NEWS -

More about a BIG book

Posted: October 14, 2009, 14:31
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Well, if you have seen the pictures of this book on my site you know it’s a massive book, it’s actually one of the biggest books I have seen, and then I haven’t even seen it in real life yet… I have however gotten a little taste of it and what I have seen really makes me want to get a copy of the book. As luck has it I will get a copy of this giant so count on a review once I do.

Until then, check out these new pages from the book. The book is filled with stuff like this. Some of the illustrations I recognize and some I have never seen before but they all have one thing in common, they are all very interesting and my guess is that you’ll spend the first read just watching the illustrations...and then the at the second read actually read the text about the illustrators and their work...

Click for a larger image Click for a larger image Click for a larger image

KEY SPECIFICATIONS:
full color, 11 × 15 inches, 448 pages
over 500 illustrations
over 30 pages of double-page foldouts
publication date: November 2009
Order here

Under the UK...

Posted: October 14, 2009, 14:29
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Hodder & Stoughton's Under the Dome site´is now live.

Short interview...

Posted: October 14, 2009, 14:29
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Here is a short interview with King about Under the Dome.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Sneak peek

Posted: October 13, 2009, 16:25
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Here is a sneak peek the first pages of The Talisman

One more arc...

Posted: October 13, 2009, 08:55
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Click for a larger imageMarvel has just announced an aditional story ARC of The Dark Tower comic. It's called The Gunslinger and here is what they say about it:

Marvel, in collaboration with Stephen King, is proud to announce a new chapter in the Dark Tower graphic fiction adaptation-DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER. Beginning in 2010, The New York Times Best-Selling creative team of Peter David, Robin Furth and Richard Isanove return for a new arc exploring the life of Roland Deschain, revealing how and why he began his pursuit of the man in black across Mid-World's Mohaine Desert!

Read more here.

Thanks to Sebastian Rahm.

A hidden masterpiece…

Posted: October 13, 2009, 01:27
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Under the Dome
336,114 words
Broken into 5,196 pieces
A hidden masterpiece

With less than a month left till the release of Under the Dome Hodder & Stoughton is kicking of a contest to celebrate the launch of the book. They are breaking the novel up into 5,196 pieces and then hiding the pieces for all of you to find.

The novel is going to be scattered across the internet and real world and it’s now up to you to find it, bring them back to their site (site is not yet live) and try to piece the novel together before it is out on general release on November 10th.

And if you hadn’t guessed it already there is one piece hidden here at Lilja’s Library as well. Happy Hunting!

King in Playboy

Posted: October 12, 2009, 00:25
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The latest issue of Playboy don't just have Marge Simpsons on the cover. It also has The Bone Church which is a poem by King.

Thanks to Terry Warrick and Mark Reynolds

New column online

Posted: October 12, 2009, 00:23
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Now you can read The One That Got Away online.

Thanks to willowlove.

Bullet illustrations

Posted: October 12, 2009, 00:18
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Here are some news about Riding the Bullet from Lonely Road books:

It will be published next year.

It will feature new artwork by Alan Clark. you can get a sneak peak here.

Thanks to Ari.

Covers for Under the Dome

Posted: October 8, 2009, 19:10
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Click for a larger image Click for a larger image


Click for a larger imageHere are two images of the limited edition of Under the Dome as well as the audio cover.

Also, in the paperback ed. of Just after Sunset there is an excerpt from Under the Dome called Barbie as well as the The airplane and the woodchuck. Barbie continues where The airplane and the woodchuck ends.

Thanks to John Hanic and Hans

King NOT involved in Haven

Posted: October 8, 2009, 15:02
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Yesterday quite a few articles on the net indicated that King was personally involved with the production of Haven but now it's clear that he is NOT. This was posted on the official message board:

Steve hadn't mentioned this project to me so it came out of the blue when I saw the Google alert. I emailed Steve to find out what the deal was and this is his response which he gave me permission to post:

"I'm not personally involved, and the concept is much more X-Files than it is The Colorado Kid. I okayed the pilot script, which is good (or was, as of the last draft), but there's no possessory credit, as in "Stephen King's The Colorado Kid," and that should tell you something. Basically, they're doing their own thing, and given the less than lyrical reader and critical reaction to the story as published in Hardcase Crime, that's okay with me."

