I waited, inpatiently, for the package to arrive from Amazon. I'm embarrased to say I even fretted while at work hoping that the new Sookie book would make it to my rural home on Amazon's two day free shipping plan. What if Amazon didn't take my zip code into account, I questioned? Should I make a trip to Target and double buy the book for added security, I asked one of the ICU nurses?

Suprisingly her answer was "maybe." What? This normally frugal RN thought the next installment of Sookie so important that I couldn't wait one more day! Things were were worse than I realized!

I drove home on pins and needles to find a lovely brown package sitting on my doorstop. I breathed a sigh of relief, the neighborhood dogs hadn't sacrificed the box for their own chew therapy.

My husband eyed me strangely as I opened the package reverently; my children oohed and aahed over the cover which twinkled in the bright lights of the living room. Sookie had arrived!!

Oh the anticipation! as I waited for the kid's bedtime. I went to the bathroom more often, stealing a few moments of reading as I sat on the side of the tub. Little fingers sliding up under the door to wave at me brought on intense guilt. If only bedtime would come quicker!

Finally, the kids were in bed. My husband had drifted off watching some inane political show and I was alone with the book.

Four hours later and completely exhausted, I had ripped my way through the newest Sookie installment.
I realized, rubbing my blurred eyes, that I was now more anxious than ever! Another year to find out what finally happens. I had lied to myself again. I'll read it slowly I had told myself, a few pages a week. I'm so gullible.

It's going to be a long year.

I'm certain that I already know the ending. Sookie's going to end up with Sam. He's good for her, he can have babies, he's solid!! But I don't have to like it.

The capricious Eric is my favorite and while I love the series and the way Ms. Harris writes, I don't like what's happening to Eric's character.

In this book, he's little more than a remnant of his former self. Gone is the magic that made the man or the vampire. I want him back!

Well, ok. What I really want is for the series to end the way I want it to. Eric and Sookie together. Sookie somehow finding a way to live forever with some fairy magic. Eric remaining the vibrant, sexy, bigger than life character that he was. Then I could reread them for years to come.

I'm pretty sure I won't get everything I want. As an author (albeit a struggling one), I've written enough to know that I don't change characters based on reviews. I leave them as I see them in my head. I'm certain a writer of Charlaine Harris's magnitude won't either. But should we?

So that's one of the questions I asked myelf this week? Should I be a little more flexible with my characters? Should I write more towards my audience?
What's your opinion?

My next questions were more for myself. Should I preorder next time or make a trip to Target? And is this preoccupation healthy?