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New UK paperbacks

Posted: June 8, 2007, 08:47

On June 14 Hodder & Stoughton releases new paperback editions of The Bachman Books, The Reulators, The Running Man and Thinner. You can see the new covers below.

It seams that the July Esquire with The Gingerbread Girl is now out:

I've now seen the July Esquire in a library and can report that "The Gingerbread Girl" runs about 23 pages, including a title page, photos and illustrations. Angelina Jolie's on the cover, so it'll be hard to miss.

Thanks to Willowlove

King talks Duma Key

Posted: June 8, 2007, 00:26

Bev Vincent gave the following report about the Edgar Awards event:

King was interviewed by Hard Case Crime's Charles Ardai at the Edgar Awards last month in NYC. I just received a DVD of the interview. During the lengthy talk, King had this to say about Duma Key:

1) As of last month, he was still working on revisions

2) He once described the book as The Maltese Falcon meets The Shining

3) He was walking down a lonely, quiet road in Florida one evening. Most of the houses on the road were empty. He noticed a sign that said "Slow -- Children Playing," but he'd never seen any children there before. Maybe their ghost children, he thought. He had an image of these ghost kids walking behind him and he decided at that moment that somewhere in Duma Key there were going to be dead children.

4) The book also features a mystery from the 1920s that required him to do some research.

5) The book is in part about memories -- how we keep them and how they change. How we remember things one way and someone else remembers them another way.

6) Edgar's new talent, discovered after his accident and after he moves to Florida, is reminiscent of Patrick Danville's skill (though King did not mention Patrick during the interview)

7) There was a famous child kidnapping/murder case that played out while King was in Florida. Videotape captured the kidnapping--a man walked up to the missing girl in a parking lot and lured her away. The brief video played over and over on the news. At one instant, it captures the young girl looking up at her captor with a look of trust. When the culprit was caught, he said, "I got high and did a terrible thing." King was so angry with the guy that he decided to put him in the book and do a bad thing to him.

In unrelated news, King mentioned that he at one time considered writing a Travis McGee novel. He had the whole thing imagined in his head -- it was going to be called CHROME and would start with Meyer being shot and seriously injured while he and Travis were out for a walk on the beach. The question was going to be whether the shooter had been after Meyer or Trav.

King was serious enough about the book to track down John D. MacDonald's son and literary estate guardian in Australia or New Zealand, but the younger MacDonald wouldn't give him permission to do the book.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Blaze site

Posted: June 7, 2007, 22:28

With five day's left until Blaze is released there is now an official site for the book.

More from Eli about Cell

Posted: June 7, 2007, 13:09

Here is another interview with Eli:

Cinematical: I know you're moving on to Cell, the Stephen King adaptation. Last time we checked in, the writers were still working on a draft. Where is that now?

ER: Same thing. I just like to do one movie at a time. I know some directors multi-task, but I can't do that. I tried with Grindhouse and Hostel II and it was exhausting. So I'm going to get through the press on Hostel II and then dive into the script for Cell.

Cinematical: Anyone in mind for the lead roles; I know Jordan Ladd is a favorite of yours?

ER: Nope. Nobody. No cast until there's a script. The only thing that matters right now is the script. Once I finish Hostel: Part II, I'll take short break and then dive into Cell.

Cinematical: With remakes all the rage these days, would you ever be interested in remaking a Stephen King film?

ER: Nope. I did Cell because I've always wanted to do a Stephen King adaptation. Everything else from this point forward, I want to write, direct and create my own ideas.

Review of issue #5

Posted: June 5, 2007, 19:52

Tomorrow the 5th issue of Gunslinger Born are released but today you can read my review of it.

Rock Bottom Remainders

Posted: June 4, 2007, 16:23

What kind of rock band gets up before noon? For that matter, what kind of band reads and writes? The Rock Bottom Remainders do both, and have also been known, while on tour, to tune in to “The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer.” At a little after 6 on Thursday morning they turned up at the studio of “Good Morning America” to do a promotional spot for a Friday-night benefit coinciding with BookExpo America, the big publishing fair that took place in New York over the weekend. The green-room spread included, instead of greenies and quarts of Jack, platters of fresh fruit and, at the request of Roy Blount Jr., one of the band’s founding members, a big pan of grits.

