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Lisey's Story review

Posted: October 23, 2006, 23:59

Tomorrow Lisey's Story hits the stores. Today you can read my review of it.

Here are the correct answer for Sunday’s question in the Lisey’s Story contest:

Question: Is Lisey’s Story Mark Stutzman’s favorite of all the covers he has done for King’s books.
Answer: No (his favorite is Everything’s Eventual)

And the winners are… Melissa Mary Allyn from the US (an audio copy), Jamin Laney from the US (an audio copy) and Krista Tom from the Netherlands (a UK hardback) and Josef Klein from Germany (a US hardback), Congratulations!

Friday and Saturday’s winners

Posted: October 22, 2006, 01:30

Here are the correct answer for Friday and Saturday’s question in the Lisey’s Story contest. Due to some technical difficulties I didn’t get the winners for Friday’s contest out in time so therefore you’ll get both day’s winners now.

Before I give you the winners though I want to remind you that you have to subscribe to my newsletter to have the chance to win. During the drawing of these 7 winners I had to disqualify 3 entries because they wasn’t resisted to the newsletter or had given a different e-mail address. So, make sure you subscribe and give the right mail in the entry.

FRIDAY
Question: An excerpt from Lisey’s Story was first published in 2004. Where?
Answer: McSweeney’s Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories.

And the winners are… Sebastiaan Rutten from the Netherlands (an audio copy), Peter Hunt from the US (an audio copy) and Alex Michielon from the Australia (a UK hardback), Congratulations!

SATURDAY
Question: How many days did it take for Lilja’s Library to get 1,000,000 hits?
Answer: March15th 1999 – October 14th 2006. That is 2771 days.

And the winners are… Vince Sonnenberg from the US (an audio copy), Per Andersson from Sweden (an audio copy), Kelly Bridges from the US (a UK hardback) and Frank Hill from the UK (a US hardback), Congratulations!

Interview with Mark Stutzman

Posted: October 21, 2006, 15:34

Here is an interview I have done with Mark Stutzman who has designed the covers for many of King’s recent books including the upcoming Lisey’s Story.

Stephen King special in The Times

Posted: October 21, 2006, 01:17

The Times has launched their Stephen King special to celebrate that King will soon be in the UK for the first time in 8 years. On their site they have a lot of interesting stuff and if you head over there you’ll find the two first chapters of Lisey’s Story, a podcast and more.

Thursday’s Lisey winners

Posted: October 20, 2006, 20:41

Here are the correct answer for Thursday’s question in the Lisey’s Story contest:

Question: Who narrates the audio edition of Lisey’s Story?
Answer: Mare Winningham.

And the winners are… Robin Wallace from the US (an audio copy), Ewald Schattenberg from the Netherlands (an audio copy) and Hannah Beck from the US (a UK hardback), Congratulations!

Wednesday’s Lisey winners

Posted: October 19, 2006, 23:26

Here are the correct answer for Wednesday’s question in the Lisey’s Story contest:

Question: Lisey’s Story is bringing King on a promotion tour to the UK. What book was he there to promote last time he was there?
Answer: Bag of Bones (back in 1998)

And the winners are… Clifton Cross from the US (an audio copy), Fred Pellerito from the US (an audio copy) and Jeremy Guerineau from France (a UK hardback), Congratulations!

Darabont comments The Mist

Posted: October 19, 2006, 15:37

Moriarty from Ain't It Cool News have some really cool news about the upcoming movie version of The Mist. Yesterday he got the following message from Frank Darabont himself.

Quote from Frank Darabont

"Doing THE MIST is a delight for me on a number of levels. For starters, I've always loved horror as a genre. Not so much the slasher thing, that got tired very quickly in my view, but from my earliest recollection I grew up loving movies that sought to scare the crap out of me, starting with the classic Universal monsters. Well, of course, that love of the genre is what led me to Stephen King's works in the first place, isn't it? So it's time to repay that debt and try to scare the crap out of an audience myself. With Steve's great story, and a little luck, I'm hoping to do just that.

“Another reason is, it's a project Stephen King and I have been talking about doing for almost twenty years now, since I first got to know and become friends with the man. In fact, it almost was my first directing project many years ago, but I went classy and did THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION instead. But THE MIST never went away; it's been lurking out there calling my name for a long, long time...and it's time to answer the call; it's time to get down and dirty and make a nasty little character-driven gut-punch horror movie. It's one of Stephen King's most legendary shorter works, very well known by his fans. Marsha in King’s office tells me it's the number one question asked by his fans when they write to his website (which she runs): when's THE MIST going to be made as a film? Well, I've always wanted to make my low-budget horror movie, so here we go. In a very real sense, I have to thank Danny Boyle, a man I've never met, but whose example in making 28 DAYS LATER really encouraged me. I saw that film, loved it, and thought: Well, why the hell not? Why not go make your scary little movie, shoot it fast, have some fun?

