Alan Ball and Anna Paquin
Alan Ball (L) creator and executive director of HBO's series 'True Blood' and cast member Anna Paquin take part in a panel discussion during the HBO session at the 2011 Summer Television Critics Association Cable Press Tour in Beverly Hills, California July 28, 2011. Reuters

"True Blood" creator Alan Ball told the Television Critics Association that he had signed a deal to return for another season of the wildly popular HBO drama and that he has already begun hashing out stories.

When asked to confirm a rumor that he might step down after the current season, the supernatural series' fourth, Ball flatly replied, "No."

He said that he's already "breaking stories" for season five, including exploring a plot about how one of the series' vampires was made.

While HBO has not officially announced a "True Blood" renewal for a fifth season, Ball's statements effectively confirm it.

HBO