Read the complete text

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Roth talks Cell

Posted: June 4, 2007, 16:19

Eli Roth talks about Cell:

C: Since we're running out of time, I want to talk to you about your Stephen King adaptation CELL. This is your first film that you will not have written. Are you concerned that you're going to be ultra-critical of the script that comes to you next week?

ER: Of course. But I'm also working with really great writers. Sure it's my first time doing it, but if I'm going to do this to see if I can do it…I mean, look, obviously Spielberg does it, millions of directors do it, this is a good way to do it with a Stephen King book. I'm also working with two of the greatest writers in Hollywood Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski [co-writers of ED WOOD, THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT, MAN ON THE MOON, and the upcoming King adaptation 1408], and if there's something I want to change tonally, I'll direct them as I direct any department. If I let my DP come in with his own list of shots, I'd say, that's not how we're shooting the film. If I saw my production designer designing stuff without my direction, I'd go, "That's not how it's going to be." So I have to approach it the way I'd approach any department, and give very strong, clear direction. And obviously, I've been very busy with HOSTEL: PART II that I haven't had a chance to focus, so what I'll do is get the script. I'm sure they will write a great draft, but if it's not what I'm looking for, we'll get it to that and I'll work with them they way I work with a cast member or DP or editor.

C: Do you have Stephen King movies?

ER: I love CARRIE, and I love CREEPSHOW, I love THE SHINING, I love 'SALEM'S LOT. Those are all really terrific; there are so many great ones. I mean THE SHINING is it for me.

C: You may be introducing yourself to a new audience by adapting one of his books.

ER: I think they'll be a lot of crossover audience. They'll at least know that he had to have seen HOSTEL to approve it. But I told everyone, it's going to be an adaptation, not a re-creation. I'm not filming the book; I'm using the book as source material and writing a script based on that. That was the first thing I said, I don't want to piss of Stephen King. I hear he didn't like THE SHINING, and THE SHINING's my favorite. I said, As long as I can change stuff I'll be involved, and he said it's totally cool.

Thanks to Anders Jakobson

Gunslinger Born omnibus ed.

Posted: June 1, 2007, 00:47

The omnibus edition of Gunslinger Born will be out November 7. Check back for a look at the cover soon.

Postscripts #10 signed by King

Posted: May 31, 2007, 14:34

It’s been reported that the regular hardcover edition of Postscripts #10 is in fact signed by all contributors (including King). This one was printed in 300 copies and only cost $50. It’s now sold out though.

Thanks to Marco Lammers.

RSS feed at Lilja's Library

Posted: May 28, 2007, 23:01

Many of you have asked if I will ever get a RSS channel for Lilja’s Library so today I’m very happy to tell you, that as of today, there is a RSS channels for Lilja’s Library.

For those of you that don’t know what RSS is, here is more info:

News feeds allow you to see when websites have added new content. You can get the latest headlines as soon as its published, without having to visit the websites you have taken the feed from.

To take advantage of an RSS feed you would use a piece of software called an RSS aggregator. Most of them are very similar to email client programs, but instead of incoming emails, they display news from various sources (from all the feeds you have registered with, or "subscribed to" as is commonly said but it has nothing to do with money). Unread news typically appear in bold, just as unread emails do.

I hope you will enjoy this new feature and think it’s a good adition to the site. Feel free to send me comments if you want.

Subscribe to Lilja's Library RSS channel

And here are all the winners

Posted: May 27, 2007, 00:14

OK, it’s Saturday and here are the right answers to the questions in the contest:

But first a remainer. This contest was possible to run thanks to Very Fine Books) so in the future, please support them when you get your books, OK?

