Christoper Rice was born
in Berkeley, California in 1978 to the best-selling novelist
Anne Rice and the poet and painter Stan Rice. He moved to New
Orleans with his parents at the age of ten. Upon graduating from
high 
school, he attended
Brown University for a year before transferring to NYU's Tisch
School of the Arts to study dramatic writing. In keeping with
his tradition of withdrawing from fine institutions of higher
learning, he left New York after a semester to spend a year living
as a struggling screenwriter in Los Angeles. He was called back
home when his mother was hospitalized after going into an unexpected
diabetic coma. During her recovery, Christopher began work on
a short story about four kids growing up together in the New
Orleans Garden District. By the time his mother had recuperated,
the short story had turned into the novel, A Density of Souls.
He has returned to New Orleans and is now hard at work on his
second novel 'THE SNOW GARDEN'.
PAGE ONE: "Tell me about your writing
career and when and where it all started. Who were your first
Literary inspirations? Which authors do you look to now for inspiration?
What was the last book you read?"
Christoper Rice: "MY WRITING
CAREER BEGAN WITH A SHORT NOVELLA I WROTE, WELL DICTATED ACTUALLY,
AT THE AGE OF SIX IN WHICH I SET FIRE TO THE ENTIRE GOLDEN GATE
BRIDGE. (SPECIAL THANKS TO MY AUNT KAREN FOR TYPING ALL SIXTY
PAGES OF IT ON HER APRICOT COMPUTER!) THE PLOT WENT SOMETHING
LIKE THIS - - THE ENTIRE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE CAUGHT FIRE. IF I
REMEMBER CORRECTLY THERE WAS A CIGARETTE AND A CAR ACCIDENT INVOLVED.
SHORTLY AFTER ITS COMPLETION, MY MOTHER 
INFORMED ME
THAT METAL DIDN'T BURN SO WELL AND I WAS CRUSHED! I HAD THAT
ENTIRE BRIDGE SMOLDERING FOR AT LEAST TWO OR THREE DAYS. IN ALL
SERIOUSNESS, MY LIFE PLAN NEVER INCLUDED NOVEL WRITING. I LEFT
HIGH SCHOOL DEAD SET ON BEING AN ACTOR WITH A VAGUE ASPIRATION
TO EVENTUALLY STAR IN MY OWN PLAYS OR SCREENPLAYS. DURING MY
FRESHMAN (AND ONLY) YEAR AT BROWN UNIVERSITY I DIDN'T EVEN GET
CALLED FOR BACK FOR MY FIRST AUDITION FOR THE YEAR AND I WAS,
AGAIN, CRUSHED. I RETREATED TO MY DORM ROOM AND FOUND IMMEDIATE
COMFORT IN WORKING ON WHAT ENDED UP BEING AN ABSOLUTELY INSANE
SCREENPLAY WHICH WHILE VIOLATING ALL THE CONVENTIONAL RULES OF
THREE-ACT FILM SCREENPLAYS, GOT ME IN TOUCH WITH THE CATHARTIC
THRILL THAT COULD RESULT FROM WRITING, THE DEEP-BONED SATISFACTION
AND LETTING AN IMAGINED NARRATIVE CARRY ME THROUGH FROM START
TO FINISH. AS A CHILD, I WAS A VORACIOUS READER OF THRILLERS
AND HORROR NOVELS, AND IT WASN'T UNTIL LATE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE
THAT I DISCOVERED SUCH CONTEMPORARY GREATS AS JOHN IRIVING AND
MICHAEL CHABON, WHO BOTH DAZZLED AND INFLUENCED ME IN THEIR ABILITY
TO MOVE LARGE NUMBERS OF CHARACTERS OVER A VAST EXPANSE OF TIME
WITHOUT EVER LOOSING FOCUS OR INTIMACY. THE VIVID VISUALS AND
