Laurell K. Hamilton Books In Order

Publication Order of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Books

Publication Order of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Collections

Publication Order of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Circus of the Damned Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: The Laughing Corpse Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Merry Gentry Books

Publication Order of Zaniel Havelock Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Ravenloft Books

Publication Order of Star Trek: The Next Generation Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Laurell K. Hamilton was born Laurell Kaye Klein on February 19, 1963 in Heber Springs, Arkansas but she spent most of her years growing up in the small town of Sims, Indiana where she lived with her grandmother. Hamilton has completed many literary works but is perhaps best known for her two popular series. Her writing is an intriguing blend of mystery, horror, magic, fantasy and with romance in the mix. Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter is a New York Times bestseller and has over 6 million copies in print around the world. Her other most noted series is her Merry Gentry series.

Early Childhood and Education

When Hamilton was only a small child, her mother was killed in an automobile accident. At that time, her grandmother took on the responsibility of raising her. Laurell always attributed her personality and attributes to the fact that her grandmother was instrumental in raising her and she had no male role model who was involved in her life. Hamilton did not play with dolls like most other girls but instead was attracted to horror movies. She attributes her love of the horror story to the tales that her grandmother told her when she was a little girl. At only 13 years old, she discovered “Pigeons from Hell” which is a collection of short stories. After reading the entire series she decided at this early age that she was going to become a writer. Once she discovered “The Natural History of the Vampire,” she became a devoted student of vampire lore.

Hamilton attended what is now called Indiana Wesleyan University and obtained dual degrees in English and Biology. The university is located in Marion, Indiana and is a private Evangelical Christian liberal arts establishment. It remains affiliated with the Wesleyan Church. She later met her husband, Gary Hamilton and they had one daughter named Trinity. Hamilton’s family presently lives in St. Louis County, Missouri.

Early Beginnings

Once Hamilton decided that she wanted to become a writer she delved in with her heart and soul. Her very first works were published in Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Fantasy Magazine. This offered Hamilton exceptional publicity and visibility. “Those Who Seek Forgiveness” was one of her early works but it did not find a fit in any established genre at the time. It took Hamilton more than 2 years to find a publisher that would handle the draft. In 1994, she published the very first book in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series. The title of the book was “Guilty Pleasures” and readers where quickly drawn in by the strong characters as well as the scenes which vividly described graphic sexual behaviors and violence. This has kept the series “spicy.” She continued to work on the Anita Blake series until there are presently 11 books in the series. Each of these has been praised by critics and is very popular among fans of vampire legends.

In 2000, Hamilton started working on another series which detail the adventurous Merry Gentry, who is a Fey princess. The books in this series have also reached the New York Times book list on numerous occasions. Hamilton has also written a few of the books which are part of the Star Trek novel series.

Most Notable Works

Ms. Hamilton has written various types of publications including novels, spin-off comic books, stand-alone titles and various anthologies. Even though Hamilton’s very first novel, Nightseer, did not get noticed, the first one of her Anita Blake novels in 1993 took off exponentially and led to more sequels. Her most notable works include two series. Today she is most popular for these creations:

1. Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter is a character who raises the dead as her profession. This necromancer and animator also executes vampires and later in her series she becomes a US marshal.

2. Anita Blake Comics – these are simply comic book versions of the stories contained in the Anita Blake series. Her first three books, Guilty Pleasure, Circus of the Damned and Laughing corpses have all been featured in comic books.

3. The Merry Gentry Series is a series of stories surrounding a Princess of Faerie who is also a private investigator. These 8 novels have gripping plots which center on those who do believe faeries exist and are trying to assassinate Gentry; and those who do not live in the “real world” and do not believe in their existence.

Who is Anita Blake?

Hamilton has created an entire series of books which are about Anita Blake. Blake is one of Hamilton’s best known characters. The setting is an altered society in which werewolves and vampires have finally been accepted into the world’s social order. Anita Blake is a vampire hunter who is just about able to keep up with all the favorite superheroes. However, Blake is able to retain her femininity so that she remains attractive to male characters. In the series of novels, Blake makes a living by reanimating the dead and then gaining useful information from them. When it is necessary, she becomes an expert vampire hunter and she is very intimate with both werewolves and vampires who reside in St. Louis. Hamilton grew weary of females who were cheated out of great fight scenes which seemed reserved for male characters, so she made certain that Blake is allowed plenty violent encounters.

Any Books Becoming Movies?

Early in 2009 there were rumors circulating that Hamilton had agreed to sign a deal with IFC to make the Anita Blake series into a full length movie and perhaps even a TV series. Hamilton did announce that these were not misguided rumors, but that she was working with officials and the series had been optioned. Although the plans early on were to adapt the Blake series to movie, later in 2009 Hamilton also announced that the plans had been discontinued.

Award Winning Works

As mentioned Hamilton has had numerous books in her two popular series on the best seller list of the New York Times several times. She has also won the Paranormal Excellence Award for Romantic Literature (P.E.A.R.L.) which was bestowed upon her for A Kiss of Shadows which was published in 2000. She remains one of the most fascinating authors of dark fantasy. Her writing style covers just about every type of reader’s taste as she crafts engaging stories with strong leading characters and driving plots.

9 Responses to “Laurell K. Hamilton”

1. Max Blue: 3 years ago

   I would love to… read Anita forming a third triumvirate with Wicked and a weretiger, or Rafael. And receive the fourth mark. Major power-up.

   Reply
2. NANCY L VERHALEN: 4 years ago

   I would like to know when Anita and Jean-Claude are finally getting married.

   Reply
3. Ann Applegate: 7 years ago

   I’ve been rereading the Anita Blake series, but seem to have missed the book where Jade comes to St Louis. Which title is that??

   Reply
   • Groovy: 2 years ago

     Jade arrives in St Louis in the novel, Bullet.

     Reply
4. Linda Amstrong: 7 years ago

   I would like a lot less sex and a lot more action.

   Reply
5. TheEbonyDiva3: 7 years ago

   How old is Edward/Ted?

   Reply
   • Carin Dabbs: 6 years ago

     I think i remember Anita saying he was 8 years older than her. In serpentine he is 40 so that would put her at 32.
     I cant be sure!

     Reply
6. D'Artagnan Shaw: 11 years ago

   OOPS I posted that as my 15 yr old son being that he was signed into Facebook but I have no doubt Both of my sons would feel the same, and love to see a series made of these books… Jessica Shaw

   Reply
7. D'Artagnan Shaw: 11 years ago

   I would LOVE to see the ANITA BLAKE series become either a movie series or a TV series… Id own them all as I do the books….I know several others that would completely be taken by them…. PLEASE reconsider the Idea…..

   Reply