Question 1: In 1984, which book was adapted into a movie co-starring Heather Locklear and Martin Sheen?
Answer 1: Firestarter

Question 2: The story "The Little Sisters of Eluria" by Stephen King is part of the Dark Tower series and this is the first appearance (first edition) of this story making this anthology a rare prize among Stephen King fans especially. Which Anthology was this?
Answer 2: Legends

Question 3: Cycle of the Werewolf grew to be a beautifully illustrated novella in 12 segments about Marty Coslaw, a young boy who must convince the townspeople of Tarker's Mills that there is a werewolf in their midst. What was it originally meant to be released as?
Answer 3: A story-calendar

Question 4: What John Denver song appeared in The Regulators?
Answer 4: Leaving on a Jet Plane

Question 5: On the February 3rd, 2007 episode of Saturday Night Live, host Drew Barrymore reprised her role as Charlie McGee, in a fake commercial for what?
Answer 5: Firestarter Brand Smoked Sausages

And…here are the winners:

Monday: Black House (1st/1st)
Winner: Christer Nestorsson from Sweden.

Tuesday: Dreamcatcher (1st/1st)
Winner: Mary Brady from the US.

Wednesday: The Dark Half (signed & inscribed 1st edition)
Winner: Michael E. Stamm from the US.

Thursday: Dolores Claiborne (1st/1st)
Winner: Danny Paap from Holland.

Friday: Needful Things (1st/1st)
Winner: Michael Emerson from the US.

The Best American Short Stories

Posted: May 25, 2007, 23:46

The Best American Short Stories 2007 is edited by Stephen King this year. The book is due out on October 10, 2007 and can be order here.

Thanks to Larry Fire

Blaze review

Posted: May 24, 2007, 00:19

Here is a very short review of Blaze from the periodical "Booklist". Read at your own risk...

Read the complete text

Thanks to Rick Urban

The Gingerbread Girl

Posted: May 23, 2007, 22:00

As you might remember King mentioned that he was working on a story called The Gingerbread Girl in my interview with him. Well, today it was reported that it’ll be in Esquire Magazine’s July issue, on stands June 15.
Here it what it says about it on King’s site:

A long story entitled “The Gingerbread Girl” will be the centerpiece of Esquire Magazine’s July issue, on stands June 15.

In the emotional aftermath of her baby’s sudden death, Em starts running. Soon she runs from her husband, to the airport, down to the Florida Gulf and out to the loneliest stretch of Vermillion Key, where her father has offered the use of a conch shack he has kept there for years. Em keeps up her running—barefoot on the beach, sneakers on the road—and sees virtually no one. This is doing her all kinds of good, until one day she makes the mistake of looking into the driveway of a man named Pickering. Pickering also enjoys the privacy of Vermillion Key, but the young women he brings there suffer the consequences….

New books

Posted: May 23, 2007, 08:42

Two new books have surfaced. One is an interview book called Stephen King Spills the Beans and contains interviews, ranging from 1973 to the present.

The other book is a separate release of The Mist. Previously The Mist has only been released in the collection Skeleton Crew.

The release dates are September 28 for Stephen King Spills the Beans and October 2 for The Mist.

Thanks to Larry Fire

Gunslinger Born translation

Posted: May 21, 2007, 00:18

Here are some news about the forigne translations of Gunslinger Born:

King’s German publisher Heyne plans to release all the first seven issues in a complete edition and names it Der Dunkle Turm - Graphic Novel. Their will also be a limited edition containing a poster (see image). Release date will be October this year.

Thanks to Andreas Hesse

Pages from issue #5

Posted: May 18, 2007, 09:26

Here are some pages from issue #5 of Gunslinger Born.

Thanks to Silver Bullet Comic

Stevie's Wonders

Posted: May 17, 2007, 23:24

Here is an article by King from EW called Stevie's Wonders.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Cell in Fangoria

Posted: May 17, 2007, 00:47

Fangoria reports about Cell

While chatting with screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski about their work on the Stephen King film 1408 (pictured, and currently set for June 22 release by Dimension), Fango also got a few comments from them about their next Dimension/King project: CELL, to be directed by HOSTEL mastermind Eli Roth. This will be a different ball game altogether from 1408; while that film relies on an unseen, psychological menace, King’s 2006 novel is a thrill ride from page one, his own homage to the zombie films of George A. Romero. In the book, a mysterious “pulse” is emitted by every cell phone in the U.S. turning anybody using one into a vicious, inhuman killer. Those afflicted eventually form a hive mind determined to wipe out the last survivors, who struggle to survive in a devastated New England.

