Fantastic Escapism
I was a voracious reader long before I published my first novel and remain so today. While I’m partial to suspense novels that have romantic elements, I’ll pick up any novel, in any genre, with the hope that the story will provide a great escape.
One author whose novels provide the fantastic escapism that I crave is the gothic author Anne Rice. The stories that I remember most are Rice’s fantastic tales of vampires and witches and their deliciously and wickedly complicated lives, in times and settings that Rice made fascinating. The “official” Anne Rice site lists her books, from the release of her debut novel in 1976, Interview With the Vampire, until the 2022 release of Ramses the Damned, The Reign of Osiris, which she wrote with her son, Christopher Rice.
A Memorial fit for a New Orleans Icon
Having enjoyed her stories, I was saddened by her recent death. She was born in New Orleans, lived here for part of her life, and set some of her stories here. She’s now buried in New Orleans, not far from where I live, in Metairie Cemetery.
Metairie Cemetery is beautiful, a resting place where ethereal spirits seem to touch the earth with subtle hints of being. For daydreamers like me, it is worth multiple, frequent visits. The Rice tomb, which stands near a small lake, is elegant. It has classic lines, stained glass windows, and wrought iron doors. Poignant engravings of passages from the work of Rice’s husband, the poet Stan Rice, adorn the tomb. When I recently paid my respects to Rice, other fans had left Mardi Gras beads, flowers, and a candle.
Local Legend. Local Bookstore.
After visiting the cemetery, I was inspired to re-read a couple of my favorite novels by Rice and maybe find a new favorite. I could have instantly downloaded a few titles to my Kindle, but that didn’t feel right. There are times when only an in-person bookstore visit will do, and this was one. I wanted to look at titles, touch the books, and read the back covers.
From prior visits, I knew that The Garden District Bookshop had hosted signings for Rice for many years and has a large inventory of her books. My friend Amy, the bookshop’s manager, knew Rice personally and has an encyclopedic knowledge of Rice’s many books. Amy not only helped me find what I was searching for, I even discovered Amy’s special origami bookmarks, with a special one that contains a quote from Rice.
After leaving the Bookshop, I spent a few moments soaking in the beauty of the New Orleans Garden District at the corner of First and Chestnut, admiring the house where Rice wrote for many years.
I’ve now re-read Interview With The Vampire and renewed my fascination with Rice’s unique creativity and storytelling capabilities. I’m looking forward to reading the The Witching Hour next. Now that I write my own novels, when I read for enjoyment, I often wonder about the author’s process. With Rice’s writing, I am simply amazed.
I’ll close with a few words of wisdom from Rice, on writing, that I find inspiring:
“Writing is what makes a writer, nothing more and nothing less….Go where the pleasure is in your writing. Go where the pain is. Write the book you would like to read. Write the book you have been trying to find but have not found. But write….Ignore the rules….Do it your own way.”
Anne Rice, June 15, 2009 (annerice.com)
Thank you, Anne Rice, for providing this author a reminder to let my imagination run wild and, most importantly, to keep writing.
P.S. If you’re interested in reading about New Orleans tombs and burial customs, purchase Death Embraced, by Mary Lacoste, an excellent resource for “behind the scenes accounts of decay, love, and tradition.” Also, I’ve visited Rice at Metairie Cemetery on my own, with my sister Kathy, and with Amy, my friend from the Garden District Bookshop. I thank Kathy and Amy for their company there.
Please reach out and say hello by commenting below or via email at stella@stellabarcelona.com.
Take care, and thank you for stopping by,
Stella Barcelona