“That segues to the final reason I'm so looking forward to doing this. In a sense, doing a film like THE MIST is like putting myself into film school and learning a whole new approach to what I do. I had a foretaste of that earlier this year when I had the privilege of directing an episode of THE SHIELD for my friend Shawn Ryan. It was a seven-day shoot, fast-fast-fast, and I have to say there was something wildly liberating about shooting that way...it was an opportunity to put aside my reverence for Kubrickian elegance for a moment (and the painstaking approach it entails) and shoot fast and loose instead, do a real seat-of-the-pants style that embraces the ragged edges as virtues instead of avoiding them as sins. I'd say that if directing something like THE GREEN MILE is the equivalent of conducting a huge symphony orchestra playing Beethoven's Ninth in perfect tune, then directing something like THE SHIELD is the equivalent of jumping up on a small stage and playing with a small jazz combo and not caring if you miss a few notes -- in fact, missing some notes is kind of the point, isn't it? I want to take what I learned doing THE SHIELD and apply it to a feature film, and THE MIST is the perfect venue for that kind of in-your-face, in-the-moment energy. So one might say that if I've been going to film school this year, and if THE SHIELD was my mid-term, then THE MIST will be my class thesis. I can always go back to being the elegant guy later.”

Thanks to Anders Jakobson

New UK paperback covers

Posted: October 19, 2006, 15:01

Here are some cool covers of new editions of paperbacks from Hodder & Stoughton.

Popsy as a Dollar Baby

Posted: October 19, 2006, 00:32

A new Dollar Baby has seen the light. It’s a version of King’s story Popsy by Brian Haynes. It will be shown in the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival on Oct. 18, and the NYC Horror Film Festival on Oct. 20 where it’s been nominated for Best Short, Actor, Screenplay, Cinematography, Special FX, and the Audience Award.

My Little Serrated Security Blanket by King

Posted: October 19, 2006, 00:30

Here are some good news from Cemetery Dance:

Have you ever heard of "My Little Serrated Security Blanket" by Stephen King? It's a very rare essay King wrote over a decade ago, and most fans have never had a chance to read it... until now!

That's right! Stephen King has just granted permission for "My Little Serrated Security Blanket" to appear in our special deluxe edition of Stephen King: The Non-Fiction! Our designer is working hard at this very moment on a re-design of the book so we can include this entertaining and difficult to find article!

My review of Stephen King: Uncollected, Unpublished

Posted: October 19, 2006, 00:29

Check out my review for Stephen King: Uncollected, Unpublished.

Want to get your name in a King book?

Posted: October 16, 2006, 23:28

Here is your chance to get your name in a King book...

Amazing Stephen King News:

Ten years ago, Stephen King introduced the world to the men who walked The Green Mile, to Eduard Delacroix, Arlen Bitterbuck, William Wharton, and the gentle, tragic, John Coffey. Now King invites you to walk The Mile with them.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary edition of The Green Mile from Subterranean Press, everyone who orders the commemorative multi-volume set (any version) direct from Subterranean will find their names included in a special section included at the end of Volume Six -- "Those Who Walked the Green Mile" -- that lists all those who met their end seated in Ol' Sparky.

This is an unprecedented, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime chance to have your name included in a Stephen King book, just one more reason to treasure this masterpiece, newly illustrated by Mark Geyer.

If you've already ordered this special edition, you're already on the list. But there's always room on The Mile for one more set of feet.

So come take a walk with Stephen King, and place your preorder for the Gift Edition. You'll go down in history...and live to tell the tale.

For more info: www.subterraneanpress.com.

The Mist not in black and white

Posted: October 16, 2006, 23:25

Here are the latest news about The Mist:

Fango was there to grill [Thomas Jane] for some more specifics about THE MIST. “The script is done,” he tells us. “It has been for a bit now, and it looks like it might be over at Dimension—so there’s your scoop!” Asked if Darabont plans to lens the film in black and white (an approach that it was rumored he would take at one time, to recall the creature features of the ’50s), Jane says, “Nah, this is gonna be all-color and pretty amazing. I can’t wait.”

Thanks to Bev Vincent.

1,000,000 !!!

Posted: October 15, 2006, 00:21

So, it has finally happened. We have hit the 1,000,000th hit. It’s a little sad that it didn’t happen on Friday the 13th but October 14th isn’t so bad either.

