Lestat is back: Anne چاول announces new 'Vampire Chronicles' sequel 

Books Lestat is back: Anne Rice announces new 'Vampire Chronicles' sequel

Excerpts How 'Playing Big' helped Tara Mohr find her voice, mission and career

On the show Russell Brand is starting a 'Revolution' but wants 'to be a channel of the peace'

TODAY book club Read with us! Join the TODAY Book Club via our Google+ Hangout, newsletter, more

Excerpts Cary Elwes shares tales from the making of 'The Princess Bride' in new memoir

Movies As you wish: See the 'Princess Bride' actors then and now

Celebs J. K. Rowling takes fans on a cryptic Twitter quest

Comic books PC run amok? Female Thor's debut leaves some thunderstruck

excerpt Joel Osteen shares his 'qualities of a winner' in new book 'You Can, You Will'

TODAY book club Paige Rawl's memoir about growing up HIV-positive is latest TODAY Book Club pick

Excerpts Inspiring memoir recounts how author stayed 'Positive' in face of HIV-positive diagnosis

Books 'Gone Girl' author reveals early job as a Cone Girl: 'Be nice to people dressed as food'

Excerpts 'Long Island Medium' shares lessons learned from communicating with the dead

excerpt Google executive, adviser reveal 'How Google Works' in new book

Parents Children's book shares transgender story with kids ages 4-8

On the show Mike Lupica talks about new book ‘Fantasy League’

excerpt 'Gilligan's Island' star Dawn Wells' new book asks 'What Would Mary Ann Do?'

Excerpts Rebecca Alexander won't let losing her sight, hearing cause her to lose her spirit

Trending These Marvel Comics' anti-bullying covers will make you believe in superheroes

Guinness World Records Jiff the dog, biggest afro: See the best from Guinness World Records 2015

Teens A dream deferred no more: Teen secretly publishes his mother's book

Lestat is back: Anne Rice announces new 'Vampire Chronicles' sequel

Author Anne Rice, whose "Vampire Chronicles" novels have sold 80 million copies over the last 38 years, announced that a new installment is coming.

"I am at last able to announce my up-and-coming new novel," Rice said Sunday on the podcast "The Dinner Party with Christopher Rice and Eric Shaw Quinn," which is co-hosted by her son. "The title is \'Prince Lestat,\' and it is a big Vampire Chronicle."

Rice said the new book in the series, out in October, will be a "true sequel" to "Queen of the Damned," the 1988 novel that was third in the series that began with "Interview with the Vampire." The first novel introduced the character of Lestat de Lioncourt, a flamboyant and philosophical 18th-century French vampire.  

"It\'s all about Lestat and all about the vampires and what they\'re doing right now, how they\'re coming to terms with everything that\'s happened to them and how Lestat is dealing with demands from all sides that he step forward and become the leader of the tribe," Rice said on the podcast.

"Interview with the Vampire" was adapted into a 1994 movie starring Tom Cruise as Lestat and co-starring Brad Pitt. "Queen of the Damned" became a 2002 film that also incorporated elements of "The Vampire Lestat," the second book of the Vampire Chronicles. 

From left, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in "Interview with the Vampire," 1994.

In 2008, Rice said in a YouTube video that the series was "closed." But she reopened the door at a question-and-answer session with readers in 2012, when she said, "I want to hear what Lestat has to say."

"Prince Lestat" will be the 11th novel in the series. It will be released Oct. 28, 2014 by Alfred A. Knopf.

Rise to shine with the best of TODAY! Sign up for our free newsletters.

TODAY Daily Buzz Get more news from TODAY, America’s favorite morning show

TODAY Food Find delicious recipes, cooking tips and chef interviews

TODAY Entertainment Catch the hottest entertainment stories and celebrity news

TODAY Concert Series Watch the exclusive performance from your favorite artists