Dare to click the book cover below, to pre-order your copy, because this is a book you will not want to miss, if you view yourself as a serious fan of the Vampire Lestat…

Anne Rice- Recollecting on the most memorable of Anne Rice’s awesome spunk/temerity (or just otherwise genuine spirit)

Anne Rice’s ability to always stay true to her artistic self, in the midst of sometimes very brutal criticism, has always been an inspiration for me, as a writer

Day 19 (of 28 Total Days) Post: Blood Canticle Controversy& Anne Rice’s Valiant Artistic Gumption

 

Anne Rice has always been as audacious and outspoken, in the best possible ways, as her own character Lestat. I was a little apprehensive about rehashing details about one incident, around the time that Blood Contaticle was released. But contrary to popular opinion, I thought Anne Rice’s counter-perspective or rebuttal against the critics of the then final installment of the Vampire Chronicles was a moment, where she showed that she was not daunted by the most surly, sometimes condescending voices of some book critics.

To this day, Anne Rice has continued the question the quality of reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, not in a way that promotes bowdlerizing or silencing the critics of certain books, but questioning whether or not reviews (written under pseudonyms usually)  that can be construed as outright bullying, or a strategized/orchestrated way to slash the sales of an indie writer  should be allowed on Amazon.

First of all, for your perusal, here is the original rebuttal review, written by Anne Rice, about the book Blood Canticle: (Taken from BlogCritics, and many other pages have preserved the text of this deleted review, because the internet is an eternal repository of things)

“Seldom do I really answer those who criticize my work. In fact, the entire development of my career has been fueled by my ability to ignore denigrating and trivializing criticism as I realize my dreams and my goals. However there is something compelling about Amazon’s willingness to publish just about anything, and the sheer outrageous stupidity of many things you’ve said here that actually touches my proletarian and Democratic soul. Also I use and enjoy Amazon and I do read the reviews of other people’s books in many fields. In sum, I believe in what happens here. And so, I speak. First off, let me say that this is addressed only to some of you, who have posted outrageously negative comments here, and not to all. You are interrogating this text from the wrong perspective. Indeed, you aren’t even reading it. You are projecting your own limitations on it. And you are giving a whole new meaning to the words “wide readership.” And you have strained my Dickensean principles to the max. I’m justifiably proud of being read by intellectual giants and waitresses in trailer parks,in fact, I love it, but who in the world are you? Now to the book. Allow me to point out: nowhere in this text are you told that this is the last of the chronicles, nowhere are you promised curtain calls or a finale, nowhere are you told there will be a wrap-up of all the earlier material. The text tells you exactly what to expect. And it warns you specifically that if you did not enjoy Memnoch the Devil, you may not enjoy this book. This book is by and about a hero whom many of you have already rejected. And he tells you that you are likely to reject him again. And this book is most certainly written — every word of it — by me.

