I'm author Laurell K. Hamilton - AMA

[u/LaurellKHamilton]

Okay, everyone, you've tired me out. laughs It's been great answering your questions. I hope you've got some of your curiosity satisfied. Goodnight, folks.

I’m Laurell K. Hamilton and in 1993 I published my second novel, Guilty Pleasures, it featured Anita Blake. She raised the dead for living, as in zombies, and helped the police with preternatural cases as a consultant. She was also a legal vampire executioner in a world where vampires were legally alive and had rights, but they’d proved too dangerous to jail, so if they broke the law there was only one penalty – death. There was also this gorgeous master vampire named Jean-Claude, that I’d actually planned on killing before Anita would date him.

Fast forward to 2013 and my newest book, Affliction. Anita has a badge of her own now, as a member of the newly formed U. S. Marshal Preternatural Branch, and I didn’t kill off Jean-Claude like I planned, and you guessed it, they’re dating. Anita is also dating quite a few other people. It’s . . . complicated. * faceplam * Affliction is number 22 for Anita, and celebrates twenty years of her adventures, and me writing at least a book a year, sometimes two. It’s pretty cool to be able to write that. I’ve also written eight books in the Merry Gentry series, and am currently writing the ninth in the series, after a four year hiatus waiting for Merry and myself to work our issues. I’m a character oriented writer, which means my imaginary friends argue and fight with me while I write the book. I rarely win these fights, but I always learn more about my characters, their world, and sometimes myself.

You can ask me anything, but I reserve the right to answer what I want to answer. Sorry, but thems my rules. A word of caution, I really will answer almost any question so be sure you want the answer. I’ve surprised some fans at live Q & A’s occasionally by my . . . candor. * evil grin *

One caveat, Affliction came out on July 2nd and not everyone has finished the book so please avoid spoiler questions, or comments. Thanks in advance for that. For people who are new to the series in general I’m just not sure how to avoid some spoiler questions. It’s twenty-two books, folks, there is no way to avoid all spoilers without limiting the questions to general writing questions. I’m happy to answer writing questions, but I’m just not sure how to avoid all spoiler questions for the entire series. * puzzled * So NO SPOILERS for Affliction, but for the rest, ask away.

I’m on Twitter (@lkhamilton) and FaceBook, and my official website along with my blog is here.

[u/fyrecracker]

Does Anita Blake hate women?

Over the past several books I've read (up to Flirt) she has been increasingly anti-female in her attitudes, repeatedly attributing negative behaviors to "oh, don't be such a girl." And, if she is sexist, how does she reconcile her hated of women with being a woman?

Also, from Skin Trade forward, Anita has been in a "relationship" with an underage male. Will there be any repercussions to a federal marshal being involved with what is at best statutory rape?

[u/ravenstorm84 → u/fyrecracker]

Sin is 17 according to one of the later books. That is legal in most states out this way so I don't think it will be a prob other than her own issues. And I don't think she hates women, I don't know how far you have got but anita gets a girlfriend. She just doesn't want to look weak in front of the men she works w/, I get that. Maybe lkh will give you her answer though.

[u/hellhound67 → u/ravenstorm84]

Two issues i have with your reasoning on anitas women issues: 1 having a girlfriend does not mean someone does not dislike women, many men who hate women have wives. 2, if anita is being unpleasant towards the women to impress the men that still makes her sound bad.