Compared to Anne Rice

Thursday night while enjoying a night out with some of my friends a nice gentleman approached our table and said to me, "You're Allen Renfro, right?  I'm reading your book The Raised. I'm half way through it and really enjoying it.  Are you influenced by Anne Rice?"  I believe the glow on my face lit the restaurant and could have made the Tennessee River stop flowing at least for a brief moment. I acknowledged that yes indeed Anne Rice is one of my favorite authors and is a tremendous influence on me.  I was honored that a reader of my work recognized those that have influenced me.  To be compared to Anne Rice even as an influence was special to me and he will likely never realize how enriching his comments were.  I will never have the reach or influence that an author as talented as Anne Rice has, but for five minutes on Thursday night I felt that in one reader's eyes I had come very close.