Now that we got the 1,000,000th hit we can also pick the winner of the 1,000,000th hit contest. Here are all the right answers:

Question 1: What was the color of the text and the background on the first layout of Lilja’s Library?
Answer 1: Red text black background

Question 2: What is the name and occupation of Lilja’s Library’s mascot?
Answer 2: Marv - The Library Policeman

Question 3: What date to you think the 1,000,000th visitor will stop by at Lilja’s Library?
Answer 3: October 14th 2006

The winner of a first edition of The Stand is… Luca Gnuva from Italy. Congratulations!

Willa in Playboy on Nov. 10

Posted: October 14, 2006, 00:54

From King's official site:

New Short Story Release

Stephen’s new fiction short story “Willa” will be published in the December issue of Playboy, on newsstands November 10th. - Synopsis: "It's a love story set in the middle of nowhere."

UK signing for Nov. 8

Posted: October 13, 2006, 19:08

Here is more info about the last of the signings King will do in the UK during his tour there in November.

Wednesday 8th November
1-2 PM Signing at Waterstones, Leadenhall Market, London

First draft of Duma Key done

Posted: October 12, 2006, 23:42

Here is some good news about Duma Key:

According to King's message board moderator, King has finished the first draft of Duma Key and will revise it after he gets it back from his editors.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Thomas Jane in The Mist?

Posted: October 12, 2006, 23:40

Is The Mist finally happening?

In a movie round-up article at MTV, Thomas Jane (Dreamcatcher) says, "Frank Darabont and I are supposed to be doing Stephen King's The Mist."

No schedule or anything, but it's the first indication that someone beyond Darabont is attached to the project.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Willa in Playboy

Posted: October 11, 2006, 22:07

Seams King will be publishing Willa before the year is over.

"Willa", the short story SK introduced at an appearance earlier this year, will be published in the December issue of Playboy.

Page 176 of the current (November) issue has the following (possible spoilers):

Willa-Master of suspense Stephen King returns with a chilling page-turner. When a derailment leaves train passengers stranded in the middle of nowhere, they soon realize nowhere is somewhere they desperately don't want to be.

Thanks to willowlove.

King to get Grand Master Award

Posted: October 11, 2006, 22:06

Yet another award for King:

Stephen King, the grand master of suspense and an international best-selling author, has been chosen to receive the highest award bestowed on an individual by Mystery Writers of America: the coveted Grand Master Award.

The annual Grand Master Award represents the pinnacle of achievement in the mystery field and was established to recognize not only important contributions to the mystery field over time but also a significant output of consistently high quality.

"As Grand Master, Stephen King is the natural successor to Edgar Allan Poe," says Reed Farrel Coleman, Executive vice president of Mystery Writers of America. "King is that rare jack all trades who masters all he attempts. He is a fearless writer."

"I'm delighted to be getting the Grand Master Award and to be joining the company of some of my greatest idols and teachers--people like John D. MacDonald, Ed McBain, and Donald E. Westlake,” says King. “The award means a great deal to me personally, because it's an award from people who understand two things: the importance of good writing and the importance of telling stories."

King will receive the award at the 61st Annual Edgar® Banquet to be held on Thursday, April 26, 2007 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel (Park Avenue at Grand Central Terminal, NY, NY). The "Edgars" as they are commonly known are named after Mystery Writers of America's patron saint Edgar Allan Poe and are awarded to authors of distinguished work in various categories.

Thanks to Bev Vincent and Miss X

UK signing for Nov. 10

Posted: October 11, 2006, 00:14

Here is more info about the last of the signings King will do in the UK during his tour there in November.

Friday 10th November
1.00-2.00 Signing at Tesco superstore at Lakeside Shopping Centre, Thurrock.

UK reading

Posted: October 10, 2006, 10:51

There are still tickets left for King’s reading in London on Nov. 7. Here is how you can get them:

Stephen King will soon make his first UK appearance for 10 years. This exclusive event, presented by The Times, Hodder & Stoughton and Waterstone's, will take place at Battersea park Events Arena on November 7th at 7.00pm. Tickets cost £15.00 each. Book yours now on: (insert UK prefix here) 08708 303 488

The Pop of King: Graceless and Tasteless

Posted: October 4, 2006, 23:37

King has a new column called Graceless and Tasteless out in the October 6th issue of Entertainment Weekly. You can read it online here.

Thanks to Bev Vincent and Paul Poroshin

New interview with King

Posted: October 4, 2006, 08:30

Here is an interview with King about Lisey's Story from The New York Times.

