Anne Rice

Monday, Sep 2, 1996 10:50 AM UTC

Anne Rice's “Servant of the Bones” Diary

Greetings from the Windy City

By Anne Rice

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we are presently in Chicago and our two signings, one in Detroit and one here, have been long, exciting and extremely emotionally rewarding for me. The big, gold bus carries us through miles of cornfields and then into the crowded, energized and always exciting streets of Chicago, a city of indefinable spirit. Again and again people embrace the theological questions of “Memnoch” and “The Servant of the Bones.” More and more, readers volunteer that they are Jewish or Catholic, or have a passionate spiritual obsession with living a worthwhile life. They seem to “get” just what I want them to get while finding the books page-turners.

As far as I can tell, “The Servant of the Bones” is being devoured. “Memnoch the Devil” is mentioned the most by people I meet, and it seems a countless number of young people enjoyed “The Mummy.” That’s what I hear out here. It’s thrilling more than exhausting. On the bus, I can wallow in Antonio Banderas movies — males are my muses, no doubt about it.

I can’t answer the questions people ask me about why my novels sell. I only feel the delicious heat of approval, and am always “writing” new novels in my head. My stuff’s weird, unpredictable, full of career sabotage in a way, in that I keep experimenting, shifting direction, mixing menstrual blood with Holy Communion. The readers say “Go, Anne.” And that’s my ticket to a new departure, a new investigation into the erotic.

I don’t give a damn about gender. Surely President Clinton will come around on same-sex marriages. Gender today is entirely a legal choice. Regarding the Democratic Convention, which is adding tremendous excitement to Chicago, naturally, isn’t it a mystery how the press heats up on Bill and Hillary? And they take it with such grace. Perhaps, unlike other First Families, the Clintons really do care more about us than they care about the press. Maybe that’s their most potent gift — they respect the press but are never manipulated or demoralized by it. Bill and Hillary care about what must surely be the most creative challenge of their lifetime. It’s breathtaking to watch them stride calmly through the brickbats and lies.

Love you,

August 26, 1996, 3:15 a.m.
Chicago

Monday, Aug 26, 1996 8:52 AM UTC

Submit to Anne

Anne Rice answers Salon readers' questions

By Anne Rice

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in “The Vampire Lestat,” when Lestat discovered Claudia had been
burned to a cinder, he tells Armand to scatter the ashes… to which Armand
replies, “Didn’t you want justice?” This implies that Claudia did not
actually die per se, this is reminiscent of when Magnus leaped into fire
and threatened to hunt down Lestat if he did not scatter the ashes… this
confuses me, it left an opening for Claudia to return… yet she was never
reintroduced… and I’m curious why this opening was left in the book if
you did not intend to resurrect Claudia.
–Jesse Fenrison

Dear Jesse:
In “Interview With the Vampire,”
Claudia’s ashes are scattered along with her golden hair as Louis and Santiago fight each other. So whatever Santiago says to Armand about it later is not actually relevant. As for Claudia’s returning, we know she can return as a ghost. And ghosts are surrounding me. There is such beauty in grimness. But ghosts are often so intimate. What is
better? To be alone or to be haunted?

In your most recent column in Salon, what did you mean when you called
for, not only a “flat tax,” but a “flat national income?”
–Sofia Greene

Dear Sofia:
When urging the Democrats toward a flat tax
and a flat minimum income I meant that we should do away with graduated tax
rates and the endless qualifications for “welfare.” When people go on welfare
they have to “need” it. I was arguing for a flat minimum income, available to
everyone who registers for it. There’s no doubt in my mind that Americans are
workers, and that a minimum flat national income would be self-limiting. Stop
punishing people for working. Flat tax, flat income. Let the American dream
of catching the Brass Ring exist for everybody.

Whatever you believe, I hope you saw President Clinton’s beautiful speech in
the Rose Garden today — August 22 — as he signed the Welfare Reform Bill. He
believes in us as workers. I think the Republicans, after nominating Dole,
believe in us as suckers.

I have studied Nietzsche, especially Zarathustra, and have noticed
powerful similarities between Lestat and Zarathustra. Both go up and
down, both strive to affirm life and both are extremely religious
yet, at times, as philosophic children. I am curious if Nietzsche has
influenced any of your work, and if so how much?
– Richard Bradley Hallberg

Dear Richard:
I haven’t really read Nietzsche. I just ordered
all his books. What I know is hearsay Nietzsche. What I am searching for
personally — and trying to create through Lestat or Azriel — is a world-embracing
religion which also believes in an afterlife. In other words, eat, drink and
be merry, love and learn, and when you die, you will be received into the
light. We aren’t citadels of “sin.” Excess isn’t evil. As for Nietzsche and
Zarathustra, they will definitely become part of my ongoing studies. I’m
obsessed.

