Anne Rice Fan Club

The Anne Rice "Vampire Lestat" Fan Club was established in 1988 in devotion to Anne Rice, the well known author of "Vampire Lestat" and other popular gothic and religious themed novels. Four devoted fans of Rice came up with the idea to create a fan club for her vampire novels. Three of the four presented the idea to Rice at a book signing event. Prior to presenting the idea, the trio was able to gather 36 potential members for the club. With their enthusiasm, and the amount of people already interested, Rice was in favor of the club and they immediately began discussion and laying out what the club would entail. ^[1].

Founders of Anne Rice Fan Club

Sue Quiznoz, who eventually became the president of the club in 1988, and her two friends Susan Miller, Theresa Simmons and younger sister Melanie Quiznoz were all founders of the fan club and worked hard and devoted much time in the development of the club ^[1].

Life Span of Fan Club

The fan club held strong from 1988 to about year 2000^[2]. Even though there were thousands of members and growing, the group broke up due to various reasons. The main cause for the end of the fan club was because in 1998 Anne Rice returned to her childhood religion and became a devoted Christian of the Catholic faith. In 2006, with the help of the internet and networking sites, the founder and co-founders of the club got in touch and discussed how they missed the Fan Club days. They decided to start it back up again, regardless of Anne Rice’s participation or not but because of their love for her work ^[3].

Who is Anne Rice

Anne Rice is a best-selling American author ^[3] who has been selling her books since 1976 and has sold over hundred million copies. She was born and raised in an Irish-Catholic family in New Orleans. However, not long after moving to Texas with her family at the age of 17 in 1958, she lost mother due to alcoholism and then eventually losing her seven year old daughter to leukemia in 1973. She then began to express herself as an atheist and this was her peak for her gothic writings.

Rice achieved a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and met Stan Rice, who would eventually become her husband. Although he passed in 2002 and she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, she returned to her childhood home in New Orleans where most of the settings in her book take place. Anne Rice’s life had gone through a whirl wind of change. She went from living with an alcoholic mother, losing her seven year old child to leukemia, and "writing books on vampires, demons and witches" to changing her life and writing "Only for the Lord".

After her conversion, Rice has written "Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt" and her autobiography "Called out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession". Her fans were shocked; surprised and hurt to know that her vampire days were over, but Anne said that there was no way she would ever go back. Rice stated that even if she was told that "you will be financially ruined; you've got to write another vampire book.' I would say no. I have no choice. I would be a fool for all eternity to turn my back on God like that" ^[3].

Memberships

Currently, the Anne Rice Fan Club does exist and anyone can purchase a 1 year or 2 year membership online. The paid membership includes an “I LOVE THE VAMPIRE LESTAT” bumper sticker, two vampire related buttons, and two guitar picks, an eNewsletter, and discounts at select stores. The stores are vampire themed and include Lestat’s Dark Gift Shop, Sinister Visions, Immortal Light, Ruff Doggie and Gabrielle Faust. The membership also includes a member-only card which can be used as a discount for the club's annual Halloween parties. Having a memberships also allows “first dibs”^[1] on party tickets. Members are also able people to connect with one another from around the world by using the official Anne Rice Fan Club’s website message board. The site also gives more communication links to networking sites such as MySpace or Facebook where fans can connect and shares experiences, view photos, discuss events or talk about Anne Rice’s work ^[1].

Events

On the Anne Rice Vampire Lestat Fan Club website, there is a section for events. There it allows for members and non-members to purchase tickets to upcoming parties and other occasions. Most events prefer that guests to dress in costumes or "elegant evening-wear". Other than vampire themed parties, the Fan Club does participate in charities, just as Anne Rice had done in the past with the club. Recently the club had a raffle and charity auction for the Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans. The auction had entertainment from bands and guest speakers ^[1].

Annual Parties

Members of the Anne Rice Fan Club enjoy taking part in annual costume parties. Guest celebrities and many others attend dressing to different themes each year. The first party was in 1989 and called the “Coven Party” "Anne Rice's Vampire Lestat Fan Club." Answer.com. 1992. Innovation Corporation. 15 Mar. 2009 ^[4]

Currently the Office Site for the fan club is being repaired as it was hacked into and almost all information was lost. They are working to bring the site back up to full-speed soon and updated progress bulletins can be located at: http://www.vampirelestatfanclub.com/links.html\

Works Cited

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} "Anne Rice's Vampire Lestat Fan Club." The Necessities. 2006. 15 Mar. 2009 <http://www.theatredesvampires1791.com/Necessities.html>.
2. ↑ "Anne Rice's Vampire Lestat Fan Club ." The Official Anne Rice's Vampire Lestat Fan Club . 2009. ARCLFC. 14 Mar. 2009 <http://www.vampirelestatfanclub.com/index.shtml>.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} "Anne Rice." Wikipedia. 2009. Wikimedia Foundation Inc.. 15 Mar. 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Rice>.
4. ↑ <http://www.answers.com/topic/anne-rice-s-vampire-lestat-fan-club>. when there were about 400 club members. As time passed the parties grew along with the fan club to thousands of members.