Phone Message Transcript: July 5, 2001
[appearing on Anne's fan phone line]

"July 5, 2001

Hello guys,

First, let me apologize for taking so long to update the website and the phone message. I have been holed up for over a month in my Florida beach hideaway finishing my new vampire novel which will be published in 2002. It has just gone out by Fed Ex to my editor in New York and to my agent. I feel a wonderful sense of relief and excitement. Meantime, I am working on the uncorrected proofs of BLOOD AND GOLD the story of Marius that will be published this coming October. I am very excited about that as well.

I also have good news about THE QUEEN OF THE DAMNED. I hope to be seeing a rough cut of it soon. Warner Bros. is tremendously enthusiastic about it. It is scheduled for release in Spring of 2002. Not very long ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Stuart Townsend, who will be playing Lestat in the movie. He was absolutely charming. I can't wait to see his version of my favorite vampire and alter ego. Right now, as I dictate these words to my beloved Verona, I am gazing out at the beautiful and placid Gulf of Mexico. Even though I have just finished a novel I am already dreaming of another.

Lestat haunts my waking moments. I can't escape him. And, before I forget, let me remind you again, that the mini series of FEAST OF ALL SAINTS will be shown on SHOWTIME in November.

Keep leaving me your wonderful phone messages. I appreciate all of them. Transcripts are sent to me in Florida of everything you say. For those of you who are waiting for your autographed books from Garden District bookshop, I am deeply apologetic about the delay. The orders way exceeded our capacity to sign in timely fashion. But we will return to New Orleans in the very near future and get cracking.

By the way, for those of you who are boxing fans, and remember that I am an avid boxing fan, I have a new boxer to recommend. His name is Ebo Elder. I watched him box Tuesday night on ESPN and he was great. I am also a big fan of Prince Naseem Hamed - whom everybody loves to hate, but whom I adore. Well, that is all for now.

Much love to everybody.

Anne."