How did you get your inspiration to write the Beauty trilogy? Was it
from personal experience, and if so, when were you a sex slave, and to
whom were you a slave to? If you were not one, do you want to be one? Is
that your ultimate fantasy? The books are very erotic and personal
favorites. I have heard that you are not going to continue writing
erotica. If that is true, why? Lots of your readers think you should
continue. Thanks for giving me many hours of pleasure lost in your
erotic, vampiric, witchy, supernatural, fantastic worlds!
– Robin Rothwell

Dear Robin:
My dear, the Beauty Trilogy is all fantasy. I feel I
fulfilled my purpose with the three books and will write no more pure erotica.
But I do feel liberated to write freely about sex, as all my later books reveal.
Have you read “Lasher”?

In your vampire books, you write of the oldest vampire and that he came
from Babylon. Will you be writing more on how it all began?
–Michael L. Williamson

Dear Michael:
I do see my unnamed ancient vampire from Babylon.
I’m not writing about him yet. But I will. I see him in a short-form vampire
novel — I want to do a whole series of them: Santino, Pandora, Gabrielle,
etc. What sort of short form? 150 pages — a small format hardcover. On Babylon: I must return. I simply read so much on Babylon, I can’t stay away. The city was old when Azriel became Servant of the Bones.

Finally, let me answer some general questions that came in.

1. Yes, I will return to the Mayfair witches. In many novels, I hope.
2. Yes, there will be more vampire novels, but in the short form for a while.
3. Film rights to “Lestat” and to the Witches are locked up at Warner Brothers. Why no “Lestat”? I don’t know! Should we besiege them with inquiries? This is what I think: The team from the film “Interview with the Vampire” is all scattered. I alone remain. But sooner or later an actor or director of great passion will call Warners and declare that he or she wants to get one or more movies going. Then something will happen. Lestat lives. My script for “The Witching Hour” is alive and well at Warners and awaits the right genius. Since we’re talking Hollywood, the genius will have to be bankable. But then Lestat himself is about as bankable as you can get. And so is “The Witching Hour.”

A final note to Salon readers (for August 23)

Please remember my home readers’ line is 504-522-8634. Tell me what you think of Azriel.

Also — watch — if you will — for my ads congratulating Clinton on the
Welfare Reform Bill. They will be in Variety, Hollywood Reporter, New York
Times and Chicago Tribune.

Modestly yours, with love and vaulting ambition,
Anne Rice

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Monday, Aug 26, 1996 8:38 AM UTC

Anne Rice's “Servant of the Bones” Diary

On Metaphysics, Howard Stern and the Pleasures of Tab

By Anne Rice

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a bus tour is “a moveable feast” to use the old religious expression with a nod
to Hemingway’s reuse. There is no sleep to equal the sleep in a
contained bunk, covered with down comforters and cradled by pillows as the bus
moves inexorably through the night from one booksigning to another. Think
about it. Then, there’s TAB. I’m hooked on Coca Cola’s all-but-abandoned
child, TAB! Well, we can carry cases of this rarity on the bus into
territories where it’s not sold.

Which brings me to Canada where we have only just been, at one of the
dreamiest signings so far — a media-event in a gorgeous oval ballroom with
Wedgewood blue walls, soaring colonettes and white mist, which made the entire
experience divinely special. When the pianist began to play the “Moonlight
Sonata,” I was in ecstasy.

The Canadians were charmers in Ottawa Chateau, Laurier,
the Adams Ballrosa, in
Kingston and Toronto and Burlington, and lots of our beloved black-clad Goths
showed up as well.

Biggest surprise so far? That the mainstream audience is increasing
enormously.

Guys, tell me: What is it I write? Are these books metaphysical thrillers?
Is that the best term? The more I talk to readers about my hero, Azriel, the
more I want to write new books about him. Of course he has Lestat’s ruthless
streak (so do I) but he also has tremendous power. Do I see a sequel? “Azriel
Unbound?”

Not sure.

Which brings me now to another point. Children of the Night and the Day,
Beloved Readers: Please don’t ask me anymore to do a sequel to “The Mummy.” “The Mummy” is complete — and it’s also in James Cameron’s hands. He’s probably going to make a genius film of it. I have not come to terms with Ancient Egypt or its mummies. I still can’t watch a mummy movie by myself! There is something so mysterious in those wall paintings, those curses, that I can’t abandon it.

A writer must listen to her dark muses. And now they are speaking of ghosts, of
spirits, of Azriel, and the ghost who haunts my latest manuscript, Violin, and
even of Julien’s ghost in the Mayfair books. In the ghost story there lies our
deepest and most thrilling dramatization of our fear of death.

Do we dissolve in death? Or is this life only the beginning of an
indescribable adventure? Give me five minutes with the ghost of Hamlet’s
father. . .