Thanks to Rocky Wood

Noveen the doll

Posted: October 2, 2006, 13:09

In the essay by King called The Writing Life (from WashingtonPost.com) King says the following about Duma Key:

For the other half, I will think about the book I'm currently writing (a novel called Duma Key ). My muse may visit. She may not. The trick is to be there waiting if she does. There's a doll named Noveen in Duma Key , and I don't know what that doll's about yet. I need a visit from my muse to tell me because I'm stuck there. But I'm not worried.

The winner of The Long Walk is...

Posted: October 1, 2006, 00:02

The winner of The Long Walk contest has now been drawn but first the right answers:

Question 1: There's a John Denver song that makes an appearance in "The Regulators"
by Richard Bachman. What's the song name?
Answer 1: "Leaving on a Jet Plane".

Question 2: What year was the first printing of The Regulators published?
Answer 2: 1996.

Question 3: In 1994, while preparing to move to a new house, the author's (Richard
Bachman) widow found what in the cellar?
Answer 3: Cardboard carton filled with manuscripts.

And the winner is Peter Ljungkvist from Sweden! Congratulations!

The Writing Life, an essay by King

Posted: September 30, 2006, 20:44

Here is an essay by King called The Writing Life that was published on WashingtonPost.com.

Thanks to Kevin Etheridge.

King reading in London on November 7 - order your tickets today!

Posted: September 30, 2006, 09:41

It’s now clear that King will do a reading while in London. During the reading he will be interviewed onstage, answer readers' questions and read from his new novel, Lisey's Story. The event takes place at Battersea Park, London, November 7 at 7pm.

The tickets are £15 and to buy them you can call this number 08708 303 488 (it’s in the UK). Read more here.

Listen to Lisey

Posted: September 27, 2006, 08:34

Here you can listen to a clip from the audio edition of Lisey's Story read by Mare Winningham.

Thanks to Bev Vincent.

More info about the special edition of Lisey’s Story

Posted: September 26, 2006, 00:06

Here are some additional info about the special edition of Lisey’s Story:

Fans of the King of Screams will love our Special Deluxe Edition of Lisey’s Story. A great gift idea and the perfect addition to any Stephen King library, it features a slipcase, ribbon bookmark and full-color endpapers.

Thanks to Dean Kinsworthy

King writes about LOST

Posted: September 25, 2006, 23:35

King has written an article for the September 29th issue of Entertainment Weekly. It’s about a meeting King had with the producers of LOST. You can read it here.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

King at a fundraiser

Posted: September 25, 2006, 23:34

Here is a picture of King, John Grisham and Jim Webb at a fundraiser held this Sunday. Read more here.

Thanks to Miss X

Limited Lisey?

Posted: September 25, 2006, 16:06

It seems that the US based book club Quality Paperback Books (www.qpb.com) will release a limited gift edition of Lisey’s Story. The price is $ 24.95 but you’ll have to be a member in order to be able to order a copy.

I don’t have any info on what’s limited about it yet (if anyone know please let me know) but as soon as I know I’ll post it here.

Thanks to Marco Lammers and John Scoleri

New desktop calendar for 2007

Posted: September 24, 2006, 23:52

There will be a new desktop calendar based on King next year. This year's was released by SK Library/BOMC and I'm guessing that they are the once behind 2007 year's calendar as well.

The calendar is very similar to the one for 2006. Here are some images.

Memory is from Duma Key but edited

Posted: September 21, 2006, 22:31

There where an interesting question posted on King's official message board today and it confirms what he have all thought...

Question:
Are the short story "Memory" and the new novel "Duma Key" related......ie..is "Memory" a chapter in "Duma Key"?

Besides "Duma Key", does SK have any other new books started?

Answer
Someone else had asked off the MB if they were the same, so I asked Steve about it. He told me that "Memory" is from Duma Key but it was edited quite a bit so the version you read in Tin House is not exactly the same one that will be in Duma Key.

That's the only book he's working on that I'm aware of. He's still not completely done with it as he decided he wanted to do some additional editing.

Happy Birthday to Stephen King

Posted: September 21, 2006, 08:26

Today is Stephen’s birthday (he turns 59) and I hope it’ll be a really good one!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPHEN!

Three new titles from Cemetery Dance

Posted: September 20, 2006, 21:46

Three new books about King's work will be out from Cemetery Dance before the year is over.

Stephen King: The Non-Fiction
by Rocky Wood & Justin Brooks

Stephen King: The Non-Fiction is over 575 PAGES in length, easily making it the most comprehensive review of Stephen King's non-fiction works, many of which you've never read or even heard of before! This signed & slipcased oversized Limited Edition is Rocky Wood's official companion volume to the fan acclaimed Stephen King: Uncollected, Unpublished so make sure you order a copy today to complete the set!

