Back in 2006 at the Rt Con in Daytona, there were a lot of truly amazing panels that I am so glad I did not miss. But hands-down, the most memorable one was the Vampire panel with Charlaine Harris, Maryjanice Davidson, and Laurell K. Hamilton.
I was not alone in saying that they should take their act on the road! The hilarious way they interacted with each other, which showed an underlying warmth and a genuine affection and respect, had everyone in the room in stitches.
That Con is also where I decided to give Harris' Southern Vampire series another chance. As I've said before, I read the first one and just felt it moved too slow for me. But, after seeing the throngs of adoring fans of Ms. Harris and finding her to be so absolutely charming in person, I realized that I needed to go back and revisit Sookie.
Well, thanks to Johanna Parker's brilliant narration of the audio books (see my index), I realized that I just wasn't hearing the "Southerness" of the books when I read them to myself. The problem boiled down to me using my clipped, Midwestern voice to read (which works well with LKH's ABVH series) instead of the smooth mellifluence found in Ms. Harris and Sookie's Southern charm as so wonderfully portrayed by Parker.
So, ever since that first Southern Vampire audio book (Book 5- Dead as a Doornail, although I did go back to read book 4- Dead to the World), I cannot wait for each new audio release. And now, with the HBO series, True Blood, I get to see the stories from multiple POVs. Although, I admit that I had my doubts about it since I SO identified Sookie's voice with Ms. Parker's portrayal but, through sheer luck, Anna Paquinn's Sookie sounds close enough to Johanna Parker's Sookie that I was able to make the transition fairly easily.
Anyway,
This is your chance to purchase immortality . . .
or maybe not . . .
New York Times best selling authorCharlaine Harris
will allow the winner of this charity fundraising auction to
"Name a Character"
in the next book of her hugely successful
Southern Vampire Mysteries (Sookie Stackhouse) Series
_______________________________
This very special opportunity has been generously donated by Charlaine Harris and all proceeds from this auction go directly to the American Heart Association - Greater Southeast Affiliate.
The highest bidder will win the naming rights for one character in Ms. Harris' next book in the Southern Vampire Mysteries series featuring Sookie Stackhouse, a psychic cocktail waitress in rural Louisiana. Charlaine Harris has received numerous awards and recognitions, and currently all 8 of her books in this series are in the top 25 on the New York Times Paperback and Hardcover Fiction Best Sellers Lists! If you are a fan, you also know that this Sookie Stackhouse series is the foundation for "True Blood," a current HBO hit show.
The character's chosen name must be mutually agreed to by the winner and Ms. Harris and the auction winner will release all rights to the created/chosen name's use within the specified novel. Additionally, if the character is named after an actual individual, the said namesake must agree to the use of their name. There is no direct or implied financial benefit for the winner or any namesake. At this time, the release date for the next novel in this series is undetermined, but will likely be within the next 12 - 18 months.
If and when the bidding exceeds $1,000, all future bidders must be pre-approved. To gain approval, please click on the Pre-Approval Request link that will appear at the top of this listing and provide your full name, e-mail address, phone number and a statement confirming you are at least 18 years of age. Approval will be granted at our discretion and will be based partially on your eBay feedback rating. We will contact you if we need additional information and will notify you upon approval.
Thanks to Charlaine Harris, we are thrilled to offer this incredible opportunity to be a part of literary history. Bid high knowing that your enthusiasm will aid the American Heart Association - Greater Southeast Affiliate!
Now, here's where the REALLY interesting part (at least to me) comes in...
Allow me to point out a couple of facts about that auction...
First of all--- IT'S OVER!
And second of all---
OMFGHOLYSHITICANNOTBELIEVEIT
I WON!!
18 comments:
OMFGawd!!!!! Whoohooo for you! Jumps up and down for you. So, what name you gonna use? Or is that all hush-hush for now?
Oh how exciting. Lucky you.
Congrats. :D
Hee, my cheeks are sore from non-stop grinning.
I'll probably use my real name like I did with the LKH character auction.
Well how cool is that!
That is WAY cool, Ann, WA-A-A-Y cool. LOL :-D
WWWOOOOOWWWWW!! That is awesome and amazing!! I am so happy for you, how exciting. Better start making a list of possible names :)
I wanted to go to that convention so badly. I cannot wait for this year's. I already told hubby that i was going to some of it at least.
Kris, I thought about at least making a reservation at the hotel and then deciding later whether I was going for sure or not. But that hotel is just weird. There doesn't appear to be rooms in the main building, instead the rooms are scattered in small building throughout the grounds. Since I'm probably going by myself, I really don't like the idea of wandering around outside by myself at night, or hiking up to the main building whenever I'm hungry.
I also thought about making reservations at one of the hotels close by, but then I'd still be walking around by myself at night.
So, all that, combined with the uncertainty of the airlines, means I doubt I'll be going to this next one.
OH, WOW!!!! Lucky lucky you! *hugs*
The hotels around there usually have shuttles going to the Convention center if you want to inquire.
Thanks Jen!
Kris, the Con isn't at the Convention Center. It's at the hotel. In fact, if I remember right, I read where the ballroom at the hotel accomodates up to 950 people. So, where are they going to put the 1000+ Con attendees?
It's probably going to just piss people off (like the Daytona Hilton did) because there will never be enough chairs/tables for everyone.
Really, some of the venue choices for Rt Con just boggle my mind.
Really, some of the venue choices for Rt Con just boggle my mind.
They should have it in Seattle. :D
I'm still hoping '10 will be in a convenient place. But if it's gonna be D.C., ugh. I hate D.C.
MB, it's RWA that will be in DC next year. Jane said she read on the RT board that they were thinking about Sacramento for the 2010 RT Con, so it would be MUCH closer to you.
they were thinking about Sacramento for the 2010 RT Con, so it would be MUCH closer to you.
Oh that would be so kewel! I could drive down. Haven't done that trip in a long time. Plus, I'd have wheels while there. Maybe make a little trip up to Tahoe, where I've never been.
This year though, I'm thinking about going to Lori Foster. Last year there were many authors that I like who attended but since I was knew to all this, it wasn't worth going. Now, I know of many more authors and have had much personal contact with a few of them, so maybe it'll be worth it to go.
Congrats ! by the way... I read Swallowing Darkness... Her purple pen floweth over... Thats all I have to say about that (forrest gump)
wytherin
I thought it was at the convention center. That is stupid not to have it there, it has plenty of room. Probably cost. :( I would offer to drive you but i cannot go everyday, i cannot take off work that whole week. Unfortunately.
aw, Kris, that is so sweet of you to even think of that.
OMFG..I live under a rock. I NEED TO GET OUT MORE.
Well, I couldn't be more thrilled...unless you named the character LISABEA.
That's so fricken exciting BevQB. Send me word and I'll put a little wassit in my side bar. YAYAYAYAYAYA.
And yes, you need to hear the southern voice for Sookie. Fortunately my mother is one of 14 children: from Mississippi/Arkansas. I hear that southern thing in my sleep.
LOL, LB. As you know, it's not just the accent, there's also a different flow and rhythm which, when the books are read the "right" way, make them seem almost like a completely different story.
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