Anne Rice's Vampire Lestat Fan Club was established around 1988 and stayed active until it dissolved in 2000 (for numerous reasons); at that point there were thousands of members, all over the world.
In 2006, several former/key members of the ARVLFC got in touch with each other thanks to the internet and MySpace.com. Old times were reminisced, the future was discussed, and we all realized how much we missed it. Anne was approached about resurrecting the ARVLFC and, in response to her fans' undying devotion, and in order to help a struggling post-Katrina New Orleans, Anne gave her consent for the ARVLFC to reform.
So here we are, in 2007. Following are accounts from original and key members of the ARVLFC from years past and present, to give you an idea of the history of this organization and the amazing once-a-year gatherings it has created.
From Sue Quiroz, President of the ARVLFC
I remember calling the bookstore to check on when "The Queen of the Damned" was going to be released. By then, they knew me by my voice from calling so much. My sister Melanie had started this obsession with Anne Rice by handing me "Interview with the Vampire" and telling me I had to read it! Well, I nearly devoured it, and then asked for more....she had the "Vampire Lestat" so I stayed up late reading every word.
Melanie, Susie Miller and our friend Teresa Simmons had discussed starting a fan club when we found out that Anne Rice was doing a signing here in New Orleans, so we all went (except Mel) and stood in line with our books. When it was our turn, we blurted out that we wanted to start a fan club for her. Anne smiled and said that Lestat would love to have a fan club and that we should come over to her house so she could give us information that we could publish in a newsletter. So I borrowed a piece of paper and a pencil and went down the line getting names and addresses; we got 36 in all. That was the beginning of Anne Rice's Vampire Lestat Fan Club.
The four of us met with Anne at her home on Phillip St. (her house before she bought the house at 1239 First St.), and she gave us names and phone numbers and information. She was very open and friendly with us. I used to call Anne all the time because everyone else lost their voice when speaking with her.
Our very first fan club party was at an art gallery called X Art. It was very dramatic but everyone was happy to have Anne Rice, her husband Stan and Christopher at the party. We did cakes of her three books (in paperback) for which Ballentine commented that their art department would be thrilled to see their covers in cake! For your enjoyment, I have included a clip from that very first fan club party in the video of the Vampire Lestat Ball that will be available soon on my website, www.lestatsdarkgiftshop.com. There is also a small clip from the 2nd fan club party. Both are pretty grainy since the videotapes were just transferred to DVD recently and they are from 1989 and 1990. I do hope that you all will enjoy watching them.
Melanie, Susie, Teresa and I worked hard putting out the newsletter, using red and black construction paper and handwriting each envelope (the black construction paper) with a gold pen. The fan club grew quickly and then we started meeting at a room in the local library to have our membership meetings. Before long more people were needed to produce the newsletters.
Here is where I will leave space for my co-founding members/Presidents to add their thoughts and stories. And I'd like to have Ritchie Champagne, the President who brought back the fan club when it looked like it was going to die an early death, tell us his stories. Melanie Scott (now Catoire), Susie Miller, Teresa Simmons and Ritchie Champagne lead the fan club diligently and for their service we thank them! Without their participation, the fan club would not exist. Many thanks to Anne Rice for her gracious part in allowing us to publish her schedule and interviews.
P.S. I did not include my name as a president since Anne Rice asked me not to take my turn as president. She thought since I worked for her, it would be a conflict of interest. Ultimately, that worked out because I can bring back the fan club now. I hope that it will once again flourish and bring us all closer together, one happy family!
PARTIES PAST
Visit the Gallery for photos of parities past; click HERE to see video of 1998's event!
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NOLA Photography at top of page provided by Alexei Sergeev