The two scripters see CELL as a chance to not only pull their own variation on the “zombie” genre, but also to make a statement of how technology has overtaken the American lifestyle. “People think they have to be connected at all moments of their lives, so we’re trying to make the movie a big indictment of that,” Alexander continues. “We’re using the novel as a jumping-off point. The book is very sarcastic about this world of people and what they have brought upon themselves with all their friggin’ cell phones and e-mails and pagers and Bluetooths and all this stuff, but after a certain point, the novel sort of moves on to new ideas. We’re trying to keep the movie focused on that original theme, because it’s very timely and provides a really good shape to the material.” But he adds that the movie will reflect the fast-paced, action-packed tone of King’s novel: “There’s much more action in CELL, and particularly because Eli is the director, we’d be crazy if we didn’t make it visceral.”

“There’s not a lot of pretension in CELL,” adds Karaszewski. “The best sequences in the book are the ones that get really violent and horrible and funny all at the same time, and that’s why Eli is the perfect director for it.” The pair are currently completing the script’s first draft, with production tentatively slated to begin in the fall; see Fango #265, on sale in July, for their comments on 1408, and #264, on sale this month, for a chat with that movie’s director Mikael Hafstrom. —Don Kaye

Thanks to Bev Vincent

The Secretary of Dreams vol.2

Posted: May 17, 2007, 00:46

News on volume 2 of The Secretary of Dreams from Cemetery Dance:

In other Stephen King news, we've received hundreds of emails asking about Volume Two of The Secretary of Dreams, and we're pleased to report that Glenn Chadbourne is nearing completion of the artwork! We expect to receive the first batch of illustrations this week, and the next batch soon after. The samples he already sent us are amazing and we can't wait to show them off.

We'll post more updates as this project gets a little closer to being officially announced, but we can tell you right now that we'll have an official procedure in place soon for "registering" your Limited Edition number from Volume One *IF* you bought your signed copy from someone other than Cemetery Dance or a few select booksellers.

If you ordered your Limited Edition directly from Cemetery Dance, we already have your number in our records and you will not have to do anything to get that same number on Volume Two! If you bought your Limited Edition of Volume One off eBay or through another source, you will have to provide proof of ownership to receive a matching number. We'll post complete details next time!

Thanks to Bev Vincent

King on Easy Tiger

Posted: May 11, 2007, 23:28

King writes about Easy Tiger on Amazon.com.

Product Description
I think there are really only two kinds of pop music CDs these days. There are the ones you listen to only once or twice, maybe downloading the single good song to your iPod or computer; then there are others that grow stronger, sweeter, and more necessary each time you play them. Gold was that way; Cold Roses was that way; so was Jacksonville City Nights. I won't say Adams is the best North American singer-songwriter since Neil Young...but I won't say he isn't, either. What I know is there has never been a Ryan Adams record quite as strong and together as Easy Tiger; it's got enough blue-eyed, blue-steel soul (with the faintest country tinge) to make me think of both Marvin Gaye and the Righteous Brothers. Probably ridiculous, but true. And the songs themselves are beautiful--the lyrics tightly focused and brief, the feeling one of melancholy calm that will probably be a revelation to fans that remember the old, sometimes angry Ryan Adams.

Now there's this, maybe the best Ryan Adams CD ever. And I know you want to listen to it right away. But slow down. Take your time. This album asks for that, and it will reward your full attention.

In other words--easy, Tiger.

--Stephen King

And here is more...

Thanks to Paul Poroshin

1408 pushed up

Posted: May 11, 2007, 14:11

1408 has been pushed up a few weeks to June 22nd so that is won’t have to compete with the new Harry Potter movie.

