She's done more for my inspiration on my own books more than any other writer, on writing advice. Simply love her.

Finally, a writer that doesn't just say "IDK..magic" I like how she explained various ways she thinks of and explores ideas.

I would like to have just a pinch of the way you think Mrs. Rice.... You're awesome!

so worth viewing, folks! Writers & readers, the iconic & generous author, +AnneRice talking to high school writers about the process..."I believe in the instinct of writers."

I just love listening to her.

You seem so much happier Anne. Not sure what it is but it's like you are fulfilled in something. It's great seeing you like this! I have noticed this watching you talk and your body language. More inviting. This is brilliant information. I am so happy you are sharing it with us here. Thank you.

I read Pandora when I was 9. It was the first "novel" I had ever read. There were words in it that I didn't understand straight away, but when I looked them up...and knew what they meant...I was truly enraptured by Anne Rice's Vampires. I'm turning twenty in September, and because of Anne Rice's influence, I am fueling everything that I am in to a book (trying to make it a series) since I was twelve, writing, and re-writing, and re-writing. It's all because of you, Anne Rice. ^_^

I started writing a novel set in New Orleans a few years ago and was having trouble with coming up with names because there are so many supporting characters. I live on the Gulf Coast near New Orleans and my Mom is an office manager for an insurance agency. I told my Mom about my name problem in writing and she gave me this list of real names that blew my mind the next day. I now have names for characters to infinity... example: Estrella... along with cajun names that would make any writer jealous. Reality is always better than fiction.

She was so charming and charismatic. She died too early. It still feels unreal.

I read four books from Anne Rice, namely The Tale of the Body Thief, the Mummy, Blood Canticle, Blackwood Farm. All this novels, for me, in my own opinion is totally great and fantastic.

Thank you Anne for describing at least loosely, and validating the way that my wife writes! It's very little wonder that I found your stories to be extremely engaging even to the point of challenging many of the pre-concieved notions that I had about faith. Of course, in retrospect it might simply make sense that immortals would be the very subjects to challenge such a core belief system as faith, and it's not as if I was ever deeply religious by any stretch. But to read about it from a....

Anne you are such an inspiration thank you for sharing your creative mind.

Thank you Anne! As you I'm always blocked on names

For anyone wondering, the book she is referencing when she talks about Star Wars is "The Queen of the Damned." (from "Prism of the Night," p. 293)

Se dice que los artistas y escritores son los clarividentes del futuro. Imaginar es ver algo que ya existe en alguna otra parte. Lo dijo Jesús en los los libros de la saga Caballo de Troya, de JJ Benítez. Todo, absolutamente todo lo que podemos imaginar ya existió en alguna parte, planeta, dimensión o tiempo. Anne Rice, como toda buena escritora. Es muy intuitiva. De la intuición a la clarividencia hay apenas unos cuantos pasos. Muchas bendiciones hermosa Rice, descansa en paz y que ti próxima vida sea aún más luminosa. Tus libros son un deleite al alma.

I'm writing a novel about crime in the French Quarter set in 1991 and I told my Mom that I needed about two dozen names if not more for the novel. My Mom is an office manager for an insurance company. After I told her about needing names, she came home with a huge list of unusual names of real people. Customers. I started writing and naming my characters piecemeal. First and last names jumbled up from this list. Problem solved on names. Gordon

Thank you so much for sharing with us Anne!

Star wars inspired a book from Anne Rice?? wow :)

Great, great and interesting post, Annester! Love it! Garekin

Such a legend

They totally trivalized the debate between Akasha and her 'children'. Marius (who did not make Lestat) In the book Marius had a long argument for Akasha. He was never jealous of Lestat drinking from Akasha (he himself had many many times) and Marius never try to hide Enkil and Akasha from Lestat. Anyway, my point is that a very well thought-out and seductive story was turned into a joke from a movie point of view. Honestly, don't bother seeing the movie, just buy and read the book.

Thank you. You are amazing.

I love how your mind works!

Happy Birthday!

@PatrickAParish far more timeless perspective would make perfect sense.

Was Born for Atlantis scrapped?

Where do writers get ideals? Inside the brain, maybe?