Gerard Hall arrived at Warwick’s Books at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 8, to firm up his place in line for author Anne Rice’s 7 p.m. signing of her book “Of Love and Evil” — and he came bearing gifts. When his time finally came, he approached the signing table and lowered to his knees. He had a stack of books for her to sign. Wearing a black sequined blazer and jeweled pendant, Rice’s eyes lit up as Hill handed her a DVD of the 1978 TV mini-series “The Dark Secret of Harvest Home” starring Bette Davis. Hall said he read on the author’s website that she wanted the DVD but couldn’t find it. “She offered to pay me for it,” he said. “But I told her it was a gift. It’s a gift for the 30 years I’ve been reading her books.” Rice, a former La Jollan, is most known for writing “Interview With the Vampire,” but has developed a strong following over the years for her books about witches, angels and the life of Jesus. She moved to La Jolla in 2005 “to live in such a beautiful place,” she said. But she said although she had a stunning view from her La Jolla home, she realized her calling was the California desert, where she now resides. The La Jolla Village News got a chance to ask Rice a few questions during her trip to La Jolla. La Jolla Village News: Which of your works do you feel most represents you as an author? Anne Rice: Actually all of my works really do represent me as an author. I always pour my beliefs and obsessions and deepest concerns into my work. “Interview with the Vampire” contained all my doubts and fears about the world. What I’m writing now is the same, except that I can also pour my faith into my books. LJVN: What is your writing process like, and are there any places, snacks, activities, routines, etc., that help you create your masterpieces? AR: I work in the day now, late morning and afternoon. I need unbroken stretches of time, and need to be in quiet and isolation. As far as the rest of the day, I keep to a rigid meal schedule, and don’t ever talk on the phone. At night, after I’m too tired to write anymore I kick back and watch high-quality TV, especially BBC mini-series, that not only take my mind off everything but feed my imagination. I love Diet Coke and that keeps me company all day long. LJVN: What are you currently working on? AR: I’m currently working on a novel of ancient Atlantis, about a tribe of immortals who came to earth in those days and are still here. I’m loving doing my version of ancient Atlantis and how it was destroyed. LJVN: What is the biggest challenge that comes with being an acclaimed author of nearly 30 books? AR: The biggest challenge to an author is to keep calm in the face of being misrepresented sometimes and even despised. You have to face that there will be some people who don’t like your work, don’t think it’s very good and who will say so publicly. Sometimes they aren’t too nice. But you can’t answer these people. You can only be grateful for your success, for your audience and accept the inevitable rejection with grace. After all, you have much to be thankful for. LJVN: What’s your favorite way to spend your free time? AR: My favorite way, absolutely, is watching a great British mini-series, and eating potato chips and drinking Diet Coke. Give me “MI-5,” the brilliant British spy series to watch, and lots of Lay’s potato chips and I’m fine. I keep an ice chest for Diet Coke in my room. I love it when its really, really cold and icy. I stretch out on the couch with a soft pillow and watch TV on a 65″ screen — best quality, best color, et al, that I can arrange. LJVN: Being a spearhead of vampire stories (often called the “queen of vampire literature”), what’s your take on the recent popularity of the genre? AR: The recent popularity of the vampire is author-driven I think. You wouldn’t have it if you didn’t have Charlaine Harris and Stephanie Meyer writing imaginative new vampire characters and stories. But the concept of the vampire is so rich that we will always have people doing new things with it. The vampire is the charmer of the monster world, the monster who can seduce you with soft words as well as physical power. I am very much enjoying the new vampires in “True Blood” and in the “Twilight” movies. LJVN: Is there anything else you think would be important for people to know about you? AR: That writing for me is a vocation, not just a profession. It’s my life. I really do want to create books that people will not only love, but never forget. It’s the only thing I have any talent for at all in this world. I can’t dance or sing or play the violin. And the meaning of my life depends on my writing and offering books to my readers.