Getting back to Azriel, what’s your take on him? Am I just warming up to the
character in “Servant of the Bones”? I keep flashing back on ancient Babylon, as
well as the centuries since then. Let me know what you think of Azriel’s
choices. As I see it, in “Servant of the Bones,” he makes two — and both are
crucial.

Remember my old-fashioned phone line in New Orleans — 504-522-8643? I check my messages (your messages) every night. Beautiful.

Immediate Goals:
To be the greatest writer of my time and yours.
To go on the Howard Stern Show. Do you think Howard would let me touch his
hair?

Love from Rochester, New York. And soon I will have answers to your latest
questions via Salon!

Love and love again,

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Monday, Aug 19, 1996 8:22 AM UTC

Anne Rice's “Servant of the Bones” Diary

Antonio, "The Mummy" and Bill Clinton

By Anne Rice

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people who come to our signings are of all ages, from all walks of life, the mainstream swallowing the old black-clad cult readers and the loyal gay
readers. But everything’s there — only going to prove that Americans are hungry for spiritual substance in their novels.
What I mean is, people want to read thrillers that have meaning! They want
excitement and ideas! I’ve never felt more energized.

Other notes:
I won’t be doing a sequel to “The Mummy,” at least not until director Jim Cameron makes his movie of it. I adore Cameron, and besides, when I return to Egypt, to the Pharaohs and the painted inscriptions, I want
to go
darker, deeper. I thank you all for asking about “The Mummy.” But it’s now
in Jim Cameron’s hands.

Definitely check out Jim Cameron’s restored version of his film, “The Abyss,”
if you haven’t seen it.

By the way, there were no ghosts in this Vermont guest house. Maybe the
graveyard across the street is too inviting.

Let me end with my vote of confidence for Bill Clinton. Why doesn’t this
president get more credit for what he has done? Is he, perhaps, too handsome,
too threatening to American males? Whatever, the Democrats are for the
people. Maybe after the election, we’ll see President Clinton invite Colin
Powell onto his team.

Keep your calls coming into my message line in New Orleans, 504-532-8634. Let
me know what you think of the new books.

I love seeing you all at the signings! Pictures of Antonio are always
welcome! He
is more than beautiful, he is my current spiritual muse.

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Monday, Aug 5, 1996 7:29 PM UTC

Anne Rice

Anne Rice's "Servant of the Bones" Diary, August 8, 1996

By Anne Rice

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hi guys, this is Anne Rice on August 8 reporting from the road. We began our glorious and extremely comfortable bus tour with a first stop at Huntington, Long Island last night. I signed thousands of books for spirited readers and on the way back to New York, we danced to the music of Elvis on the big bus.

This is a wholly different kind of tour that will take us to small towns, and we love it. Thank you also for calling my home line message machine 504-522-8634 and leaving us your impressions of the new book, “Servant of the Bones.”

This is a thrilling time for us. More and more readers are embracing the spiritual aspects of the books while still demanding a thrilling tale. We’re as convinced as ever that horror fiction can be meaningful and great. And we are having a ball out here.

For those of you who have read of the ugly controversy [see Wall Street Journal, page 1, August 8, 1996] in New Orleans about me trying to save the old churches of the Redemptorist Parish, please forgive the press. As I told you on my phone line some time ago, I don’t give interviews anymore so the reporters are dipping their pens in acid.

New Orleans loves you and so do I.

On the political side, if you agree with me, please push our handsome Mr. Clinton to give us a reasonable flat tax, a flat national income, health care for all and to decriminalize drugs. It was a joyous experience that Charlie Rose let me talk about all this on his television show the other night. I was amazed and, I think, so was Charlie.

Now let’s get the word to the president.

My love to all of you out there. You have given me the courage to be the individual I want to be — let them compare me to Liberace, Elvis, Madonna or Ru Paul. I’m delighted! I’m honored. I’m fearless. And looking forward to signing more books and hearing more of your voices and seeing more of your faces. Come on, tell me if you hate the book. It’s fine.

Regarding “The Mummy,” a book I wrote some years ago: James Cameron [director of "The Terminator"] is presently working hard on a script for it. I don’t plan a sequel anytime soon. Jim Cameron is very committed to making a movie of “The Mummy,” and I want to give him the space he deserves. But that won’t stop me from returning to Ramses at some later date, with all my usual independence. I couldn’t be happier about Cameron’s acquisition of “The Mummy.”

And also, guys, thank you for letting me cast my own book, “Servant of the Bones,” with Antonio Banderas. I haven’t heard from the beautiful man himself — he’s in Madrid — but my hero Azriel is a physical tribute to the beauty and the character and talent of Antonio.

Onward. This is too much fun. How can one be so transgressive, so obsessed with God and evil, and have a great big Nashville-style bus and so many smiling readers to visit? Maybe I’m dreaming?

God loves you. . .by whatever name you call him, he loves you I am sure.