         If and when I can’t write a book on my own, you’ll know about it. And no, I have no intention of allowing any editor ever to distort, cut, or otherwise mutilate sentences that I have edited and re-edited, and organized and polished myself. I fought a great battle to achieve a status where I did not have to put up with editors making demands on me, and I will never relinquish that status. For me, novel writing is a virtuoso performance. It is not a collaborative art. Back to the novel itself: the character who tells the tale is my Lestat. I was with him more closely than I have ever been in this novel; his voice was as powerful for me as I’ve ever heard it. I experienced break through after break through as I walked with him, moved with him, saw through his eyes. What I ask of Lestat, Lestat unfailingly gives. For me, three hunting scenes, two which take place in hotels — the lone woman waiting for the hit man, the slaughter at the pimp’s party — and the late night foray into the slums –stand with any similar scenes in all of the chronicles. They can be read aloud without a single hitch. Every word is in perfect place. The short chapter in which Lestat describes his love for Rowan Mayfair was for me a totally realized poem. There are other such scenes in this book. You don’t get all this? Fine. But I experienced an intimacy with the character in those scenes that shattered all prior restraints, and when one is writing one does have to continuously and courageously fight a destructive tendency to inhibition and restraint. Getting really close to the subject matter is the achievement of only great art. Now, if it doesn’t appeal to you, fine. You don’t enjoy it? Read somebody else. But your stupid arrogant assumptions about me and what I am doing are slander. And you have used this site as if it were a public urinal to publish falsehood and lies. I’ll never challenge your democratic freedom to do so, and yes, I’m answering you, but for what it’s worth, be assured of the utter contempt I feel for you, especially those of you who post anonymously (and perhaps repeatedly?) and how glad I am that this book is the last one in a series that has invited your hateful and ugly responses. Now, to return to the narrative in question: Lestat’s wanting to be a saint is a vision larded through and through with his characteristic vanity. It connects perfectly with his earlier ambitions to be an actor in Paris, a rock star in the modern age. If you can’t see that, you aren’t reading my work. In his conversation with the Pope he makes observations on the times which are in continuity with his observations on the late twentieth century in The Vampire Lestat, and in continuity with Marius’ observations in that book and later in Queen of the Damned. The state of the world has always been an important theme in the chronicles. Lestat’s comments matter. Every word he speaks is part of the achievement of this book. That Lestat renounced this saintly ambition within a matter of pages is plain enough for you to see. That he reverts to his old self is obvious, and that he intends to complete the tale of Blackwood Farm is also quite clear. There are many other themes and patterns in this work that I might mention — the interplay between St.Juan Diago and Lestat, the invisible creature who doesn’t “exist” in the eyes of the world is a case in point. There is also the theme of the snare of Blackwood Farm, the place where a human existence becomes so beguiling that Lestat relinquishes his power as if to a spell. The entire relationship between Lestat and Uncle Julien is carefully worked out. But I leave it to readers to discover how this complex and intricate novel establishes itself within a unique, if not unrivalled series of book. There are things to be said. And there is pleasure to be had. And readers will say wonderful things about Blood Canticle and they already are. There are readers out there and plenty of them who cherish the individuality of each of the chronicles which you so flippantly condemn. They can and do talk circles around you. And I am warmed by their response. Their letters, the papers they write in school, our face to face exchanges on the road — these things sustain me when I read the utter trash that you post. But I feel I have said enough. If this reaches one reader who is curious about my work and shocked by the ugly reviews here, I’ve served my goals. And Yo, you dude, the slang police! Lestat talks like I do. He always has and he always will. You really wouldn’t much like being around either one of us. And you don’t have to be. If any of you want to say anything about all this by all means….And yes, the Chronicles are no more! Thank God!”

(Words property of Anne Rice)

Later, she wrote a different message about the novel, explicating more of things she felt were being misunderstood about Lestat’s character development in Blood Canticle (text taken from her author website):
”

Hello, Guys. Thank you for the responses to Blood Canticle that have been coming in. I appreciate hearing your reactions to my new book. In my last message, I talked about the hunting scenes and the dialogue, and how they were reflected an intimacy with the character of Lestat which I’d never achieved before. This time I want to talk about the theme of Redemption, which I think runs through all the Chronicle.

But first let me emphasize as I have in the past: each of the Chronicles is a distinct entity; each is a departure from what went before. No book plays by any set of rules. What I have always promised and what I have delivered in the Chronicles is that each book is written at white hot intensity, and that the content is utterly fluid during creation. That is, each chapter flows from what came before it, building slowly or swiftly to a climax and then an ending. Never anywhere have I ever promised a formula for these books, and never have they ever conformed to any notion of a series. Tale of the Body Thief radically departs from the epic style of Queen of the Damned to offer a first person adventure of Lestat. And Blood Canticle radically departs from the massive family epic of Blackwood Farm to go into the first person style of a song from Lestat that is similar perhaps to Tale of Body Thief. But no two books in the Chronicles are alike, really. And because of this, and many other factors, the Chronicles are absolutely unique in fiction. Now that they are concluded, I feel very good about them, and I am able to look at them from just a little distance and I find myself rather amazed as their peculiarities. But I think their strength lies in their individuality, in their eccentricity, in their bizarre tales, and twists and turns, as much as in the heat and intimacy of their characters.

Now, to the matter of Redemption. It is really the theme of Blood Canticle — Lestat’s search for Redemption. And it has been the theme of the Chronicles from the beginning. Louis searches throughout  Interview with the Vampire for a context, and what he really wants is meaning and what meaning will do for him is save him. When The Vampire Lestat open, Lestat seeks to become a rock star so that, in becoming a symbol of evil he might have relevence, and having relevence he might do some good in the world. He then tells us the story of his life, in which he once wanted desperately to be a monk but his father wouldn’t allow it. He goes on to tell us how he ran away from home to become an actor. And before the audiences on the boulevards in Paris he found a form of redemption. His life had visibility; it had meaning. But he was taken out of this temporary Heaven and doomed to a life of darkness. In that life of darkness he commenced to search for a way to exist that would redeem him; throughout the books, the discussion of redemption never really stops. Lestat seeks the great legendary Marius, believing that Marius will tell him how to exist in a noble way and in an honorable way, and the discussion deepens when the two characters come together to reflect a humanistic view of the world which gives Lestat a sustaining strength. But the world continues to test Lestat, and Lestat’s search continues…..

To read the remainder of her response, to criticisms about Blood Canticle, please click this hyperlinked text!”

