Interviews
On Wednesday, October 21, 1998, barnesandnoble.com welcomed Anne Rice, author of THE VAMPIRE ARMAND.
Moderator: On October 21, 1998, barnesandnoble.com was pleased to bring Anne Rice back to our Authors@aol series for another chat. One of the country's most widely read and celebrated writers, Anne Rice is author of the Vampire Chronicles series, three books on the lives of the Mayfair Witches, and many other novels. Her latest novel is THE VAMPIRE ARMAND.
LeightonBN: Ms. Rice, welcome back. We had so much fun last time, we had to invite you once more.
Anne Rice: I'm very happy to be here!
LeightonBN: Ready to open the floodgates?
Anne Rice: Absolutely ready!
Question: I was wondering -- if it's not too personal -- what your own religious beliefs are, and how you feel that they come across in your work?
Anne Rice: I think my religious beliefs are completely expressed in my work. I identify completely with Lestat at the end of MEMNOCH THE DEVIL. And I identify as well with Armand at the end of THE VAMPIRE ARMAND.
Question: What inspired you to use the "Apassionata" as Armand's song?
Anne Rice: I make choices like that instinctively. I love the "Apassionata" sonata, and it struck me as exactly the right music for Syvelle. I was obsessed with it, so she became obsessed with it.
Question: Have you heard of this fringe phenomenon among youth of living as vampires -- sleeping in coffins, getting fanglike dental implants, ingesting blood, etc.? What are your thoughts on it?
Anne Rice: I've heard a lot about the readers getting their own dental implants, and I think that's a lot of fun. I think sleeping in coffins is fine -- what's wrong with that? When it comes to ingesting blood, I can't give my approval to that, and I can't recommend it. It's too dangerous.
Question: When you finished MEMNOCH THE DEVIL, had you decided then that Armand would live, even though the book made him look as if he had died?
Anne Rice: I had made no clear decision. I deliberately planned it so that there would be no witnesses to Memnoch's death. There couldn't be any vampire witnesses; people would only see a burst of flame. I kind of knew he survived, but my thoughts weren't clear.
Question: Hi, Anne! I'm Danielle. I'm the one who threw the doll up to you at the Halloween party last year. Remember? The drunk blonde girl! (
LOL) I just wanted to ask why you shut down your tours in New Orleans? I loved them.
Anne Rice: Danielle, I remember you! [laughs] I shut down the tours because their purpose was completely misunderstood in the press. I was trying to provide access to New Orleans because I love it. The tours also provided work for New Orleanians, but this was completely misunderstood by the press, who criticized me for being exploitative. In bitter disappointment, I closed them down. My home is open every Monday to the public from 1 to 3pm at no charge. I don't see how the press can criticize this.
Question: Hello, Anne. You are wonderful! I am really enjoying ARMAND, and I have two quick questions. How old was he when Marius embraced him (it's an ongoing debate), and why was Armand's transformation so different from that of all the other vampires?
Anne Rice: Armand's age actually shifts about in my mind. I think he was about 17 when Marius made him a vampire. However, he is often described as looking like a 15-year-old by others who've seen him. His transformation was spectacular because Marius in his wisdom made him so. He made the process as drawn out as he could possibly make it so that Armand would have the maximum mythical and physical knowledge when he was finished. Armand had the time to read his own past and see numerous visions while he was being made a vampire.
Question: What do you think of "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer"?
Anne Rice: I haven't seen the TV series at all, but I thought that the movie was very funny, and I thought that Buffy was very cute.
Question: What Vampire Chronicles characters might feature in another major novel soon?
Anne Rice: I hesitate to say, but I have a good feeling that it might be the Vampire Lestat.
Question: Are you considering in any of your upcoming novels making San Francisco the main setting?
Anne Rice: It's been ten years since I lived in San Francisco. I doubt it will ever be a main setting in any of my novels. I travel every chance I get, and I love to use new sites like Rio de Janeiro and Rome and Florence, Italy, and Paris and other such places that I have visited.
Question: Is there another movie in the works, and if so, when can we expect to see it?
Anne Rice: Right now James Cameron, the director of "Titanic," owns the rights to THE MUMMY. Write to Jim! As regards the Vampire Chronicles, the situation is tragic. There is no real development going on at Warner Bros. on any book of the Chronicles. Write to Warners, please! Tell them how much you want to see a movie based on the Chronicles. Maybe it will do some good.
Question: I understand that you have done a lot of research on the after-life that has made you comfortable with death. What were the most helpful books that you have read on the subject?
Anne Rice: The most helpful writer was Dannion Brinkley. Dannion videotapes and books were absolutely convincing that there is life after death. I was also inspired by the books of Raymond Moody. I have read anthologies of accounts by people who have had near-death experiences, and the material is very convincing.