SHARPLY ETCHED CHARACTERIZATIONS OF STEPHEN KING WE'RE ALSO INFLUENTIAL
AS WELL AS HIS ABILITY TO CREATE CONTROLLED SPECTACLE WITHIN
A FRAMEWORK OF PAGE-TURNING SUSPENSE. ON A MORE PERSONAL FRONT,
MY PERSONAL STRUGGLE TO COME TO GRIPS WITH
MY HOMOSEXUALITY WAS AIDED BY SUCH PIONEERING GAY AUTHORS AS
FELICE PICANO AND EDMUND WHITE. TODAY, GAY YOUTH COMING TO GRIPS
WITH THEIR SEXUALITY MIGHT LOOK TO TV SHOWS LIKE 'WILL &
GRACE' AND 'QUEER AS FOLK', BUT AS RECENTLY AS FIVE YEARS AGO,
THOSE SHOWS DIDN'T EXIST. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ADDRESSING A
LIBRARIAN CONVENTION RECENTLY WITH AUTHOR DOROTHY ALLISON, AND
SHE PUT IT BEST WHEN SHE SAID THAT FOR GENERATIONS OF GAY YOUTH,
WE TOOK OUR FIRST STEPS TOWARD SELF-DISCOVERY IN BETWEEN THE
LIBRARY RACKS. NOW, I CONSIDER IT PART OF MY DUTY AS A WRITER
TO REMAIN AN AVID READER OF ALL FORMS OF FICTION, BUT I HAVE
A PARTICULAR WEAKNESS FOR THE PAGE-TURNING SUSPENSE OF JOHNATHAN
KELLERMAN, WHO IS THE HEIR APPARENT TO RAYMOND CHANDLER. JONATHAN
KELLERMAN, WITH HIS PRECISION OF MOTIVE AND INTENSELY VIVID PROSE,
IS A TREMENDOUS INSPIRATION. THE MOST RECENT BOOK I READ WAS
"THE CORRECTIONS" BY JONATHAN FRAZEN. IT WAS ENGAGING,
HILARIOUS AND DEEPLY DEVASTATING; IT'S EFFECTIVE AND UNSENTIMENTAL
MOMENTS STILL RESONATE IN MY HEAD EVEN AS I WRITE THIS."
PAGE ONE: "A Density of Souls is an
emotional story of a young man coming to terms and coming to
grips with who he is, what he wants and how he must face his
future --- How much of Christopher Rice is in this story?"
Christoper Rice:" 'A DENSITY
OF SOULS' HAS A LARGE CAST OF CHARACTERS AND THERE'S A PIECE
OF ME IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, OTHERWISE I WOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN COMPELLED TO FOLLOW ONE OF THEM FOR MORE THAN A PAGE OR
TWO. OBVIOUSLY THE CHARACTER OF STEPHEN CONLIN IS A FICTIONAL
EMBODIMENT OF ALL THE PAIN AND SELF-LOATHING I FELT AS A YOUNG
GAY MAN, BUT I'M HESITANT TO MAKE ANY OTHER COMPARISONS. I WAS
NEVER SUBJECT TO THE KIND OF PHYSICAL BRUTALITY STEPHEN SUFFERS
IN THE NOVEL, BUT ALSO, I HAVE RECEIVED SO MANY LETTERS FROM
READERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO CLAIM THAT "THEY ARE STEPHEN
CONLIN!" THAT I'D LIKE TO INDULGE MY SOMEWHAT OVERBLOWN
NOTION THAN STEPHEN CONLIN REPRESENTS A VAST NUMBER OF YOUNG
GAY MEN STRUGGLING TO DISCOVER WHERE THEY FIT IN, WHO THEY ARE,
AND IF WHAT THEY WANT IS WORTH PURSUING. BEYOND INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER
MOTIVES, I THINK ONE
OVERARCHING THEME OF 'A DENSITY OF SOULS' IS THAT SECRETS WILL
EVENTUALLY BE BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE NO MATTER HOW TIGHT YOU
HOLD THE LID DOWN ON THEM, AND THAT BELIEF IS VERY MUCH ONE OF
MINE, SO IN THAT SENSE, THERE'S A TON OF CHRISTOPHER RICE IN
'A DENSITY OF SOULS'."
PAGE ONE: "What is it about New Orleans
that inspires writers? Is New Orleans your favorite city? If
not what is?"