 

I was actually a bit apprehensive about going ahead with posting the above (now deleted) Amazon review rebuttal, as it may not be something Anne Rice wishes to be preserved on a blog space like mine, which has a lot of respect for Anne Rice. I am sharing this, again, not as a way slander anyways, but merely bringing up moments of Anne Rice’s writing history that I thought was pretty pivotal, considering that the Vampire Chronicles have not come, at all, to a cessation. Rather in a little more than a week’s time, Prince Lestat (as you’re more than aware, at this point) is being released Tuesday, October 28, 2014, so when Anne Rice declared Blood Canticle back in 2004, that decision has been overturned.

But this  moment shows how important it is for an artist to have liberality and freedom, to write about the things that they feel most passionate about. Again, antithetically to much of the internet’s memory and reaction to Anne Rice’s Blood Canticle Amazon rebuttal; I actually saw that moment as a glimmer of Anne Rice’s mettle, lack of cowardice, and her artistic bravery, which is something denigrated sometimes in a culture, where we raise actors, writers, poets to some infallible place of exaltation, where they are not allowed to something even minorly wrong, unless they become subjected to a gratuitous degree of criticism, that is usually less forgiving than people within our immediate reality.

What else does Anne Rice’s Blood Canticle review shows? It shows that Lestat just needed to retreat awhile from the fervid, mixed reactions to Blood Canticle, and he needed some creative sanitorium, in some ways, in Anne Rice’s subconscious. 2014 is the perfect time for him to make his return, in many ways, with the abundant number of new takes on the vampire genre, allowing Anne Rice more creative space, in many ways, than ever to be allowed (not that someone as brave as Anne needs permission from anyone), or able,  to write a new installment for the Vampire Chronicles.

Now, I really seek your opinion, what do you think, overall, of Blood Canticle? And in retrospect, do you think Anne Rice had a right, as an author, to write a rebuttal to the spate of very nasty reviews of her book? Recently with Veronica Roth’s last Divergent title, and Charlaine Harris, with her Sookie Stackhouse series, the high-drama of readers and fan bases can be out-of-control, and lead to some really weird episodes, like death threats towards both these writers.

With the recent Gamergate controversy (with Anita Sarkeesian), this is a better time than ever to discuss civility and maturity, in how we criticize things. Hopefully, this reminder of this event reminds everyone of how we should say cool-headed, when responding to “Prince Lestat,” at the time of it’s release.

***Please send photos, artwork, letters, diary entries, an epistolary novel, something that you feel artfully engraves the impact Anne Rice’s stories have had on your life to narniafanatic@gmail.com with the subject line of “28 Days of Lestat! With your express permission being granted to share these things (one poem or song per day during the course of October, 2014, up till the 28th of October), I hope to post something each day- a small fragment of one person’s completely unique approach to the series, which will hopefully come together, impressively, on the 28th of October, to virtually reconstruct the different views and memories people attach to this series, the character of Lestat, and many of the other vampires (or immortal species) Anne has created, in an uncannily realistic way, which makes us believe that these characters are very real, and existing amongst us.

Also, be sure to share anything Vampire Chronicles-related on the Lestat Book Coven Facebook Group Page, any comment sections on all 28 individual #28daysofLestat posts here on this blog, or on Twitter,Instagram, Tumblr, and beyond!!
COMING SOON….News about Prince Lestat Book Coven Release Party Festivities-New York NY-October 28, 2014

A SPECIAL BLOOD AND GOLD First Edition, Signed Hardcover Contest

I will be attending Anne Rice’s signing at 192 Books on October 28, 2014, and I am planning to get a copy signed and personalized for the winner on that date!! This is a special laminated (serving to protect the book) first-edition hardcover that is in very good condition. This contest helps further promote my self-publishing publicity and editorial services, for the many indie writers out there, and I really thank you, in advance for entering this contest, as these contests do go a long way with helping promote this service, so aptly named: A Bibliophile’s Workshop

Another hypothetical prize- Video Greeting, from Anne Rice herself!(still not definite, as of yet) is to record a special message at the signing, from Anne Rice, to the winner. I’m pretty certain she’d be really excited to do this, so it is a good chance that it may happen. But given time constraints at signings, this may not happen…Stay tuned for more details on this development.

Contest Rules:
     Winners are chosen randomly, by the Rafflecopter APP, and the contest is to everyone, with a few restrictions. For those living outside either US or Canada, you can enter, as long as you understood you are required to pay the postage, as I cannot afford to pay any international shipping costs. I’d love to, but I cannot feasibly offer this, in my current financial situation!

