** Is such and such a book by Anne any good?
If you really want to read a book but you're not sure if you should spend the money, take it out of the library. Most libraries will have all of Anne's books as part of their collection and, if people in your town respect library books, you'll even get to see what the original hard cover versions of the book looked like (but don't expect to see the original hard cover of Interview, it often gets so much wear and tear from being taken out so much that most libraries have had to put new, plain covers on). If you read it and like it, you can always buy the paperback later.
I worked at a bookstore which sponsored an Anne Rice book signing, (Little Professor Book Company, Fort Wayne, IN, 08/31/96) so I will put little explanations in here as we go along. Definately arrive early and go with a friend. You're either going to be given a number and asked to come back at a specific time or you will be told to wait directly on line. Either way a wait is involved (which is why you should bring a friend to talk to and help pass the time). The wait will be about the same if you arrive early and wait for it to start or arrive late and just wait to see Anne, but if you get there early Anne won't be as tired as she would be after 3 hours of signing books and she'll be more likely to spend a bit of time talking with you.
Book signings are scheduled and approved through the publishing company, in Anne's case Knopf Publishing, which pays for the tour. Before they authorize a book signing for a bookstore the bookstore is sent a long list of requirements. In 1996, line numbers or tickets, were a requirement from Knopf. The total line numbers sold is reported to Knopf by the bookstore so that Knopf can verify attendance at the book signings, which in turn allows them to rank their authors as to who is the biggest draw at book signings and therefore is worth the large pricetag of staging a book tour. While you are in line, you may see physically or mentally challenged people, or people with small children ushered to the front of the line, this is per Anne, so that those less able to endure the wait can get their books signed sooner. They aren't 'cutting', I promise.
Policies about whether or not you have to buy the book at the store or if you can just bring any book vary from bookstore to bookstore so call ahead and ask. Policies also vary as to how many books you can get signed. One thing that does not vary is that you will be told that Anne will only sign hardcovers so bring at least one of those. Take heart, though, if you want something signed in addition to a hardcover. There is a chance for you. I'll get to it in a bit.
It was required that the latest hard cover book, Servant of the Bones, be purchased in our store. We were only allowed to issue line numbers to those who bought the book, in our store, at the time of their purchase. Again, Knopf requires this because they are paying for the book tour in order to sell books. IMPORTANT NOTICE!!! If you know that Anne will be touring with a new book, DO NOT buy the book before the tour dates are set! We were NOT ALLOWED to issue line numbers to customers who had bought the book before we had been approved for the booksigning and were sent the line number tickets from Knopf.
While on line someone (usually someone who works at the place holding the booksigning) will come around with slips of paper for you to write down your name. In general, the rule is that Anne will only personalize a hardcover version of her latest book (the one she's doing the tour for) and "personalize" means that she'll write your name (ex. "For Mary, Anne Rice") not any phrase you give her (ex. "For my light and inspiration, I couldn't have written any of this if it wasn't for you my darling, dearest fan. Anne Rice.") The person who gives you the paper is also the first one who will tell you that anything other than a hardcover won't be signed. They won't (to my knowledge) kick you out if you don't have a hardcover, but they have been known to put pressure on people.
That was my job. It is EMPHASIZED by Knopf that Anne will ONLY sign hardcovers, and will ONLY personalize the hardcovers of her latest book. People begged and cried and called me a bitch (which I felt like anyway), but if we send people to Anne with additioanl paperbacks, it lengthens the book signing, and Knopf feels that Anne's time is not as well paid for by signing books that cost $6.99 than by signing books that cost $19.99 (okay, yes, I did send through you with the first edition IWTV paperback and told you to just spring it on Anne, and yes, sort of loudly enough that it would go through the line, but hey, I'm not responsible for paperbacks I don't see). If I may abuse this forum for one teensy second, let me ask you to please, please not be nasty to the book store employees, these rules aren't their idea.
When you get up to the front of the line, someone will take the book(s) from you and either give the book to someone else or open the book themselves and place the slip of paper so that Anne can see what you wanted her to write. I have no idea why you can't give the book right to Anne or why they occasionally have two people doing this job. It just is. At any rate, this person/two people will be the ones who weed you out if you don't have a hardcover. They simply just won't take anything else.
If there are two people, which there were at our book signing, one will be a bookstore employee and the other is a representative of Knopf. The Knopf representative judges how well the bookstore employees are doing their job of weeding out the paperbacks pretty much, but the other reason that you cannot give your book directly to Anne is that they must be checked first for several things. Is your handwriting clear enough for Anne to read? Did you only write your name or did you write an entire dedication, which is not allowable per Knopf. Is it truly a book, not a bomb, a gun or a cream pie in disguise. Finally, it is to create a short delay, giving the person in line ahead of you ample time with Anne without the next person horning in with his or her book.
