a bus tour is "a moveable feast" to use the old religious expression with a nod
to Hemingway's reuse. There is no sleep to equal the sleep in a
contained bunk, covered with down comforters and cradled by pillows as the bus
moves inexorably through the night from one booksigning to another. Think
about it. Then, there's TAB. I'm hooked on Coca Cola's all-but-abandoned
child, TAB! Well, we can carry cases of this rarity on the bus into
territories where it's not sold.
Which brings me to Canada where we have only just been, at one of the
dreamiest signings so far -- a media-event in a gorgeous oval ballroom with
Wedgewood blue walls, soaring colonettes and white mist, which made the entire
experience divinely special. When the pianist began to play the "Moonlight
Sonata," I was in ecstasy.
The Canadians were charmers in Ottawa Chateau, Laurier,
the Adams Ballrosa, in
Kingston and Toronto and Burlington, and lots of our beloved black-clad Goths
showed up as well.
Biggest surprise so far? That the mainstream audience is increasing
enormously.
Guys, tell me: What is it I write? Are these books metaphysical thrillers?
Is that the best term? The more I talk to readers about my hero, Azriel, the
more I want to write new books about him. Of course he has Lestat's ruthless
streak (so do I) but he also has tremendous power. Do I see a sequel? "Azriel
Unbound?"
Not sure.
Which brings me now to another point. Children of the Night and the Day,
Beloved Readers: Please don't ask me anymore to do a sequel to "The Mummy." "The Mummy" is complete -- and it's also in James Cameron's hands. He's probably going to make a genius film of it. I have not come to terms with Ancient Egypt or its mummies. I still can't watch a mummy movie by myself! There is something so mysterious in those wall paintings, those curses, that I can't abandon it.
A writer must listen to her dark muses. And now they are speaking of ghosts, of
spirits, of Azriel, and the ghost who haunts my latest manuscript, Violin, and
even of Julien's ghost in the Mayfair books. In the ghost story there lies our
deepest and most thrilling dramatization of our fear of death.
Do we dissolve in death? Or is this life only the beginning of an
indescribable adventure? Give me five minutes with the ghost of Hamlet's
father. . .
Getting back to Azriel, what's your take on him? Am I just warming up to the
character in "Servant of the Bones"? I keep flashing back on ancient Babylon, as
well as the centuries since then. Let me know what you think of Azriel's
choices. As I see it, in "Servant of the Bones," he makes two -- and both are
crucial.
Remember my old-fashioned phone line in New Orleans --- 504-522-8643? I check my messages (your messages) every night. Beautiful.
Immediate Goals:
To be the greatest writer of my time and yours.
To go on the Howard Stern Show. Do you think Howard would let me touch his
hair?
Love from Rochester, New York. And soon I will have answers to your latest
questions via Salon!
Love and love again,
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