Dome excerpt

Posted: October 8, 2009, 11:31
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Entertainment Weekly will be publishing an excerpt of Under the Dome in their print magazine currently scheduled to be on stands on October 23rd (the date could be subject to change). The excerpt is not expected to be available on-line.

Thanks to Larry Fire.

Limited cover

Posted: October 7, 2009, 15:00
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Here is the cover for the limited edition of Under the Dome. This edition has the art as the regular edition, but there is a bellyband that wraps the book and can be removed where the jacket becomes a piece of art with no writing on it.

More Haven

Posted: October 6, 2009, 16:45
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More about Haven from The Blobe and Mail:

Stephen King has penned some of the literary world's most memorable horror novels, from Carrie to The Shining. But what in the name of Cujo could possibly send shivers up the author's spine?

The answer has finally come: U.S. television studios.

In a deal that will be announced today in Cannes, France, Mr. King has partnered with Canadian television producer E1 Entertainment Inc. to make his latest creation, a television series titled Haven, based on his best-selling novella The Colorado Kid.

It is a deal that shatters the conventions of big-budget television productions. Rather than take his concept directly to a Hollywood studio, the author has specifically gone outside of the U.S. in order to retain more creative control over how the series is made.

When complete, Haven will be offered up to networks to buy, but the author is strategically looking to avoid the studio formula of producing a pilot episode, then hoping it generates enough interest to be picked up for a whole season. Instead, Toronto-based E1 will make an entire season - 13 one-hour episodes - before it is shopped to broadcasters in several countries, including the U.S.

"He had his reasons. He might have been disillusioned a little with the development process in the U.S.," Peter Emerson, president of E1's television division, said of Mr. King's decision to partner with the Canadian company.

"He wants to be able to do it without putting it through a studio that's going to pay 100 per cent of it and consequently have that control. ... That created a unique problem for us, because that's not normally how the business works. Normally you get the U.S. studios involved first and then sell internationally."

Mr. King is not commenting on the deal. However, the author is said to have been upset with the treatment of some of his work on television and in films, and also wants to retain a greater share of the proceeds from Haven than he would if the rights were bought by a studio.

The concept of making a complete season is outside the norm for the big TV studios, which want to limit their financial risk if a show stumbles in its first few episodes. However, the full-season model has been increasingly used by premium cable networks, such as HBO and Showtime, and other cable outlets to develop more complete storylines.

Mr. King, who has sold more than 300 million horror novels in his career, began talking to E1 last year when he decided to adapt The Colorado Kid to television. The story is based on the cursed residents of a small town in Maine. E1 was initially approached by Mr. King's agent, Los Angeles-based Creative Artists Agency, based on its past work making shows for U.S. and Canadian networks.

The company has helped make Hung for HBO, The Bridge for CBS and CTV, and Copper for ABC and Global Television. To secure the financing needed to make a TV series that is network quality, E1 needed a partner to help it foot the bill of more than $2-million (U.S.) an episode for Haven.

For that, E1 turned to the international arm of NBC's production studio, Universal Networks International. In exchange for putting up some of the production budget, Universal will get the rights to show Haven on pay-television channels outside North America and Scandinavia. E1 is free to sell the show in North America, noting that it will likely end up on science fiction channels on cable. Though Universal is connected to NBC in the U.S., the network has no claim over Mr. King's series.

The U.S. studio model has been in flux since the Hollywood writer's strike two years ago forced the major networks to look beyond heir own operations for new shows. Roma Khanna, president of Universal's international operations, said the deal is a nod to the increasing quality of Canadian productions and a sign of the shift in the U.S. market.

