Everyone else has said what I'd say to the Anne Rice part of your post, but let me give you a heartfelt "AMEN" for this one: Tomorrow: Mercedes Lackey single handedly changes to term to: Myste Sue)

I simply can *NOT* believe that she wrote herself so *obviously* (Herald-Chronicler Myste? puh-leeze!) right down to physical attributes, into her latest books about Alberich. I mean, jeez woman!