—KERI MCCOY

Instinct. And input by the other writers on staff.

Since art imitates life, explain what True Blood has to say about the American viewing public. What does our “bloodlust” say about the current cultural climate? The archetype has been used throughout history in many cultures, but what do you see this archetype revealing about us?

—JESSICA OHMAN

I leave that to the academics. Anything I say about why vampires are such potent symbols is just going to be me trying to pretend like I know why when I don’t. I’m just glad people are intrigued by vampires and other supernatural creatures because working on this show is the most fun I have ever had.

Did the real-life relationship of Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer have an impact on the decision to diminish the role of Eric in favor of Bill in the True Blood series?

—LINDA J. KERLEY

I don’t really buy that the role of Eric has been diminished in favor of Bill. Eric has his own very strong story line in Seasons 2 and 3. Maybe you mean in terms of his relationship to Sookie . . . ? You have to remember we’re in the middle of True Blood. It is an ongoing story.

I noticed the episodes have different writers. How do multiple writers come to write something continuative? Is there a sit-down session for each episode that you drive? Do you say, “I would like so-and-so to write this particular scene”?

—CYNTHIA MEIER

I work with six other writers. We break stories and outline episodes as a group, then a single writer writes the script. We give notes as a group, then that same writer writes a second draft of the script. Sometimes I do a polish if I believe it is necessary. Writers generally volunteer for the episodes they want to write.

What is it about the show True Blood that represents you in some way?

—AARON HARRIS

I guess I would say the irreverence, the humor, the fascination with the bizarre, the romance, the fun.

What do you find to be most challenging when depicting a fictional world from book to screen (besides the fans wanting certain story lines)?

—EMILY MELONAS

Hmm . . . keeping everyone’s actions motivated and based in their emotional needs and desires. In the case of Charlaine’s books, keeping the characters who are not Sookie active in their own stories.

What inspired you to bring in characters on the show that were not in the books, such as Jessica and Daphne, as well as to keep Lafayette? (We are grateful for these characters, as they are awesome; just curious.)

—KIMBERLEE TUCKER

Again, it all comes down to creating stories for characters who are not Sookie, and in Lafayette’s case, loving what Nelsan Ellis was doing so much that I wanted to keep him in the show.