I apologize to those in the same boat, as well, who would not be able to afford the shipping costs. I am always remiss to post that following message, barring you from entering. It generally sucks, as so many of you are equally as passionate (or even more passionate) about Anne Rice’s  than anyone.

**Comic Shared by Coven Member, Jo Vee**
Read, and be entertained by this very amusing comic, which will serve as the Hyperlink image, that will allow you to be redirected to a Rafflecopter App. that will allow you to enter this contest!!

***Please send photos, artwork, letters, diary entries, an epistolary novel, something that you feel artfully engraves the impact Anne Rice’s stories have had on your life to narniafanatic@gmail.com with the subject line of “28 Days of Lestat! With your express permission being granted to share these things (one poem or song per day during the course of October, 2014, up till the 28th of October), I hope to post something each day- a small fragment of one person’s completely unique approach to the series, which will hopefully come together, impressively, on the 28th of October, to virtually reconstruct the different views and memories people attach to this series, the character of Lestat, and many of the other vampires (or immortal species) Anne has created, in an uncannily realistic way, which makes us believe that these characters are very real, and existing amongst us.

Also, be sure to share anything Vampire Chronicles-related on the Lestat Book Coven Facebook Group Page, any comment sections on all 28 individual #28daysofLestat posts here on this blog, or on Twitter,Instagram, Tumblr, and beyond!!
COMING SOON….News about Prince Lestat Book Coven Release Party Festivities-New York NY-October 28, 2014

**For those who reside in the vicinity of New York, NY, Anne Rice will be at 192 Bookstore in New York, NY on October 28th, 2014 (coinciding with the official release of Prince Lestat)  I’ll be attending the New York event, and there are some exciting events, planned ahead of the signing at 7pm. Eastern at 192 Bookstore, which hypothetically, may include a special dinner and “Coven of the Articulate” Dinner at a New Orleans-style restaurant or coffee shop

Here are the event details, and you can RSVP for this event by heading over to the appropriate “Prince Lestat Invades NYC” Event Page on Facebook (or click on the St. John Divine church picture below to be taken there!!)

Event Details- October 28th, 2014; 2pm. Live Reading at St. John the Divine Church; and 4:30pm. “Coven of the Articulate Dinner” at a New Orleans style restaurant (soon-to-be- announced)!

The date is finalized, but the time is still not, as of yet, finalized, and the exact events are not yet clear either. So, this space is merely used to gauge interest in this event.

It will most likely be comprised of a live-reading of “Memnoch the Devil,” by either Anne Rice herself (low probability), as she is very busy preparing for her signing. It will most likely be myself reading it, or someone else entirely. I would prefer someone else reading it, who has the right type of reading voice.

The event will start at 2pm., giving people enough time to leave around 3pm. to head over to 192 Bookstore in New York City. For those who don’t mind where they are in line for the event, there will be a special dinner at 4:30pm. at a New Orleans style restaurant in the Manhattan area.

If you have any recommendations, as to the best place for such food, please leave your recommendations here! I need a final count of people that would be able to attend the Prince Lestat Cajun Dinner, by next week on Wednesday, and I will call the chosen restaurant to make the proper reservations then.

If anyone has good filming device of some kind (an iphone), you may be in charge of filming the St. John the Divine event, if we are given permission to do that! I have a low-tech camera, which I really don’t want to use, as the quality itself is terrible.

**Those of you, who do not live in the New York area still have a chance to meet Anne Rice, and get your treasured/beloved copies of Prince Lestat signed.

Several venues have discreetly posted some ticket information for the upcoming Prince Lestat book tour.  I will try finding more, and posting them below, with hyperlinked text for your convenience!! If you need help finding a signing near you, leave a comment below, or email me at narniafanatic@gmail.com.

For your convenience, all events that are not free events (a vast majority, unfortunately, are events that have charges attached/require tickets) happen to have asterisks (*) next to them:

If you manage to find any more events, please leave the link and other pertinent details in the comment area below! Thanks.

*October 28, 2014- Anne Rice& Victoria Wilson Book Signing- New York , NY 
*November 2, 2014- Anne Rice & Christopher Rice Book Signing New Orleans,LA
*November 5, 2014- Anne Rice, In Conversation with Christopher Rice- Hartford, CT (for some reason, this event is a bit exorbitantly priced)
*November 6, 2014- Anne Rice, In conversation with Victoria Wilson- Philadelphia, PA
*November 8, 2014- Anne Rice, In conversation with Victoria Wilson- Chicago, Il
*November 19, 2014- Anne Rice, In conversation with Christopher Rice- Los Angeles, CA   
(Click the hyper-linked text, to be referred to site to buy tickets!)A SPECIAL BLOOD AND GOLD First Edition, Signed Hardcover Contest