Thanks to Anders Jakobson

Miss the newsletters?

Posted: May 7, 2007, 23:51

Do you miss the news mail? Well, that is because I had to change the way that I send out them. If you want to continue to get the mails, click here.

~ ~ ~ And if you still doesn’t receive them, check your SPAM filter ~ ~ ~

Released dates for DT comic

Posted: May 7, 2007, 23:34

I can now give you the release dates for issue 5, 6 and 7 of The Dark Tower comic.

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #5: June 6
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #6: July 4
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #7: August 1

1408 reviews

Posted: May 6, 2007, 23:43

Here are two positive reviews of 1408.

Thanks to Anders Jakobson

ARC of Blaze

Posted: May 4, 2007, 21:48

Here is a scan of Scribner's ARC of Blaze.

It also contains the story Memory that is a preview for the upcoming Duma Key.

Official 1408 site

Posted: May 4, 2007, 21:30

The official site for 1408 is now up and running.

Stephen's Picks for the week of May 1, 2007

Posted: May 4, 2007, 21:29

Stephen's Picks for the week of May 1, 2007 is out:

* Stephen is reading:Then We Came To The End by Joshua Ferris

* Stephen is also reading:No Dominion by Charlie Husten Finn

* Stephen is also reading: Angelica by Arthur Phillips

Variant covers for issue #4

Posted: May 3, 2007, 22:51

Here are the two variant covers for issue #4 of Gunslinger Born.

Thanks to Ari

King to Canada - article

Posted: May 3, 2007, 11:05

Here is an article about King going to Canada.

Thanks to Rocky Wood

Forward to Blaze

Posted: May 3, 2007, 11:04

Here are King’s forward to Blaze.

Thanks to Paul Poroshin

Faithful to be filmed

Posted: May 3, 2007, 11:00

Here are some info about a new miniseries based on King and O’Nan’s book Faithful. It’ll be six hourlong episodes for HBO.

Thanks to Paul Poroshin

Variant cover for issue 4

Posted: May 3, 2007, 00:10

Here is the variant cover of The Gunslinger Born issue #4. It's done by Steve McNiven.

Thanks to Mike Cahill

King in Canada in June

Posted: May 2, 2007, 21:43

King goes to Canada:

Stephen King, Naomi Klein, Ami McKay, Christopher Hitchens, Sherman Alexie, Louise Penny, Kenneth Oppel, Jeannette Walls, James A. Owen: just a sampling from the broad range of over 50 authors participating in a brand new festival for readers in Toronto. Taking place over three days from June 7th to 9th, BOOKED! is a unique, inclusive festival catering to the tastes of ALL readers. BOOKED! events include every possible reading genre: from horror to chick-lit, from comic books to current events-this is not your typical Canadian literary festival.

BOOKED! was created by members of the publishing community to give booklovers access to the authors behind the books they love, with readings, presentations, forums, panel discussions and two full days of children's programming. Free events will be held at bookstores and locations throughout Toronto, while ticketed events (ranging from $5-$25) will be held at Fort York, Harbourfront and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

And, BOOKED! is proud to announce a gala tribute to master storyteller and multi-million-copy best-selling author Stephen King-his first-ever public appearance in Canada-to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Canadian Booksellers Association. The event, to be held at the John Bassett Theatre at the MTCC on Friday, June 8 at 7:30 pm will include an on-stage interview with a surprise celebrity guest. Presented by BOOKED! in partnership with Luminato, International Readings at Harbourfront and Simon & Schuster Canada.

Tickets to all events go on sale Thursday May 3 through the BOOKED! web site www.bookedbetweenthecovers.com and the Harbourfront Centre box office 416-973-4000.

For details on other events, a listing of all participating authors and locations, and for more information on BOOKED! and its sponsors, visit www.bookedbetweenthecovers.ca on May 3rd.

Thanks to Bev Vincent.

1408 photos

Posted: May 2, 2007, 21:27

Here are some photos from 1408.

Thanks to Bev Vincent.

