Anne Rice, born Howard Allen O'Brien, was the second of four daughters to Howard and Katherine Allen O'Brien, in New Orleans, with her father's name serving as her first name inspiration.
As she entered first grade at the Redemptorist Catholic School, Anne decided to change her name to Anne, marking the beginning of her self-discovery.
Tragedy struck when her mother, who had struggled with alcoholism, passed away when Anne was almost 15 years old.
Following her mother's death, Anne's father remarried and relocated the family to Richardson, Texas, a suburb of Dallas.
Anne graduated in 1959 and went on to complete two years of school in just one year at Texas Woman's University.
In 1960, Anne moved to San Francisco, taking up residence in the Haight-Ashbury district, where she would eventually meet her future husband, Stan Rice.
Anne and Stan got married in 1961, and the following year, they were living in the Haight-Ashbury district, both pursuing their academic goals.
Anne graduated from San Francisco State in 1964 with a degree in political science, while Stan earned his degree in creative writing.
The couple welcomed their daughter, Michele, on September 21, 1966.
In 1969, they relocated to Berkeley, California, where Anne wrote her short story, "Interview With the Vampire".
Tragedy struck again in 1970 when Michele was diagnosed with leukemia.
Anne received her M.A. in creative writing in 1972, and Michele sadly passed away on August 5 of the same year.
The following year, Anne turned her short story into a novel, and Knopf offered her a $12,000 advance.
Christopher Rice, their second child, was born on March 11, 1978.
In 1980, the family moved to the Castro District in San Francisco.
Anne's novel, "The Vampire Lestat", brought in a $100,000 advance from Knopf.
The family relocated to New Orleans in 1988, purchasing a mansion in the Garden District, where Stan turned his attention to painting.
Anne's novel, "The Witching Hour", brought in a $5 million advance.
In 1994, the film adaptation of "Interview With the Vampire" was released, sparking controversy and ultimately leading to Anne signing a $17 million contract for three more Vampire Chronicles novels.
