Phone Message Transcript: October 30, 2002
[appearing on Anne's fan phone line]

"Hello guys, this is Anne Rice. It's October 30, 2002. I just have time to say hello, and to thank you for your messages. My new novel BLACKWOOD FARM has hit the stores and I am looking forward to hearing your responses to it. I hope you can get it at your local library if you don't have the means to buy it, and if you don't want to buy it...I don't blame you. (Laughing) But, if you do get it and you do read it, by all means, tell me what you think. I would love to hear all of your thoughts.

My husband Stan is doing very well. He's gone today for an MRI so that we can see the progress of the radiation and the chemotherapy on his tumor. As most of you know, the tumor is in his brain. He is being very courageous, and he's fighting an incredible battle. What else can I tell you about?

Oh, we did have some storms down here. You guys have asked about the storms. They showed up and we had flooding in the streets, but that's about all. It wasn't too bad. In other parts of the state and in other states it was much more severe. We weren't too bad.

Let's see what can I recommend to you all that I've seen? I haven't seen very many movies lately. Oh, there's a new novel out by Donna Tartt, she's a wonderful novelist. It's spelled T-a-r-t-t. It's terrific. Her language is wonderful, she's very southern. I don't have it right in front of me, and I can't remember the title, but next time I come on here I'll have the title. But just go in any bookstore and ask for Donna Tartt. I highly recommend her novel. Her last novel, THE SECRET HISTORY, was absolutely fabulous. So, you know this one is going to be fabulous.

What more can I say, except New Orleans is beautiful. It's getting cold, and we hate that! The storms did rip up our banana trees. I didn't like that much. I hope all of you keep the faith. I hope all of you who are writing, believe in your writing. Take care of yourselves and be careful on Halloween, be real careful. And again, give me your thoughts on BLACKWOOD FARM. Christopher read it, my son, and he said it was a freight train of a novel and that it had a lot of energy, so I was very happy with that. Take care, I love you. Bye now."