Gunslinger Born issue #4

Posted: April 25, 2007, 01:17

Here are some previews from issue #4 of The Gunslinger Born. You can also check out my review of issue #4 here.

Dead Zone returns on June 17

Posted: April 24, 2007, 00:01

From the official Dead Zone site:

USA Network has picked up The Dead Zone for a Sixth Season of 13 one-hour episodes! The series returns Sunday, June 17 at 10/9C with a dramatic premiere that will change everything in Johnny Smith's world. Read the official announcement and be sure to check out Shawn Piller's latest blog in which he details what to expect in Season 6!

The Pop of King: No No No Easy Road

Posted: April 24, 2007, 00:00

There is a new column in the 4/27-5/4/07 double issue of Entertainment Weekly. It's called No No No Easy Road and is about rehab, especially King's own.

Thanks to Willowlove

King to perform with the RBR for the first time in five years

Posted: April 23, 2007, 15:25

Rocky Wood reported earlier today that The New York Post reported that King would perform with the Rock Bottom Remainders on June 1 in New York for the first time in five years.

I just got confirmation that it is correct. King will be there and perform with the band. It will be at Webster Hall on June 1, during the BookExpo America convention and it is to raise money for three literary charities.

Rocky Wood

The Dark Tower Comic Week Day 7

Posted: April 23, 2007, 00:11

The second contest in The Dark Tower Comic Week is now over and here are the right answers:

Question: What other King story was Ralph Macchio involved in turning into a comic?
Answer: The Lanwmower Man for Bizarre Adventures

Question: What was Robin’s first assignment for King?
Answer: It was to sort through the thousands of responses King had gotten to the On Writing story competition.

Question: What date is issue #4 of The Dark Tower comic released?
Answer: May 2nd 2007

And the five winners of a set of issue 1-7 are:
Hannah Beck from the US
Le Cerf Philippe from Belgium
Marco Lammers from The Netherlands
Lauren Roberts from the UK
Michael Emerson from the US

And the winner of a signed (by Jae Lee) copy of one of the issues in the series are:
Linda Kinder from the US.

Congratulations! Some of you were very lucky. Of the original 6 winners I picked only 2 where members on my list so the other 4 (including the grand prize winner) where disqualified…

This ends the The Dark Tower Comic Week but I want to thank you all for doing this a success. I have gotten a lot of mails about it and it’s been 100% positive. So Thanks!

Oh, and I’ll soon have another contest for you...

The Dark Tower Comic Week Day 6

Posted: April 21, 2007, 00:00

Today the time has come to listen to what Peter David, who is doing the scripting on The Dark Tower comic, has to say. In the interview you can also see previews from issue #4, enjoy!

On Predicting Violence

Posted: April 20, 2007, 21:39

King writes about the Virginia Tech shootings in On Predicting Violence.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

The Dark Tower Comic Week Day 5

Posted: April 20, 2007, 00:00

Read an interview with Richard Isanove who is the colorist on The Dark Tower comic here.

The Dark Tower Comic Week Day 4

Posted: April 19, 2007, 00:00

The first contest in The Dark Tower Comic Week is now over. Here are the right answers:

Question: How many covers for The Dark Tower comic has Joe Quesada done?
Answer: He has done two. He did variant cover for issue #1 but also the one for issue #1’s second printing.

Question: How many story arcs has Marvel announced for The Dark Tower comic so far?
Answer: The number or story arcs is 5 and the total number of issues in those arcs are 30

Question: Who was it that said no to doing two versions of the comic, one as it is today and one with Jae Lee’s sketches uncolorized?
Answer: It was Jae Lee himself after seeing Richard Isanove's coloring

And the two winners of a set of issue 1-3 are:
Tom Twinem from the US
Bob Ireland from the US

And the three winners of a random selected variation cover are:
Gabriel Vaianella from Argentina
Spencer Chestnutt from the US
Khoi Tran from the US

Congratulations! Don’t forget though that The Dark Tower Comic Week is only halfway. As of right now there is a second contest up and running. Don’t forget to enter that one, and yes, you can enter that one if you entered or won in the first contest.

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