Popular mystery author set to visit Central Library for special event

Published on September 17, 2021

Do you know Aurora Teagarden? What about Sookie Stackhouse? Manny Bernardo? Harper Connelly? Lily Bard?

You have the chance to meet their maker at a special in-person event set for 6:30-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Central Library. Mystery novelist Charlaine Harris will discuss how she develops her characters and delve into her methods of storytelling. A question-and-answer session will follow her presentation, and the author will sign purchased copies of her books, available from The Dock Bookshop.

Harris has been a published writer for 40 years and in that time has created enduring characters, popular series and standalone novels, as well as short stories.

Three of her mystery series have made the jump to television.

Aurora Teagarden is the central character in several Hallmark Movies and Mysteries productions. Aurora is a librarian and a true-crime fan who studies past crimes in their town with other enthusiasts.

 Sookie Stackhouse is a telepathic waitress who dates a vampire in the Southern Vampire Mysteries series, which was adapted as the “True Blood” TV show on HBO.

Two seasons of “Midnight, Texas” were created for NBC, following the story of psychic Manfred Bernardo, who flees his past to land in a small town and is soon surrounded by ghosts and spirits who have something to say. Two other of Harris’ series are also reported to be in production.

Charlaine Harris was born in the Mississippi Delta. Her father was a farmer and then a school principal, and her mother was a librarian. Charlaine was educated at public schools and attended Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. She and her husband live in Texas.