Writing and Publishing: Inspiration Part 3: Anne Rice

I have been a fan of Anne Rice since the movie Interview with the Vampire came out back in 1994. 
I saw the preview of the movie where they pointed out it was based on this novel. I remember back then (at 18 years old) thinking, “wow, there is a book about vampires?“. I knew Dracula was a book. I mean, I knew about the classics, but for some reason it had never occurred to me that cool movies like the one in the preview I was watching had started off as books.


I grew up in Mexico, and Mexicans aren’t readers. Some of them are now, but when I was growing up, we didn’t need to read anything in school. I think I read one or two novels in Middle School and a few others in High School, and that was it. And the books were always classics, not modern fiction like the niche I discovered growing up. 


Anne Rice showed me there were people who not only wrote about fantasy and fiction, but also about vampires and, well, it was ok.


I immediately searched for the book Interview with the Vampire. I remember it wasn’t what I expected. I had not seen the movie yet. I remember when I found one of the characters had my name: Claudia. I could not believe what I was reading. My interests were there in that book and it was amazing.


I went on to read every single Anne Rice book about vampires, witches and mummies. Right now, I am reading her latest (Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis) and I can’t believe it’s still interesting and magical. 


Now, I love everything about vampires and it was because of Mrs. Rice that I began writing about vampires. I discovered fanfiction also because of Anne Rice. I would read fanfiction of her Vampire Chronicles in the computers at the university. I even attempted my own fanfiction. 


It didn’t end there, I later created an original story based on her universe. Although, I began to think about my own interests and what I liked about vampires. So I started to change the rules a little. Little by little I created my own universe. In 1999, five years after discovering the Vampire Chronicles I wrote my first N.A.V.S.A. story. And now, 18 years later, I am finally publishing it.


I am grateful to Anne Rice for showing me a novel doesn’t have to be a Nobel Prize winner to be amazing. Just write what you are passionate about and you’re there!


​cheers!