Question: Ms. Rice, I can't wait to start reading ARMAND. I bought it today. I was wondering, what is your earliest recollection of writing, and what is the first story you ever wrote about? Did you always have an interest in the supernatural?
Anne Rice: I always had an interest in what's called speculative fiction. The first story I ever wrote was actually a novel about two people coming here from Mars. It was from the Martian point of view. It was very dramatic and very tragic. I was in the fifth grade in grammar school at the time.
Question: You've been very public with your support for the President. Has that changed since the Lewinsky affair emerged?
Anne Rice: I still completely support President Clinton. I think the Republican Party are making fools of themselves. The President has been outstanding. Monica Lewinsky is a self-centered, gossipy trophy hunter. She has no regards for the President, Mrs. Clinton, Chelsea, and the office of the President. I will never vote for anyone who participates in persecuting the President.
Question: Where did the name Khayman come from? I have named my son after him and would love to know the origin.
Anne Rice: I know of no origin for the name except my own imagination. It sounded like an ancient name to me, with possible origins in Ancient Egypt, and I went with my instincts.
Question: Do you think feminism has taken a regressive turn in the last ten years?
Anne Rice: I don't know what that means. I think feminism has always been divided. Some feminists want to protect women at the cost of their rights. Others want to see women more and more get their rights. The protectionists have always angered me with their puritanical attitudes. I want women to have equality with men. Monica Lewinsky should apologize to Mrs. Clinton.
Question: You've shown yourself to be a fan of Tom Cruise, at least so far as "Interview with the Vampire" is concerned. Have you heard anything about his new Stanley Kubrick picture, which has been such a closely guarded secret?
Anne Rice: I have heard nothing about it. I only know that they're still working on it.
Question: Do you think there's less room than in the past for myth and lore in this technical, rationalists' world? Is there a greater need for it in response? Does this account, in part, for your books' success?
Anne Rice: I think that right now, the public is desperate for myth and lore. They need meaningful, fantastic fiction. There is no contradiction there between fantastic and meaningful. For 1,500 years, the Christian West and the Jewish West have told tales of the supernatural, magic, and meaning. Pedestrian fiction will probably have a very short tenure.
Question: In the book CRY TO HEAVEN, did you create Christina to be what you thought your daughter would have been at that age? I noticed that the physical description was very similar to your daughter. Maybe you thought she would be a painter like your husband.
Anne Rice: I never thought of it. It never crossed my mind. But it's a lovely thought.
Question: Hi, Anne! The vampires' theory of God and religion is very interesting. Is this based on your own theology?
Anne Rice: Yes, completely. My questions about God and the Devil are the same as Armand's questions and Lestat's questions.
Question: Is James Cameron still set to direct THE MUMMY?
Anne Rice: We haven't heard from Jim in a while. We feel that right now the best thing to do would be to give him some space. "Titanic" was a true titanic success, and Jim must be facing many opportunities.
Question: Hi, Anne! I was wondering if you need to be alone to write or if ideas come better when you are with other people.
Anne Rice: Ideas come all the time; they're no respecters of crowds. But I like to write alone in a room by myself.
Question: When is the movie THE VAMPIRE LESTAT coming out? Is it coming out? --Jessy
Anne Rice: There may never be such a movie as long as Warner Bros. has a stranglehold on Lestat. They don't want to make a movie based on that book. As far as I know, Warner Bros. has no respect for me or the readers. But if they don't make something soon, they will lose their rights to the Vampire Chronicles. That's what I pray for -- I pray for the books to come back to me in the year 2000. My worst fear is that they will make a trashy film using the characters' names with an original story of their own, not based on any of the books. If you fear this as much as I do, please write to them and tell them what you think. Write to Lorenzo Bonaventura.
Question: Do you think you've become something of a cult of personality among your fans?
Anne Rice: Yes, I do, and I rather enjoy it! And I regard the whole thing very highly; I love my readers. They're the only ones I know that have never told me to shut up!
Question: Bonsoir, Madame Anne Rice.
Je vous aime! My name is Lionel, and I am a young Frenchman who loves you since 1990. My favorite character ever is Louis. I see him as the personification of the best part of my inner self. Is there a chance that we get more of him?
Anne Rice: Bonsoir, Lionel! I think Louis will always be in the novels, but it's unlikely that he'll have his own novel...I don't know.
LeightonBN: Ms. Rice, thanks for joining us. Any closing comments?
Anne Rice: First of all, let me thank you all for having me on and letting me talk to the readers. And lastly, let me express my grief over the death of the young gay man Matthew Shepard in Wyoming recently. This was a horrible crime -- an unspeakable crime. If we could just have a brief second of silence for Matthew, I think that would be a good thing.
[moment of silence]
Thanks very much, again.
LeightonBN: Ms. Rice, thanks so much for your company. We hope to see you again.
Anne Rice: Oh, it was great! I want to come back!
LeightonBN: Goodnight.
Anne Rice: Goodnight!
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