Phone Message Transcript: November 7, 1997
[appearing on Anne's fan phone line]

"Hi, this is Anne Rice. I'm in New York City and it's just after midnight here. The date is November 7th, which is Stan's birthday. Happy Birthday Stan! He is 55 years old today. He is in San Francisco.

I wanted to give you all some information. We are going to do a signing tomorrow Saturday, November 8th at Borders Book Store, in Wayne, New Jersey. And we are going to do a signing Sunday night at Walden Books, in Trumball, Connecticut. Both of those stores will have information on when and how. The one in Wayne, New Jersey on November 8th is at 2 p.m. at Borders. The one on Sunday at Walden Books in Trumball, Connecticut is at 12 p.m., which I guess would be noon (right, right, right).

Then let's see what else is going on. We are going to be doing a bunch of TV shows and radio shows. Some of which will be live and some of which won't. Then, we'll, I'm looking around here, we're going to do a New York signing at Virgin Books & Records in Times Square, right in the middle of Manhattan. Let me find out when that is...Oh here we go, it's November the 11th, and that will take place from 5 - 11 p.m. Leila Josefowicz, the violinist who did Violin For Anne Rice, a wonderful CD, she will also be at the Virgin Megastore with me. Again, that's November 11th, and it's 5 - 11 p.m. I tell you guys these things because you call me and you ask me. I just want you to know that that's what we have scheduled. The t.v. shows and also the radio stuff is all scattered and most of it isn't live, so I don't know when it's going to broadcast.

What else did I want to tell you? I miss everybody tonight. I am in my apartment on the 63rd floor in Manhattan. It's very clear and the lights of the city are absolutely gorgeous. Really, really beautiful, and I don't know exactly how to describe it - this funny feeling of being alone here amid all these lights. I really kind of love it. I like it. But I feel very far away from the people I love and very isolated and strangely isolated from the readers. A lot of the reviews on VIOLIN, by the way, are interesting and fairly positive. A lot of your calls have been wonderful. I appreciate them very much. I appreciate everything, you know, that you guys have been telling me. Really, really, I like it a lot. Keep giving me feedback on the novel. The novel, as you know, those of you who have read it, is a very dark, dark story and it is complex. I think, of course, it contains some of the best writing I ever did. But then I always think that about the most recent novel. It is different in many respects and in many respects it is the same.

While I have you on the line, leave me a one minute message after this recording is finished. Even if the machine cuts me off, there's still room for you to leave a one minute message. You'll hear a beep and you can leave it after that. I don't know when the machine will cut me off, by the way, especially being out of town. I have no idea. It is a funny little old machine. We have ordered a replacement for it, and the replacement, believe it or not, cost $16,000 but the replacement hasn't come yet.

What else did I want to tell you. Oh, be sure to watch the movie ANGEL BABY if you get chance. Michael Rymer is the director, and he is absolutely a marvelous director from Australia. The movie is out now on VCR for rental. I still have my dream, as you all know, with regard to THE VAMPIRE LESTAT, that Leonardo DiCaprio, the brilliant young actor, will play Lestat if there ever is a movie made based on the book. I heard Leonardo just opened with the Titanic in Tokyo and people went wild for him. I am so happy for his success. So very, very happy about the incredible recognition he is getting. He has always been an extremely popular and well known star. He has made fabulous movies like WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE?, BASKETBALL DIARIES, ROMEO & JULIET, and RIMBAUD, no, no, no, that was called DARK ECLIPSE, or some eclipse; I'm not sure what eclipse, but it's something eclipse, it's about the poet Rimbaud and the poet Verlain, and it's very, very good. Anyway, I heard that the crowds are going crazy for him in Tokyo and that a lot of it had to do with Luhrmann's ROMEO & JULIET--wonderful film. Anyway, I am very happy about that. Let me recommend again BULLETPROOF HEART, a film with Anthony LaPaglia that I saw before I left home, that I like a lot.

I haven't got a chance to see any new films really. I've been so wrapped up in my signings at home and the book coming out, in meeting people, in seeing people and the coven party ball and all the things that happened in New Orleans last weekend that I have not been able to get away and just read or films. By the way, the Coven Party Ball was simply wonderful. I guess there were about 3,000 people there. The Fan Club handled it, as they always do, and they did a beautiful, beautiful job. I think next year, 1998, will be the 10th anniversary of the ball. I would imagine something special will happen, though I don't know what. I am urging them to do it on the anniversary of, to do it on the Saturday nearest Halloween, which might be right after Halloween, other than the Saturday before. But there is plenty of time to figure all that out.

Let me give you my love tonight and tell you how glad I am that you are reading VIOLIN, and keep giving me your responses, negative and positive. I love you very much. Take care."