The Gospel According to Anne

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2005/11/anne-rice.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:400;s:6:"height";i:600;s:4:"file";s:21:"2005/11/anne-rice.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"anne-rice-336x504.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:504;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"anne-rice-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"anne-rice-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"anne-rice-400x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:400;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"anne-rice-207x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:207;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"anne-rice-177x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:177;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"anne-rice-400x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:400;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"anne-rice-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:276057;s:14:"optimized_size";i:181807;s:7:"percent";d:34.140000000000001;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:49:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2005/11/anne-rice.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:131211;s:14:"optimized_size";i:73101;s:7:"percent";d:44.289999999999999;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2005/11/anne-rice-336x504.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:43778;s:14:"optimized_size";i:32910;s:7:"percent";d:24.829999999999998;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2005/11/anne-rice-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3236;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3174;s:7:"percent";d:1.9199999999999999;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2005/11/anne-rice-400x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:35434;s:14:"optimized_size";i:26322;s:7:"percent";d:25.719999999999999;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2005/11/anne-rice-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:25523;s:14:"optimized_size";i:18989;s:7:"percent";d:25.600000000000001;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2005/11/anne-rice-207x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:20570;s:14:"optimized_size";i:15303;s:7:"percent";d:25.609999999999999;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2005/11/anne-rice-177x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:16305;s:14:"optimized_size";i:12008;s:7:"percent";d:26.350000000000001;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1669862499 
1131667200

Anne Rice became a household name with the publication of her best-selling novel Interview with the Vampire in 1976. The stories of Louis, Lestat and all the rest earned her a loyal following over the course of her career. She wrapped up both the vampire saga and the tales of a witch family with 2003’s Blood Canticle.

Rice has a new book out which some see as a departure for the author but that she sees as the logical evolution of her work. Christ the Lord; Out of Egypt is the tale of seven-year-old Jesus bar Joseph as he and his family return to Nazareth after the death of King Herod. It’s the first in a series of books Rice plans about Jesus’ life. (Rice says she thinks there will be three or four total.)

Anne Rice is in Birmingham to promote her book this weekend and WBHM’s Rosemary Pennington got a chance to speak with her about the novel and its opening chapter in which Jesus kills a child and then raises him from the dead — a scene from the Apocrypha.

 

 

Auburn tabs USF’s Alex Golesh as its next coach, replacing Hugh Freeze on the Plains

The 41-year-old Golesh, who was born in Russia and moved to the United State at age 7, is signing a six-year contract that averages more than $7 million annually to replace Hugh Freeze. Freeze was fired in early November after failing to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three seasons on the Plains.

Alabama Power seeks to delay rate hike for new gas plant amid outcry

The state’s largest utility has proposed delaying the rate increase from its purchase of a $622 million natural gas plant until 2028.

Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones announces run for Alabama governor

Jones announced his campaign Monday afternoon, hours after filing campaign paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office. His gubernatorial bid could set up a rematch with U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the Republican who defeated Jones in 2020 and is now running for governor. 

Scorching Saturdays: The rising heat threat inside football stadiums

Excessive heat and more frequent medical incidents in Southern college football stadiums could be a warning sign for universities across the country.

The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor

The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor to join our award-winning team covering important regional stories across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

Judge orders new Alabama Senate map after ruling found racial gerrymandering

U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, issued the ruling Monday putting a new court-selected map in place for the 2026 and 2030 elections.

More Arts and Culture Coverage