Christoper Rice: "THERE IS
NO OTHER CITY IN AMERICA LIKE NEW ORLEANS. PERIOD. IT IS FULL
OF CONTRADICTION - INHERENTLY LAWLESS, YET LOYAL TO ITS OWN HISTORY
AND SENSE OF CULTURE. INCREDIBLY WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS LIE BLOCKS
FROM SOME OF THE MOST IMPOVERISHED AREAS IN THE SOUTH. SOME PARTS
OF THE CITY ARE LITERALLY FALLING TO RUIN, BUT EVEN THE SHELLS
OF ABANDONED HOUSES ARE BEING OVERTAKEN BY BEAUTIFUL GROWTHS
OF VINES. IT IS A CITY THAT DEFIES LOGIC AT EVERY TURN AND WHAT
ELSE COULD MORE ATTRACTIVE AND INSPIRING TO WRITERS? IS IT MY
FAVORITE CITY? NO, BUT IT'S THE ONLY CITY I CAN TRULY CALL MY
HOME, EVEN THOUGH I SPENT THE FIRST TEN YEARS OF MY LIFE IN THE
BAY AREA. I BELIEVE THAT A PERSON'S FAVORITE CITY, JUST LIKE
A PERSON'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE PLACE THEY CALL HOME, CHANGES
AS THEY GROW OLDER. FOR THOSE OF US IN OUR EARLY TWENTIES, HOME
MIGHT STILL RESONATE WITH PAINFUL MEMORIES WE'D LIKE TO LEAVE
BEHIND, OR THE MERE MENTION OF HOME MIGHT MAKE US FEEL LIKE THE
CHILD WE ARE TRYING TO OUTGROW. (I FEEL AN OBLIGATION TO RECOGNIZE
THESE FEELINGS BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT A CITY THAT'S
TAKEN ITS FAIR SHARE OF UNFAIR KNOCKS FROM THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.)
NEW ORLEANS IS HOME...BUT MY FAVORITE CITY? A TIE BETWEEN SAN
FRANCISCO AND MANHATTAN."
PAGE ONE: 'Do you read your Mother's books?
If so which one is your favorite and why?
Christoper Rice:"I'M A HUGE
FAN OF THE TALES OF THE MAYFAIR WITCHES. THEY WE'RE INSPIRED
BY A TIME IN MY MOTHER'S LIFE THAT I WAS PRESENT FOR - OUR MOVE
TO NEW ORLEANS IN THE LATE 1980'S, AND OUR PURCHASE OF THE NOW
FAMOUS/INFAMOUS HOUSE ON FIRST STREET WHICH WAS THE MODEL FOR
THE MAYFAIR MANSION. I CONSIDER 'THE WITCHING HOUR' TO BE ONE
OF MOM'S MOST SENSUAL, RIVETING AND GRATIFYING WORKS TO DATE."
PAGE ONE: "Washington Post Book World
writes, 'Rice takes more risks than an older writer might.' What
are your thoughts on this? Do you feel you are taking risks in
your writing? Should writers take risks?"
Christoper Rice:" I LIKE
TO DESCRIBE 'A DENSITY OF SOULS' AS A WILD FEVER DREAM THAT I
TRANSCRIBED ON THE PAGE. SO IN THAT SENSE, YEAH, ITS FULL OF
RISKS. INCREDIBLE RISKS AND PLOT TWISTS EVEN MY CLOSEST FRIENDS
STILL SNICKER OVER. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S BENEATH ANY WRITER,
ESPECIALLY ONE OF MY AGE, TO RECONSIDER EARLIER WORK AND WORK
TO IMPROVE ITS STRENGTHS AND TRIM OUT ITS WEAKNESSES. I WILL
PROBABLY NEVER WRITE ANOTHER BOOK QUITE LIKE 'A DENSITY OF SOULS',
WHERE THE EMOTIONS ARE AT FULL THROTTLE IN EVERY SINGLE PARAGRAPH,
WHERE THE REVELATIONS ARE ALL SO EXPLOSIVE. (ONE FAN OF THE BOOK
EVEN TOLD ME THAT AT TIMES IT FELT LIKE ALL THE CHARACTERS WE'RE
MAINLINING ESPRESSO.) BUT, THAT BEING SAID, TONED-DOWN REALISM
WILL NEVER BE FORTE. STORIES OF HEIGHTENED EMOTION, STORIES INVOLVING
THE CONSEQUENCES OF HATRED AND RAGE, THESE ARE WHAT KEEP ME UP
AT NIGHT AND DRIVE ME TO THE KEYBOARD THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
AND THE RESULTS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE STORIES THAT A LARGE NUMBER
OF READERS CONSIDERED TO BE FAR-FETCHED. SO BE IT. SHOULD WRITERS
TAKES RISKS? CHOOSING ONE STORY OVER ANOTHER IS TAKING A RISK,
TELLING A SCENE FROM THE POINT-OF-VIEW OF ONE CHARACTER INSTEAD
OF ANOTHER IS TAKING A RISK. PUTTING SOMETHING DEEPLY PERSONAL
IN FRONT OF THE OBJECTIVE EYES OF OTHERS AND WAITING FOR THEM
TO EITHER LOOK UP AT YOU AND SMILE OR SNEER AND TOSS YOUR PAGES
BACK IN YOUR FACE, THAT'S THE KIND OF RISK THAT MAKES ME THINK
ALL WRITING IS A RISK."
