'True Blood': More books, more HBO drama

By Lesley Goldberg

Headlining Saturday night in Ballroom 20, HBO’s “True Blood” met the high fan expectation with three  announcements.

Writer-director Alan Ball kicked things off by announcing that the show’s Tru Blood, a bottled blood substitute that makes it possible for vampires to exist without feeding off humans — the show’s premise — was, starting Sept. 10, going to be available in bottled form for sale via HBO.com.

Joking that the all-natural orange soda was a mix of “vodka, Vicodin and Viagra … with Ecstasy,” Ball said the bottled drinks that will be styled the same as they appear on the show would be ready just in time for the series’ Season 2 finale.

But the panel’s key reveal was that author Charlane Harris, whose “Sookie Stackhouse” books the HBO drama is based on, had “just signed a contract for three more books,” taking the series through 2014. Fans, naturally, hit the roof.

Ball added to the good news when he added that he was “excited that there is a Season 3,” saying that HBO hasn’t officially made the announcement, but that it’s “coming soon.” In terms of what he’s looking forward to next season, “seeing werewolves for the first time and Mississippi vampires,” topped the list.
As for the possible love triangle that’s building in Season 2 between Sookie (Anna Paquin), her boyfriend vampire Bill, and Eric, the region’s vampire leader, Ball said the story line will play out just as it does in the books.

Asked by a fan about their working relationship, Harris said they have a working relationship: “I don’t tell him how to write the show, and he doesn’t tell me how to write the books.”

Oh, and for fans curious about all the “action” between Sookie and Bill, Ball was quick to dismiss the possibility of “half vampire, half human babies” when asked by a fan if that was a possibility. His immediate response: a quick and stern “No.”

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