The literary world may soon witness the release of previously unseen works by the late gothic novelist Anne Rice, according to hints dropped in a new documentary anthology about her life and legacy.
From Tragedy to Immortal Legacy
The most devastating heartbreak and subsequent triumph of Anne Rice's life occurred in rapid succession, beginning when her three-year-old daughter Michele - affectionately called 'Mouse' - unexpectedly declared she was too tired to play. This unusual behaviour prompted medical tests that revealed the child had acute granulocytic leukemia, then considered untreatable.
Mouse died in 1972 shortly before her sixth birthday. As her daughter's condition deteriorated and in the immediate aftermath of her passing, Rice found solace by hunched over her typewriter, channelling her grief into what would become her groundbreaking first novel: Interview with the Vampire.
Rice later reflected: 'I knew that writing was the only thing I could do, and when I wrote it was like fighting the darkness, pushing all the absurdity and horror away.' Her novel about vampires grappling with immortality featured a five-year-old girl character directly inspired by her lost daughter.
Literary Phenomenon Born from Grief
When Rice completed the manuscript, the first person to read it was her husband, poet Stan Rice, Mouse's father. He recounted reading it in 'approximately one sitting' and immediately recognising its transformative power, telling himself: 'Our life will never be the same.' His prediction proved accurate.
Published in 1976, Interview with the Vampire became an international sensation, spawning a 1994 film adaptation starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, a recent Netflix series, multiple sequels including Queen of the Damned, and even a Broadway musical with music by Elton John. The novel's success brought Rice worldwide fame and considerable fortune, notably manifested in her acquisition of one of New Orleans' most recognisable mansions - the former St Elizabeth's orphanage.
Celebrating a Gothic Icon
This remarkable story and numerous others are now being retold in Anne Rice: An All Saints' Day Celebration, a documentary anthology available for free streaming from Thursday. The project was helmed by her son, author Christopher Rice, and his business partner Eric Shaw Quinn, a close friend of the late writer.
The anthology features archival footage, privately held photographs and new interviews, serving as a tribute to the literary titan who died at age 80 in late 2021 following a stroke. It chronicles a live event held in New Orleans in early November that celebrated Rice's enduring legacy.
The documentary not only honours the role of Michele, the sister Christopher never met, in their mother's career but also explores Rice's profound influence on subsequent generations of authors. Fantasy and romance novelist Jennifer Armentrout appears on screen stating: 'Many of us would not have the careers that we have now without her.'
It also examines how Rice's characters provided solace and representation during the early years of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. The relationship between vampires Lestat de Lioncourt and Louis de Pointe du Lac, who form an unconventional family with child vampire Claudia, resonated deeply with many readers.
Rob Roth, director of the Elton John-backed stage play Lestat, recalls in the anthology: 'When I was a kid reading Interview With the Vampire, I was a gay kid. The love between Lestat and Louis, just reading about it... made me feel better - like not so alone.'
Eric Shaw Quinn, himself a novelist, shares how discovering Interview during 'one of the worst times in my life' felt like Anne reaching out to tell him: 'You are OK - exactly the way you are. And you don't have to apologise to anyone for it.'
Behind the Public Persona
The documentary provides glimpses behind Rice's distinctive public image, which famously included arriving at book signings in coffins and displaying them in her imposing New Orleans home at the north-east corner of Napoleon Avenue and Prytania Street.
One of the more humorous contributions comes from Amy Troxler, a religion schoolteacher who worked as Rice's part-time assistant. In her distinctive local accent, Troxler recalls her bewilderment at encountering a coffin in the living room during her first visit, thinking: 'What kind of people put coffins in their living room?' before conceding: 'It was a pretty coffin, though, I must say.'
Christopher Rice shared another previously guarded anecdote about the celebrities who sought out his mother, revealing that Ozzy Osbourne once left backstage passes for her when performing in New Orleans. However, Rice typically preferred spending her evenings 'in a Laura Ashley sundress eating crackers and cheese' rather than attending concerts. Osbourne was reportedly so disappointed by her absence that when Christopher and a friend tried to use the passes, the former Black Sabbath frontman refused them entry.
The Future of Rice's Legacy
If Christopher Rice and Quinn have their way, this documentary anthology won't represent the final word on Anne Rice's literary estate. Her son revealed they have been 'reviewing the archive of Anne's work, both published and unpublished, with an eye towards future publications and productions across many platforms.'
He concluded with a tantalising promise to fans: 'Stay tuned.' This suggests that the world may yet see new works from the beloved gothic author, even after her passing, continuing the legacy that began with a mother's profound grief transformed into immortal literature.