PAGE ONE: "Do readers ever tell you
that you remind them of another writer? If so who and why?"
Christoper Rice:"TO BE HONEST,
THE READER RESPONSES I GOT ON 'A DENSITY OF SOULS' WERE SO DEEPLY
PERSONAL MOST OF THEM DIDN'T CENTER ON THE STYLE OF WRITING OR
THE CHOICE OF SUBJECT MATTER, THEY TALKED ABOUT THE COMPARISONS
BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS' LIVES AND THEIR OWN. A LOT OF THE COMPARISONS
I READ IN REVIEWS STRUCK ME AS SURPRISINGLY SUPERFICIAL. BECAUSE
'A DENSITY OF SOULS' TOOK PLACE LARGELY IN A HIGH SCHOOL SETTING,
IT WAS COMPARED TO A WB PROGRAM. I WASN'T AWARE THE WB NETWORK
OWNED A PATENT ON ALL THINGS HIGH SCHOOL RELATED."
PAGE ONE: "In Souls, the characters
play hide and seek in a nearby cemetery. Where did this come
from? Hve you ever played hide and seek in a cemetery?"
Christoper Rice:"ACTUALLY,
THIS OPENING SCENE CAME MORE OUT OF FRUSTRATION THAN MEMORY.
LAFAYETTE CEMETERY IN NEW ORLEANS USED TO KEEP CRAZY HOURS; I
REMEMBER THEM CLOSING ON SUMMER AFTERNOONS AT AROUND TWO. MY
FRIENDS AND I WOULD
ALWAYS BIKE THERE BUT WE COULD NEVER GET IN AND IT USED TO DRIVE
ME NUTS, SO HAVING ALL THE MAIN CHARACTERS RUNNING BETWEEN THE
TOMBSTONES IN THE OPENING SCENE WAS KIND OF LIKE SOME SORT OF
WISH FULFILLMENT I GUESS. BUT, MY FATHER DID GET LOCKED INSIDE
THE CEMETERY ONCE, AS DO THE MAIN CHARACTERS."
PAGE ONE:"Plot and character; which
do you feel is the most important and why?"
Christoper Rice:"CHARACTERS
GIVE RISE TO PLOT. A CHARACTER'S TRANSFORMATION AND DISCOVERIES
MAKE FOR THE MOST COMPELLING STORIES."
PAGE ONE: "Any advice for beginning
novelists?"
Christoper Rice:"RESEARCH
IS KEY. MAKE SURE YOUR FICTIONAL WORLD HAS AN AURA OF CREDIBILITY
AND DETAIL AND YOU'VE GOT A SOLID FOUNDATION IN WHICH TO ANCHOR
YOUR TWISTS AND TURNS. THE BEST MYSTERIES TAKE READERS INTO A
WORLD THEY KNOW EXISTS BUT HAVEN'T HAD FIRST PERSON EXPERIENCE
WITH - - THE POLICE STATION, THE CRIME LAB, THE CRIME SCENE.
YOU'VE GOT TO GET THE DETAILS OF THOSE WORLDS DOWN PAT SO YOU
CAN FOCUS YOUR CREATIVE ENERGIES ON THE BEST WAY TO GENERATE
SUSPENSE AND REVEAL YOUR CAREFULLY CRAFTED SECRETS."
PAGE ONE: "Any chance there will be
some movie adaptations, from your books, in the future? If so,
do you want to have part in the script? And, if so, why?"
Christoper Rice:"THERE'S
NO TELLING, BUT I HOPE SO. 'A DENSITY OF SOULS' IS A LITTLE LARGE
AND A LITTLE CONTROVERSIAL TO ADAPT INTO A MAINSTREAM FILM. MY
NEXT NOVEL, 'THE SNOW GARDEN' MIGHT TRANSLATE BETTER INTO FILM.
I DEFINITELY WANT TO HAVE A PART IN THE SCRIPT. MY ONLY FORMAL
WRITING TRAINING HAS BEEN IN SCREEN WRITING, I THINK
I KNOW HOW TO DO IT, AND THE THOUGHT OF HANDING OVER MY WORK
TO ANOTHER WRITER, WITHOUT EVEN TAKING A FIRST SHOT, MAKES ME
SICK."