Then the happy moment comes: Anne!
Contrary to what anyone may have told you, Anne is very nice in person and she loves talking with her fans. While she's signing your book, you can ask her or tell her anything you want. This is the perfect time to ask her about something you didn't understand in a book or to tell her how much you love her work or to tell her about a band you think she should listen to or whatever your heart desires.
This is also the time to - and this is where you can take heart - ask Anne to sign something other than what the store and the people working the signing told you Anne would never touch/ do in a million years. If you ask nicely Anne will do anything from personalize an old hardcover to sign your stomach (This is true! Someone actually asked her to sign their stomach and she did it! Don't believe me? Just ask her!)
All of this is, absolutely true! Anne spends lots of time with each individual who comes to a book signing. She gave a blessing to a couple who arrived in their wedding attire having been married earlier in the afternoon. And yes, she did sign the First edition IWTV, and many other paperbacks which were sprung on her.
Once Anne is done signing your book(s) and talking with you, she hands your books to someone else (again, I've no idea why she can't hand it to you directly) who gives the book to you. Some places will also allow photography at this point so it doesn't hurt to take along a camera so you can have a picture of yourself and Anne.
At our book signing, the book was handed to someone a little further down from Anne, in order to keep the 'traffic' moving in a steady pattern, away from Anne. It also gives a definite 'ending' to your time with Anne so that she can turn her attention to the next person.
And that's it. All that's left is to tell all your friends and get ready for the next signing.
Other things required by Anne and Knopf from the book store - A supply of TAB cola for Anne. Black felt tipped markers, at least three. Some sort of entertainment for the people in line (we had a Jazz band and a Tarot card reader). Public bathrooms for the fans. A prominent display promoting the book. Snacks. A member of store management must be with Anne, (or reasonably near Anne) throughout the entire booksigning in case something unexpected comes up. The store must stay open and be adequately staffed for the duration of the booksigning (ours began at three in the afternoon and the last book was signed shortly after midnight, then Anne signed books for the employees, and yes, her hand was visibly swollen, then she left. We got home about two a.m. Our end line number was 1500.
According to the 1999 Rough Guide to New Orleans, Anne has opened her own store in The Rink, next door to The Garden District Book Shop.
The 12 issues of TVL were completed, though, and put into a book called "Anne Rice's The Vampire Lestat: A Graphic Novel.".
I've read interviews with Anne in which she is asked about the Innovation novels and she said that she wasn't too fond of them as they made her vampires look like effeminate British rock stars. But you can certainly judge for yourself.
The graphic novel of TotBT was released in September 2000 from Sicilian Dragon. A major mistake is that Louis's eyes are colored brown.
In addition to these, there have also been comic adaptations of the chronicles which were done over in Japan. So far IWTV is the only one I've been able to track down. According to my friends in Japan the manga versions are out of print and therefore very hard to find. I was lucky enough to be given a copy of the manga IWTV and can attest to the fact that it is a beautiful adaptation which occasionally does better than the American version.
Conversations With Anne Rice> by Michael Riley.
I haven't read this one either but reports from those
who browsed through it in the bookstore have thus far been
favorable.
Anne Rice: A Critical Companion> by Jennifer Smith, Jennifer Crusie
This one claims to talk about Anne's work and how it relates to various genres such as horror, fairy tales and so forth. I don't know of anyone who has read this yet so any reviews that anyone can pass on to me would be appreciated.
In addition The Gothic World of Anne Rice edited by Gary Hoppenstand and Ray B. Browne. A collection of essays about Anne's books, characters, and the movie IWTV. The Anne Rice Reader edited by Katherine Ramsland. It is subtitled Writers Explore the Universe of Anne Rice, and that about says it all. Essays about all diferent aspects of Anne's characters and books. There is also a book called In the Shadow of the Vampire: Reflections from the World of Anne Rice by Jana Marcus. It is interviews of people involved with the Anne Rice fandom. Some are disgruntled. Some like the books but not Anne. Some attribute Anne with renewing their lives. It is a mixed bag. I would strongly suggest that you read it, or at least skim each interview before you buy it.
Some are now available in CD form as well as cassette.
TWH: Lindsay Crouse
Lasher: Joe Morton
Taltos: Tim Curry
The Mummy: Michael York
SotB: (abridged) Michael Cumpsty