"It says a lot of the production world that we're in now, to think outside the traditional U.S. studio system," said Ms. Khanna, a former executive with CHUM Ltd. in Toronto who moved to Universal's London office three years ago.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Looks good for Haven

Posted: October 6, 2009, 16:44
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It looks good for Haven. This was reported by Variety today:

Universal Networks finds 'Haven'

Global dvision to co-finance Stephen King drama
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDERMore

Universal Networks Intl., the newly rebranded global channels unit of NBC Universal, has signed on to co-finance the Stephen King drama "Haven."

In the case of "Haven," E1 Entertainment is behind the show -- based on the King novella "The Colorado Kid" -- and will produce 13 episodes (Daily Variety, Sept. 28). Universal has acquired exclusive pay TV rights across the globe except for the U.S., Canada and Scandinavia, where distribution is still being sought.

Deal reps E1's first major pact with Universal Networks Intl.

Thanks to Marcus

Dark Tower comic

Posted: October 6, 2009, 00:51
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Marvel has published a nice article about what has happened so far in The Dark Tower series and added some black/white sketches of the upcoming #6. Check it out here

Thanks to Sebastian Rahm

The cover, last part

Posted: October 6, 2009, 00:36
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Here is the finished cover for Under the Dome. Beutiful if you ask me.

Click for a larger image

Mor Cannibals

Posted: October 5, 2009, 10:20
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60 new pages of The Canniblas are now up for download on King's site. Get them (and the first 60) here.

Thanks to Peter Hunt

A VERY big book

Posted: October 5, 2009, 10:18
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Here's a selection of photos from Artists Inspired by Stephen King that was released by the publisher. It gives you a feeling of just how big this book is. They also wanted me to tell you that the book has shipped from China and is expected to be in the U.S. in a few short weeks. So, if you haven’t ordered your copy yet, do it now. You can order it here.


Stephen to Appear in Toronto

Posted: October 2, 2009, 08:08
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From King's official site:

Stephen to Appear in Toronto

Simon & Schuster Canada is pleased to welcome international bestselling author Stephen King to Toronto for an exclusive Canadian in person appearance on November 19th, 2009 at the Canon Theatre. The legendary horror, science fiction, and fantasy author has written more than fifty bestselling books and is the 2007 recipient of The Canadian Booksellers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Stephen King visits Toronto to celebrate the launch of his epic new novel, Under the Dome.

For this exclusive in person event King will be joined in conversation by highly-acclaimed Canadian director, writer, and producer David Cronenberg on stage at the elegant Canon Theatre.

Hosted by Canadian television and radio personality George Stroumboulopoulos, host of CBC television program The Hour, the evening will commence at 8:00pm with introductions followed by an in-depth interview with Stephen King led by David Cronenberg.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, October 2nd for $33 and $28 (Service charges apply to phone and internet orders. All prices are in Canadian dollars and include GST & CIF. Seating is subject to availability) and will be available by phone at TicketKing (416) 872-1212 or 1(800)461-3333,
online at www.ticketking.com, or in person at these box offices: The Royal Alexandra Theatre (260 King Street West) or The Princess of Wales Theatre (300 King Street West).

Gilead preview

Posted: October 2, 2009, 08:04
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Here is a preview of issue #5 of Fall of Gilead that can now be found in stores.

Thanks to Sebastian Rahm.

The TimesTalks

Posted: September 30, 2009, 10:53
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This was posted on King's official board about The TimesTalks event:

The TimesTalks has posted an update for their simulcast locations. You can find the list of participating theaters at this link (see the Choose a Country section and follow the links through). There is also a link to submit a question for consideration by the moderator at the event. I did not see the pricing for the tickets on their page, though, and do not know if pricing is set by the local theaters.

My review

Posted: September 30, 2009, 01:11
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Check out my review of It Grows On You: And Other Stories, The End of the Whole Mess: And Other Stories and Sorry, Right Number: And Other Stories here.

The Colorado Kid becoming Haven

Posted: September 29, 2009, 13:53
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According to Variety, E1 Entertainment has committed to 13 hour-long episodes adapting Stephen King’s novella The Colorado Kid into a television series called Haven.

Scott Shepherd will serve as showrunner and exec produce with Lloyd Segan and Shawn Piller, all three of whom were exec producers on USA Network's version of The Dead Zone.

