The sale of the merchandising rights to the Sookie series prevented the fan club from using any of the images associated with the Sookie books as we began to discuss what to use as a logo for the club. Charlaine’s Web moniker was Duckpond, and we decided to develop identification around that name. Fortunately, a talented artist member and her equally talented husband created the two-ducks-on-the-pond logo that is now recognized wherever we go. Incorporating the motto “Follow me to the Duckpond,” our specially designed logo T-shirts soon became familiar to fans and authors alike. Charlaine told us she loved the shirts because wherever she saw them as she traveled she knew she was among friends.

Toward the end of 2006 another idea was gaining ground on the Web board. The Romantic Times Convention was to be held in Houston, Texas, in April 2007, and the club leadership decided that this would be the perfect venue for our first official fan club gathering. Sixteen Charlatans from around the world traveled to Houston to join Charlaine there. I can’t express the excitement we felt as the time drew near. I’d never traveled alone so far from my home, so it was a special time for me; as president of the fan club, I felt a real responsibility to make this a memorable event for all of us. I can only say that Houston had never seen anything like the Charlatans! The event was literally one of the high points of my life. The camaraderie we felt was instantaneous; the friendships we had forged as strangers on the board became a face-to-face reality. I can now go almost anywhere in the world and be near a friend who I can call on in need and be absolutely sure will answer. It is an empowering and comforting idea. I won’t recount here all the pranks and laughs we shared. Never had so much fun been had with a set of waxed fangs! Before we left, several authors asked Charlaine if they could buy the club from her. High praise indeed!