "Yes, I'm well aware of that," Bill said. His voice, always cool and sweet, was absolutely frigid. Eric, on the other hand, tended toward the fiery. "You were a fool to take up with that she-demon again," Eric said. "Hey, guys, I'm sitting right here," I said. They both glared at me.

They seemed determined to finish this quarrel, and I figured I would leave them to go at it. Once they were outside. I hadn't thanked Eric for the driveway yet, and I wanted to, but tonight was maybe not the time. "Okay," I said. "I'd hoped to avoid this, but... Bill, I rescind your invitation into my house." Bill began walking backward to the door, a helpless look on his face, and my brush still in his hand.

Eric grinned at him triumphantly.

Eric tells Sookie about Bill going back to Lorena

bk 3 pg 20

"Sookie, you are too much," he said, but not as though he found that particularly endearing. "I'm not going to torture you. For one thing, I would hate to ruin that beautiful skin; one day, I
will see all of it." I just hoped it was still on my body when that happened.

"You won't always be so afraid of me," he said, as if he were absolutely certain of the future. "And you won't always be as devoted to Bill as you are now. There is something I must tell you." Here came the Big Bad. His cool fingers twined with mine, and without wanting t o, I held his hand hard. I couldn't think of a word to say, at least a word that was safe. My eyes fixed on his. "Bill was summoned to Mississippi," Eric told me, "by a vampire—a female—he'd known many years ago. I don't know if you've realized that vampires almost never mate with other vampires,
for any longer than a rare one-night affair. We don't do this because it gives us power over each other forever, the mating and sharing of blood.

This vampire..." "Her name," I said. "Lorena," he said reluctantly. Or maybe he wanted to tell me all along, and the reluctance was just for show. Who the heck knows, with a vampire. He waited to see if I would speak, but I did not. "She was in Mississippi. I am not sure if she regularly lives there, or if she went there to ensnare Bill. She had been living in Seattle for years, I know, because she and Bill lived there together for many years." I had wondered why he'd picked Seattle as his fictitious destination. He hadn't just plucked it out of the air. "But whatever her intention in asking him to meet her there ... what excuse she gave him for not coming here .. . maybe he was just being careful of you ..." I wanted to die at that moment. I took a deep breath and looked down at our joined hands.

I was too humiliated to look in Eric's eyes. "He was—he became—instantly enthralled with her, all over again. After a few nights, he called Pam to say that he was coming home early without telling you, so he could arrange your future care before he saw you again." "Future care?" I sounded like a crow. "Bill wanted to make a financial arrangement for you." The shock of it made me blanch. "Pension me off," I said numbly. No matter how well he had meant, Bill could not have offered me any greater offense. When he'd been in my life, it had never occurred to him to ask me how my finances were faring—though he could hardly wait to help his newly discovered descendants, the Bellefleurs. But when he was going to be out of my life, and felt guilty for leaving pitiful, pitiable me—then he started worrying. "He wanted ..." Eric began, then stopped and looked closely at my face. "Well, leave that for now. I would not have told you any of this, if Pam hadn't interfered. I would have sent you off in ignorance, because then it wouldn't have
been words from my mouth that hurt you so badly