December 12, 2021
This morning upon learning that Anne Rice had died, I concluded to share a little bit about how “Renwick The Exorcist” A Halloween Tale in Three parts, came to be. Renwick was created in the tradition of the alleged storytelling competition in which Mary Shelley accepted Byron’s challenge that they all “write a ghost story.”
The name of one of the central characters in “Renwick The Exorcist” is “Cleo Virginia Mariniere” and that name was created as an homage.
First, I wanted to pay tribute to the phenomenal, highly imaginative female writers who have kept me company throughout life. These have included: VC Andrews, Agatha Christie & Anne Rice.
Second, I wanted to honor the history of the part of NYC where I was raised, and thus devised a reference to the Families Berrian & Riker.
“Cleo Virginia Mariniere” is an anagram for all of these names.
The short story also contains various allusions to Poe’s “Cask of Amontillado” Nemo me impune lacessit.
Please allow me to observe how incredibly harrowing of a couple of years it has been.
The pandemic has upended lives and led to all kinds of collateral damage. Of course, if your life is fine, I am not suggesting you should feel upended, rather, I am observing that this is the condition I have personally, repeatedly witnessed here in New York City.
The pandemic forced the closure of the cemetery, and that is something I never thought I would live to see.
Difficult times can be especially challenging to the crucial exercise of maintaining one’s perspective.
Another way to think about this is difficult times present an opportunity to reimagine and reexamine our influences, motivations and contexts.
Anne Rice October 4th 1941- December 11th 2021
Respectfully,
Martha C. Chemas, Esq.
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