Interview With the Vampire was published in 1976. Rice wrote the story, in part, to deal with the loss of her daughter Michele, who died of leukemia at age five. Rice based the character of Claudia on Michele. Interview With the Vampire received mixed reviews but sold well. Rice then took years off before expanding the series into the Vampire Chronicles, which currently comprises 13 novels set in the same universe as Interview.

Rice’s books have sold over 100 million copies. The 1994 movie adaptation starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise was a success that generated a new wave of popularity in the novels. In 2005, Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series ushered in a massive influx of readers interested in vampire stories. In 2008, HBOs hyper-sexualized vampire series True Blood debuted. Vampires were now enjoying a moment in popular culture like the glut of zombie films and books that would follow the success of the TV adaptation of The Walking Dead. Then, in 2022, AMC released the television series Interview With the Vampire which was an instant hit and was quickly renewed for a second season. The TV show cast Louis and Lestat as a gay couple and focused heavily on the physical passion between them, a decision that was perfectly timed with the increasing support for LGBTQ+ themed books and movies.