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When I was growing up, my favorite “monster” was Frankenstein. I never cared too much for zombies, mummies, swamp creatures or vampires. Of course, there were vampire movies that I actually liked a lot like THE LOST BOYS and several campy and humor-filled vampire movies and of course, as a little girl, I adored the supernatural soap opera DARK SHADOWS. And although I watched vampire movies with stars from Bela Lugosi to Jack Palance, the un-dead blood-suckers were still not my favorite supernatural being.
In the early 1990s, while recuperating from a spectacular car accident, I read Anne Rice’s INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE after reading THE WITCHING HOUR (loved The Witching Hour). But I didn’t care for INTERVIEW at all (in all honesty, it could have been due to the aftermath of the accident), although surprisingly enough, I enjoyed the movie – many times.
Then in 1995 I was invited to attend the 1995 Anne Rice Vampire Ball at St. Elizabeth’s Orphanage. The costumes were fabulous and it was pretty cool to see Kirsten Dunst (Vampire Claudia) as the special guest, just coming off INTERVIEW. But as much as I could appreciate the ball and its step back into history, I was definitely an outsider looking in.
So jumping up to 2007, when Dr. Larry and I returned to New Orleans, I immediately hit it off with Sue Quiroz, or the “Q” as I love to call her. And for those who may not know, Sue was Anne Rice’s personal assistant for 15 years and today, still operates the fan club and produces the annual vampire ball in New Orleans.
I missed the vampire ball in 2007 but attended the one in 2008 and brought Eric Mofford (producer / director / filmmaker), so we filmed the event. Again as it was back in 1995, the attendees were decked out in the most amazing historical costumes with so many vamps resembling Anne Rice’s famed vampires - Louis, Lestat and Claudia. And once again, I was a complete outsider.
Last April, the Q came over for dinner and a movie. The feature film hit TWILIGHT was on DVD and Q insisted that I watch it with her. It was not my cup of tea, but I could easily see how Meyer’s creation had captured the mass market appeal. Then Sue handed me two in a series of southern vampire novels and insisted that I read them even after I politely refused twice.
Since I had just finished reading the last Carl Hiaasen novel that I know of and had nothing to read next, I figured, what the hell. So one late afternoon, I grabbed the first Sookie Stackhouse book by Charlaine Harris and read the first three pages. The upshot: I was hooked and the entire Sookie Stackhouse series satisfied a couple weeks of my ‘summer reading’ season.
And the TV series based on Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels, TRUE BLOOD? Well suffice it to say that I am as hooked on the Alan Ball series as I am on GENERAL HOSPITAL…and those who know me understand that that’s serious!
After reading all the Sookie Stackhouse novels and catching up on two seasons of TRUE BLOOD, I had a new interest in attending Q’s upcoming 2009 ball. Popular genre authors had been invited and responded positively, Sue had hired a special Elvis / Bubba (Shea Arender) to serenade Charlaine Harris as a surprise (you’d have to read the books to get the meaning behind that) and I had a feeling that this ball would present a new look and day, or night rather, for vampires.
I was correct.
Sue Quiroz’s 2009 TRUE BLOOD AND GOLD VAMPIRE BALL was a smash hit. Surpassing all years of recent memory, the ball attendance hovered around the 1,000 mark as vampire fans (and me) filled the Republic. Of course, the same crop of Louis, Lestat and Claudia vampires in attendance but unlike the balls of past, there were Ball attendees of the like that have never been seen before. Multiple Sookie Stackhouse the Human Telepath impersonators, Vampire Bills and Vampire Erics, Mariannes, fairies and the list goes on…all with impressive costumes and enthusiasm.
Popular authors Charlaine Harris, Gabrielle Faust and Kimberly Adkins were Special Guests at the 2009 TRUE BLOOD AND GOLD VAMPIRE BALL, which raises funds annually to support Habitat for Humanity. Most excellent items and gift baskets were donated for the annual silent auction. Kimberly Adkins donated an original painting, a 1991 Vampire merlot bottled in Transylvania, signed books and handmade candles. Although not on site, NY Times best-selling author Heather Graham supported the Ball’s fundraising efforts by donating a gift basket filled great stuff including but not limited to books, a certificate to attend her annual NOLA writers conference and a complimentary two-night stay at the Hotel Monteleone. The 2009 Vampire Ball even drew the interest and attendance of Brinkley Maginnis, Tara Duncil and Jamie Baremore of BAM Casting LA out of Baton Rouge (True Blood).
The new look and personalities of vampires was widely reflected at Q’s Vampire Ball indicating that vampires have finally emerged from the annals of history and although not quite ‘alive’, they are now kicking & biting in the modern world.
