Anne Rice (1941- ) Horror author who wrote 'Interview With The Vampire'. A signed first day cover. An excellent investment. Has claimed in interviews that she fears the dark. Anne Rice began life as 'Howard Allen O'Brien', second of four daughters born to Howard and Katherine Allen O'Brien. She decided to call herself Anne when she enrolled in first grade at the Redemptorist Catholic School. Her mother (who had long suffered from alcoholism) died when Anne was nearly fifteen. Her father remarried and soon relocated the family to Richardson (suburb of Dallas) Texas. She graduated in 1959 and entered Texas Woman's University where she completed two years of school in one. In 1960 Anne moved to San Francisco where she took a furnished apartment in the Haight-Ashbury district. In 1961 Anne married Stan Rice (who she had met in High School and who had proposed by telegram from Texas) and in 1962 they were both living in Haight-Ashbury. They graduated from San Francisco State in 1964, she in political science, he in creative writing. Their daughter Michele was born September 21, 1966. In 1969 they moved to Berekely. There she wrote a short story "Interview With the Vampire". In 1970 Michele was diagnosed with leukemia. In 1972 Anne received her M.A. in creative writing; Michele died August 5. The next year Anne turned "Interview" into a novel, and over a year later Knopf offered her a $12,000 advance for it. Christopher was born March 11, 1978. In 1980 they moved to San Francisco's Castro District. "The Vampire Lestat" brought a $100,000 advance from Knopf. In 1988 they moved to New Orleans and bought a mansion in the Garden District. Stan (who had chaired the creative writing program at S.F. State) turned to painting. "The Witching Hour" brought a $5 million advance. In 1994 "Interview" was very successfully released as a movie (amid much controversy -- some over content, mostly over casting) and Anne entered into a $17 million contract for three more Vampire Chronicles. Her novel "The Vampire Lestat" is currently being made into a stage production with songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Has written under the pseudonyms Anne Rampling and A.N. Roquelaure. Chose the pseudonym Anne Rampling, under which she penned her novels "Exit to Eden" and "Belinda," in honour of actress Charlotte Rampling because Anne "admired Charlotte's grace."