Two more Dead Zone alumni, Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn, are writing the pilot and will also serve as exec producers.

The report describes the project as, “centers on a spooky town in Maine where cursed folk live normal lives in exile. When those curses start returning, FBI agent Audrey Parker is brought in to keep those supernatural forces at bay — while trying to unravel the mysteries of Haven.”

E1 is in advanced talks with several European broadcast partners to sign on and help finance the show. After securing an international partner, the company will turn its attention to finding U.S. and Canadian broadcasters.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

My first quote for the book

Posted: September 29, 2009, 09:10
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Cemetery Dance sent a copy of my book (a galley) to Peter Straub and he in return sent me this very kind quote that I just had to share with you all:

"Lilja's Library: The World of Stephen King is like beautifully prepared and presented red meat to any admirer of Stephen King. Mr. Lilja has tracked down his many quarries and used them to create this massive treatment of King's work and his world. His book is pure testimony to the love Stephen King is capable of arousing in his readers."
— Peter Straub, co-author of The Talisman and Black House

Well, what can I say? I’m a very happy boy today!

60 new pages

Posted: September 28, 2009, 21:53
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Very good news from the moderator of King's board:

Steve gave me the okay to scan another 60 pages which I will do and have posted by the end of the week but he also said not to expect any more until at least next year --or possibly not at all.

What does Ka is a Wheel mean

Posted: September 28, 2009, 12:05
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As many of you have noticed there are some Dark Tower things going on. Over at http://www.stephenking.com/darktower/ there is a teaser up for something that is coming in November.

There has been speculations flying high and low since that teaser was posted. Some thinks it’s an ad for the last story arc in the Dark Tower comic. Some think it’s going to be an interactive game based on The Dark Tower and then there is this theory that I’m hoping for.

When we were chatting about his upcoming book Under the Dome, a novel with political subtext out in November, King said he had recently had an idea for a short story. “And then I thought, ‘Well, why don’t I find three more like this and do a book that would be almost like modern fairy tales?’ Then this thing started to add on bits and pieces so I guess it will be a novel.” That idea, according to King, is for a new Dark Tower novel, a continuation of his epic seven-part fantasy/sci-fi/Western series about a lone gunslinger named Roland and his ongoing hunt for the Man in Black. “It’s not really done yet,” King admits of his magnum opus. “Those seven books are really sections of one long uber-novel.”

This is from this blog (written in March) by Lorrie Lynch who got this info while doing this interview.

No one knows for sure though but the moderator of King’s official board has promised that there will be more info in mid-October.

Thanks to Chris

Under the Dome in Italy

Posted: September 25, 2009, 22:05
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King's agent has just confirmed that the Italian edition of Under the Dome will be released on October 27th. 2 weeks ahead of the US and UK editions.

The cover part 2

Posted: September 25, 2009, 21:34
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The second part of the cover of Under the Dome has been revealed. Check it out here it looks amazing.

More Canniblas?

Posted: September 25, 2009, 21:16
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Maybe King will give us 60 aditional pages from The Cannibals...if we want it. Here is what the moderator of King's board posted today:

I told Steve that everyone was loving what has been released so far. He told me to ask if you'd like another 60 or so pages. I told him I didn't even have to ask--of course you would, but he told me to ask anyway. So, is there anybody out there who would like to see another 60 pages?

Thanks to Ari.

What's this?

Posted: September 25, 2009, 14:25
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Check this out! I have no idea what it means but it sure looks interesting...

Thanks to Ari.

King, in a theater near you

Posted: September 25, 2009, 11:42
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Now you’ll be able to see King even if you can’t attend:

Live from NY -- it's King, in a theater near you!
Yesterday at 7:00pm

Here's an interesting option for people who can't make it to one of King's events this fall:

The New York Times Launches ‘TimesTalks LIVE’
Simulcasts of TimesTalks Conversations from TheTimesCenter

Co-Presented with BY Experience, Inc.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The New York Times announced today the launch of TimesTalks LIVE, broadcasts of intimate discussions with today’s top talents and thinkers from TheTimesCenter. The simulcasts will be transmitted live, in high definition via satellite to movie theaters and other venues across the United States and Canada. Approximately 75 locations will participate in the pilot screenings, which is co-presented with BY Experience with additional sites expected to join.

