Sookie Stackhouse is the main character in the new HBO series.

Alan Ball, creator of the acclaimed television series Six Feet Under, is the executive producer behind True Blood, a new HBO series based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries that is expected to premier in September of 2008

Sookie will be played by actress Anna Paquin.

Family life

Sookie is not an average girl.  She can read minds and considers this a disability.  Her parents died when she was young, so she was raised by her grandmother. 

Sookie lived with her grandmother well into her twenties and they had a close relationship.

Recently, the fact has come to light that fairy blood runs in her family. This might be part of what makes her attractive to supernatural creatures and vampires in particular.

Telepathy

Sookie's telepathic abilities manifested when she was quite young.  In her hometown of Bon Temps, many people believe Sookie to be mentally unstable, while others deny the fact that she is able to read people's minds.

Sookie says that people's thoughts are not formed in complete sentences, but rather in minimal words and images. She describes some people as "broadcasters", meaning that their minds are fairly easy to read. According to Sookie, both physical and eye contact make an individual's mind easier to read.

The minds of humans are also easier to read, though this also varies depending on the individual. Supernatural beings are much more difficult, as Sookie usually only gets impressions and emotions unless the individual is intentionally broadcasting. Vampires are all but impossible for Sookie to read--which is partially why she begins dating vampire Bill Compton--though she does have occasional glimpses. She keeps these glimpses a secret from everyone, however, as she is convinced the vampires will kill her if they knew.

Living Situation

Sookie lives in the house with grandmother.  She supports the household by working as a barmaid at a local bar, Merlotte's, which is owned by local shifter Sam Merlotte.  Despite her hard work, she's not particularly wealthy and often feels strained by the need to support herself, even while her pride leaves her incapable of accepting gifts from her wealthier friends.

Relationships

Sookie is a tanned, blue-eyed, buxom blond. But although she's young, fit and

good looking, Sookie didn't have too many dates until she met the vampire Bill Compton. Being able to read her date's minds was usually a big turn-off for Sookie.

Sookie finds herself attracted to men with supernatural abilities. Vampires and other "supes" minds are harder to read than humans, muffling the effects of her telepathy and giving Sookie a refreshing break from the constant noise of other people's thoughts.

Vampires seem to be immune to her ability. Their brains appear to be blank spaces when compared to the busy tangle of ideas that come from a human's mind.

Because of this relaxing blankness, Sookie was able to experience her first physical and emotional romantic relationship with Bill.