Anne Rice Will Be In Concord To Discuss Her Memoir That Speaks Of Her Spiritual Conversion

September 28, 9:59 PMEast Bay Literary ExaminerTony R. Rodriguez

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Anne Rice

“I also believe in Christian art — that we can paint pictures, write music, create great films, and write novels about Jesus and that these efforts can serve Our Blessed Lord . . . If these novels of mine do not serve Him, if they are not for Him, then they are worthless.”

—Anne Rice

In 1976, Anne Rice placed her literary mark on the official list of great American novels with the release of her renowned classic Interview With the Vampire. Since then, Rice has done more for vampires than Herman Melville did for whales. Though it’s common knowledge that many of her readers find great interest in the occult, Rice herself hasn’t been a believer in such convictions for quite some time now. In 1998, Rice returned to her Catholic faith and has upheld a strong public devotion to her literary ministries that rejoice in the Jesus of Scripture and the Jesus of History. Her first book that openly confesses her evangelism was Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt. It was published in 2005 and was favorably received by readers and critics alike.

Rice’s new book, a memoir entitled Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession, is published by Knopf and due out in bookstores this October 7th. Her memoir rekindles reminiscences of growing up in New Orleans in a devout Irish Catholic family. Rice enters her adolescent years as a strong believer in the Catholic Christian faith — a determined youth with strong spiritual purpose. Yet as she grows older, she begins to question her belief in God and starts to consider other perspectives on the purpose of human existence. Called Out of Darkness then covers Rice’s adult years living as a radical in the liberal stronghold city of Berkeley, where her literary career explodes with the release of Interview With the Vampire. With a calm yet candid voice, Rice highlights that the literary works she produced during such times had an underlying theme of constant soul-searching for greater truth. She confesses the realities of her own personal tragedies: her mother’s relentless drinking and the death of both her lovable daughter and her dearly-loved husband. Then Rice’s memoir ardently celebrates the much-needed shift in her life as she shares with her readers the brighter days that followed. She and her family eventually return to New Orleans, the city which has made such an impact on her work. It’s there in her hometown that Rice finds spiritual completion. In 1998, while sitting in a church and speaking with Christ, she experiences a spiritual transformation and chooses to return to the Catholic faith. Rice is later quoted as having said:

“In 2002, I experienced another transformation. While sitting in Church, talking to Lord, I realized that the greatest thing I could do to show my complete love for Him was to consecrate my work to Him — to use any talent I had acquired as a writer, as a storyteller, as a novelist — for Him and for Him alone.

I walked out of the church a changed person. I felt that I had consecrated myself to the Lord in whom I completely believed.”

If you find yourself wanting to learn more about Anne Rice and her literary ministries, consider attending an upcoming free and not-to-be-missed literary event. Anne Rice will be reading from Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession on Friday, October 24th at 7:00 PM at Saint Bonaventure Catholic Church in Concord.

Saint Bonaventure Catholic Church

5562 Clayton Road

Concord, CA 94521

Phone: 925.672.5800

Fax: 925.672.4606

www.stbonaventure.net