Stephen King: A Primary Bibliography of the World's Most Popular Author
by Justin Brooks

Weighing in at over 560 pages, Stephen King: A Primary Bibliography of the World's Most Popular Author is by far the most comprehensive Stephen King Bibliography ever produced, with 958 separate entries, each with a short description and full source data, from publication information right down to page numbers!

Stephen King's The Dark Tower: The Complete Concordance
by Robin Furth

This Cemetery Dance Publications special Limited Edition will be signed by Furth, hand-numbered and slipcased, and it will feature a deluxe oversized design

Get King’s audio books at a very good price.

Posted: September 20, 2006, 21:20

Here is your chance to get King’s audio books at a very good price. Don’t miss this opportunity.

Interview with Erik Jackson about Carrie the stage show

Posted: September 18, 2006, 20:37

An exclusive interview with the scriptwriter Erik Jackson who wrote the script for Carrie the stage show (along with a special advance purchase ticket discount offer) is now up at HorrorKing.com.

Watch Suffer the Little Children online

Posted: September 18, 2006, 20:37

Now you can see the Dollar Baby Suffer the Little Children online. The movie were recently named an official selection by Century City Film Festival ("CCFF") and one aspect of that festival involves posting the films online at Google Video to obtain audience votes. So, watch it here and vote if you like it.

The Dead Zone back for a season 6

Posted: September 18, 2006, 13:02

The Dead Zone will be back for a 6th season:

"Dead Zone" will return for a 13-episode, sixth season in summer 2007, with star Anthony Michael Hall reprising his role as Johnny Smith, a man who awakens from a six-year coma with psychic powers.

The network aims to reinvent the series following the November death of co-creator/executive producer Michael Piller. We're looking at the sixth season as the first season," said Jeff Wachtel, executive vp original programming at USA.

He credited "Dead Zone's" rating resurgence since it was paired with "The 4400" last year for the network's decision to continue the show's run. USA has also acquired the cable rerun rights.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Review of Desperation DVD

Posted: September 18, 2006, 12:13

My review of Desperation on DVD is now online for you to check out.

StephenKing.com comments on Duma Key

Posted: September 15, 2006, 23:20

King’s official site commented on his next book today and it turns out it will be called Duma Key and nothing else. Here is what King’s official site says:

The Fall 2006 issue of The Paris Review (www.theparisreview.org), official publication date 9/15/06, contains an interview with Stephen (pages 66-101) including information about the book he's currently working on titled Duma Key. Stephen describes it as being about a guy named Edgar Freemantle who has an accident and loses an arm and has paranormal symptomatology relating to phantom limb sensations.

Lisey's Story promotion

Posted: September 15, 2006, 23:01

The promotion for Lisey’s Story is starting to happen now that it’s just a little more then a month left until the book is out. On King’s site there are two really cool sites with animated cover art. You can check out those here:

Lisey's Story Art - From Sketch to Final Work

Behind The Cover Of Lisey's Story

Then on Scribner’s site you can check out a hand-written excerpt or enter a contest where you can win an ARC.

First news about King’s next book, Duma Key

Posted: September 15, 2006, 08:33

Here is the first news about King’s next book. King seams to have revealed them in an interview with The Paris Review. The full interview isn’t available isn’t available online but you can get a taste of it here.

According to King the new book will be called Duma Key and set I Florida. It may or may not be a haunted house tale and features a protagonist who has lost an arm and who experiences phantom limb sensations.

Thanks to RJ_Sevin

Secretary ARCs and more

Posted: September 15, 2006, 00:01

Cemetery Dance has released some pictures of The Secretary of Dreams. Here you can see the cover for the ARC and there are more pictures on their site.

You can also order theire Secretary of Dreams t-shirt here.

Dutch Lisey cover

Posted: September 15, 2006, 00:00

Here is the Dutch cover for Lisey's Story. The Dutch title is Lisey's Verhaal.

Thanks to Chrissy

King focusing on a new book

Posted: September 14, 2006, 13:45

I just found this interesting statement on King’s official board. It was given by the moderator in response to a question:

Right now his focus is on a book he's working on (no, I can't give out any details yet) and doing the book tours for the promotion of Lisey's Story.

So, everybody that has been asking if King is working on another book, YES he is.

The Dead Zone season 5, ep. 10-11 review

Posted: September 14, 2006, 13:42

Here are my thoughts on episode 10 & 11 of season 5 of The Dead Zone.

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