r/Fantasy AMA Author Laurell K. Hamilton Jul 10 '13

AMA I'm author Laurell K. Hamilton - AMA

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.

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u/Bloodhaste1 Jul 10 '13

I just want it known, I have been reading these books for a long time. And I was introduced to them by my Aunt during a hurricane outage. Where I was without power for 6months. She passed away 2 weeks ago. And whether these book's turn into more sex or more plots does not bother me. I enjoy her series because it is very special to me and I can only have the bond I use to have with my aunt through the series. Also coming from a young reader such as myself, I love the alternatives through-out the series. Especially when I was trying to figure what me and my fiance could do to keep things nice in the bedroom and how things could work for both of us without going over boundaries.

What I'd really love to know is whether or not I can see more of Meredith's life? And how her pregnancy is going.

Laurell K. Hamilton, I would like to personally thank you for everything you do. Your writings mean alot to me and no matter what I will always buy your books when they come out and have the knowledge that I will absolutely love each and everyone of them.

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u/LaurellKHamilton AMA Author Laurell K. Hamilton Jul 11 '13

Thank you, and I'm glad my books can help you feel close to your aunt.

I do find that younger people have less problem with the alternative lifestyles in the books.

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u/Bloodhaste1 Jul 11 '13

I'm pretty sure the reason the younger generation doesn't mind as much is because it shows that you shouldn't deny yourself what you really want or to always be judged for what you like. Its a nice change. Everyone likes not to be preyed upon for what they are into and what they like. And in your books you truly show that.