The participating sites, to date, include 54 Cineplex theaters throughout Canada and 20 independent venues in the U.S. including California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington.

The first events to be broadcast will feature: John Irving in conversation with Times writer at large Charles McGrath, on Wednesday, Oct. 28; and Stephen King in conversation with Times book critic Janet Maslin on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Audiences at the various locations will have the opportunity to submit questions for consideration by the respective moderator in advance of each event through the TimesTalks Web site. For tickets, participating venues and theater box offices, please visit www.TimesTalks.com.

Read the complete text

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Corn trailer

Posted: September 24, 2009, 23:46
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Here is a trailer for the remake of Children of the Corn.


Thanks to Al Mattice

Teaser

Posted: September 24, 2009, 23:44
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More cool stuff that will be in The Stephen King Illustrated Companion:

A look inside The Shining. The title page, dated May 13, 1975, still bears King's original title, The Shine, along with a handwritten note to Bill Thompson. Three pages from the original manuscript show how King changed his mind about Danny's encounter with the fire hose outside room 217 in Chapter 19. The first draft of "Inside 217" --the famous bathtub scene--containing King's hand-written revisions and annotations. In this draft, Danny's mother is named...(you'll have to check out the book to find the answer to that question!)

Covers for issue #5

Posted: September 24, 2009, 23:36
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Click for a larger image Click for a larger image Here are the variant and sketch covers for issue 35 of Fall of Gilead.

Thanks to Sebastian Rahm

Jackson to quit smoking

Posted: September 22, 2009, 23:52
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Samuel L. Jackson to quit smoking as Quitter's Inc. gets remade.

Johnathn Schaech started his acting career taking the lead in Franco Zeffirelli’s THE SPARROW. He went on to play the title characters in HOUDINI and JUDAS and starred in such films as HUSH, THE FORSAKEN, THE DOOM GENERATION and Tom Hanks' THAT THING YOU DO - to name a few. Recently he starred in two award-winning indies, LITTLE CHENIER and SEA OF DREAMS. In 2008 he starred in the theatrical blockbusters QUARANTINE and PROM NIGHT. Johnathon has written for Showtime’s MASTERS OF HORROR series, and last year he wrote for NBC’s new series FEAR ITSELF. Schaech is currently writing the screenplay for Stephen King’s FROM A BUICK 8 for horror master Tobe Hooper and Stephen King’s QUITTERS INC. for Samuel L Jackson.

Rich Chizmar and John Schaech have been asked to write the screenplay but the production is waiting for clearance of the rights because Quitters, Inc. had already been produced as part of Cat's Eye.

Source

Buick 8 news

Posted: September 22, 2009, 23:49
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Here is an update on the movie version of From a Buick 8 from the moderator of King’s board:

I received this update from Rich Chizmar (owner of the film rights) on Friday (9/18):

"Tobe Hooper still attached as director, along with Amicus Films as our producing partner, as well as Mick Garris. Script is good shape. I know some of the funding is in place. They are still shaking the trees for the rest."

Talisman covers

Posted: September 22, 2009, 23:44
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Click for a larger image Click for a larger imageHere is the regular cover and variant cover for issue "2 of The Road of Trials.

Thanks to Shawn Speakman

Jericho Hill cover

Posted: September 22, 2009, 23:03
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Click for a larger imageHere is the cover for issue #2 of The Battle of Jericho Hill. No sign of the cover for issue #1 yet though...

Signings

Posted: September 21, 2009, 22:07
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Here are more info about the Baltimore and Toronto signings:

Info for Baltimore area:

Wednesday, November 11th

6:00 PM
Wal-Mart #2435
2399 North Point Boulevard
Dundalk, MD 21222
410-284-5412

Wristbands will be handed out at 7:00 AM that morning. The first 400 people will get a wristband. Right before the event, they'll move the line to the raised stage area. There will be an area for those who were not able to obtain a wrist band at which Steve will speak for about 15 minutes before the actual signing begins. There will be a back-up line in the event that Steve is able to get through more than the first 400 people in the two hours allotted.
__________________

Toronto

An Evening with Stephen King

Thursday, November 19th
8:00pm

Canon Theatre
244 Victoria Street
Toronto, ON M5B 1V8
(416) 872-1212

Tickets are not yet on-sale so please do not call the theater yet. We hope to have prices and ticket ordering info by the end of the week.
__________________

These are the only venues for this tour:

November 10th TimesTalks, New York City Sold Out

November 11th Wal-Mart, Dundalk, MD Book signing

November 13th Barnes & Noble, Peachtree
Atlanta Book signing

November 16th Van Wezel, Sarasota, FL On stage event

November 18th St. Paul, MN Sold Out

November 19th Canon Theatre, Toronto On stage event

December 1st Writers on a NE Stage,
Portsmouth, NH Sold Out

December 2nd Northshire Bookstore,
Manchester, VT On stage event

No Ghost Brothers?

Posted: September 21, 2009, 22:05
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The play/musical Ghost Brothers of Darkland County is now on the back burner. It does look like that there will be a CD release next year though that’s supposed to contain "the book," which is simply the text of the proposed musical. Everything but the lyrics. It won't really read like a novel though.

According to Rolling Stone, two of the artists performing on the CD will be Elvis Costello and Neko Case.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

King in Fangoria

Posted: September 21, 2009, 22:05
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King will be writing for Fangoria:

Stephen King, the world’s best-selling author of horror and dark fantasy, has submitted an exclusive, all-new article for publication in FANGORIA magazine. The 7,500-plus-word essay, entitled “What’s Scary,” will be published in two parts, beginning with FANGORIA #289, on sale in December, and concluding in FANGORIA #290, arriving in January 2010. “I’ve wanted to be a Fango contributor ever since I purchased my first issue,” King says. “For me, this is a nightmare come true.”

“What’s Scary” critiques the last decade of genre cinema, from 1999’s phenomenon THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT to this past summer’s surprise smash DISTRICT 9. He also chooses his favorite films and touches on the recent flood of horror remakes and zombie flicks, making many surprising and enlightening observations.

“Stephen’s article not only arrives just in time for the holidays, but is also the perfect way for FANGORIA to wrap up 2009, the year we celebrated the magazine’s 30th anniversary,” says Fango editor Tony Timpone. “It has always been a dream of mine to have King listed as a contributor on our masthead, and the fact that he has written enough for two issues is just icing on the cake.”

The author promises to answer the following questions in his piece (excerpted from his introduction): “First,” King writes, “why do so many so-called horror movies, even those with big budgets (maybe especially those with big budgets) not work? Second, why do fans of the genre such as myself so often go in with high hopes and come out feeling unsatisfied…and, worse, unscared? Third, and most important, why is it that others—sometimes that most unheralded others, those with teensy budgets and unknown, untried actors—do work, surprising us with terror and amazement?”

King has been featured in FANGORIA’s pages since its earliest issues. For Fango’s 100th edition (pictured left), the Maine resident told interviewer Philip Nutman, “It’s one of the magazines that comes into the house that we all fight over. FANGORIA is always welcome in my house.” King is the author of over 60 novels, which have sold an estimated 350 million copies worldwide and spawned dozens of feature films and TV series, movies and miniseries. In 2003, the National Book Foundation awarded King the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, one of many prestigious accolades he has garnered over the years. King’s latest novel, the gargantuan apocalyptic epic UNDER THE DOME, arrives November 10 from Scribner.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

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November 14, 2025:
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Stephen King: Stories From Five Decades of Storytelling (German edition)
2025:
Stephen King: Not Just Horror (German ed.)
2026:
Stephen King: Not Just Horror (Portuguese ed.)
2026:
Stephen King: Stories From Five Decades of Storytelling (Portuguese edition)

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