NEWS -

Revival in Sweden the same day as in the US

Posted: April 30, 2014, 11:55
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Today there are great news for all Swedish Stephen King fans. The book Revival will be released in Sweden the same day as it’s released in the US. The Swedish title will be Väckelse and this is huge news to us Swedish fans. It’s the first time since King’s first book, Carrie was released in Sweden back in 1980, that we get a Swedish translation the same day as it’s released in the US. For more info head over to Följeslagarna.

Dutch fans to read Mr. Mercedes first

Posted: April 29, 2014, 16:52
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Looks like the Dutch fans will be the first to read Mr. Mercedes

In The Netherlands , publisher Luitingh Sijthoff has the premiere for Mr. Mercedes on the 31th of May. A special day is organised for Stephen King Fans to come to Amsterdam and buy the book. The Dutch Fanclub is involved and be there on the day. Ticketsales start tomorrow at 10:00 for Melkweg Amsterdam.



Thanks to Chrissy van der Haven and Herbert West

Lilja's Library: The Number Game #2

Posted: April 28, 2014, 09:20
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OK, the first part of the contest is done and the second it upon us. First I want to thank you all for your fun photos. Some of you have really put a lot of effort and thought into them and even those of you that didn’t get the answer right or didn’t get drawn this time, please know that I appreciate your work. Please try again if you didn’t get it right or wasn’t drawn.

The right answer this time was The Green Mile. The number 6 was for the number of volumes it was originally released in and Volumes was because it was released in several volumes. Quite a few of you guessed The Dark Tower 6: Song of Susanna and even though it wasn’t the book I was thinking of it could have been…

This time it’s a new riddle and it’s the same thing you need to do. Decide what book I’m looking for and take a photo of yourself with that book and send it to me. The question and more info can be found here.

The 10 entries that I draw from the first question were sent it by the following people (please make sure you include your name):

The first 10 entries:
Kathleen Handley
John Eberl
Justin Cisney
Arnie Woelfel
Kathy Bohnenberger
Mark McClure
Robin Bruner
Jesse A. Lankford
Richard Kerr
Bridget Kennedy

You 10 don’t need to enter again, you are already in the drawing for the grand prize (you can though just for the fun of it if you want though).

New Comic Focusing on Eddie Dean

Posted: April 25, 2014, 23:03
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EW has an update on the new Dark Tower comic.

It’s been seven years since Marvel first adapted Stephen King’s dark fantasy saga The Dark Tower into comic book form. Since then, writers Robin Furth and Peter David have explored the story of Roland, last of the Gunslingers, in several miniseries mostly focusing on the hero’s younger days. But this September, Marvel will release the first issue of a new series that will delve into a new corner of King’s Dark Tower saga.

The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three–The Prisoner is a five-issue miniseries focusing on Eddie Dean, a character first introduced in King’s second Dark Tower book. And as drawn by artist Piotr Kowalski (Marvel Knights: Hulk), it’s also a departure from the post-apocalyptic Western setting of the previous comic books.

We’ll have more information to share with you about The Prisoner on Sunday — and Marvel will be discussing their future plans for the series this weekend at C2E2 — but for now, EW is excited to share the cover and the first seven pages of inked artwork from The Prisoner. Click on each picture for a larger image — and some eagle-eyed Dark Tower fans might find some embedded references to King’s work.

Read more and see some pages here

Lilja's Library: The Number Game

Posted: April 23, 2014, 14:22
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Lilja's Library celebrates 25,000 followers on facebook and the release of King's upcoming book Mr. Mercedes with a contest. What you need to do to enter is this:

During six weeks starting today I will post a number and a clue that if put together will give you a title of a King book.

Example (NOT this week’s contest)
Number: 2
Clue: First King book with this many authors
Answer: Talisman

If/when you solve the riddle you then take a photo of yourself and that book and send to me at info[a]liljas-library.com I will then draw 10 entries each week (among the once with the correct answer) and put them in a pile (or on a page on Lilja’s Library). After doing this for 6 weeks that pile will have 60 entries. Out of these I will then draw three winners that each get a copy of the UK hardback of Mr. Mercedes (thanks to Hodder & Stoughton!).

Some details:

1) It doesn’t matter what edition of the book you use and if you don’t own that book you can always draw a cover yourself, or just print the title on a piece of paper and use that as a cover.

2) When I draw the 10 each week it will be on random but then when I draw the three winners I will actually pick 3. So you might want to put some effort into the photo, be creative and make it fun and unique.

3) You can only be picked once in the week drawing so if your entry is in the pile you can’t be put there again. You are free to enter just for the fun of it though.

4) You don’t need to be in all the contests but it will give you a better chance to be picked.

5) I will have a title in mind when I post the questions. There might be multiple right answers even though I’ll do my best to prevent that but if it does it’s my title that’s the correct one.

6) This contest is open to anyone anywhere.

Question 1: Entries no longer accepted (Number 6 & Volumes (Answer: Green Mile)
Question 2: Number 14 & Stories (Answer: Everything's Eventual)
Question 3: Number 15 & Assassin (Answer: 11/22/63)
Question 4: Number 19 & Beginning (Answer: The Dark Tower 1: The Gunslinger)
Question 5: Number 40 & Girl (Answer: Carrie)

Question 6: Number 12 & Shapeshifter

The Creepshow LP Record

Posted: April 22, 2014, 16:00
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Here's a first look at the new Creepshow LP (Record) that features the music/score from the 1982 film. 180 gram colored vinyl record. Artwork on the cover is amazingly clear with bright colors. The inside liner notes are great and give some history on the film and behind the scenes information. Also, some great art in the liner of some famous scenes from Creepshow. There is a separate art print of the Creeper by Gary Pullin. The record itself is one of five limited edition colors schemes. This one is described by Waxworks records as the "cake icing with blood splatter" version…

The record sold out in a day or two, delivered today, and is already being sold on eBay. The solid color versions are going for retail price (around $30), but this "blood splatter" color is being sold for $150…








Thanks to Ami Sandler

King Goes Under the Dome

Posted: April 22, 2014, 15:47
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Angie McAlister (Britt Robertson) waits on 'Under the Dome' author Stephen King, who makes a cameo in the second season's first episode, which he wrote. Phil Bushey (Nicholas Strong) stands behind King, with Junior Rennie (Alexander Koch) to the right. "He often does little cameos, a la Hitchcock, in his films, so we thought that would be really cool if he did it again," executive producer Neal Baer says. "He's just a citizen of Chester's Mill for at least the moment."






Thanks to Herbert West

Artist’s Portfolio for Lawnmower Man

Posted: April 22, 2014, 14:46
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Scheduled for July is an Artist’s Portfolio for Lawnmower Man, a Stephen King short story adapted by Walt Simonson which appeared in Marvel’s Bizarre Adventures #29 in 1981. The portfolio will include 21 pages and the cover.

Read more here.



Thanks to Herbert West

Win a Playbill from The Shining

Posted: April 14, 2014, 16:00
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I have two playbills from The Shining stage play to give away to two lucky readers of Lilja’s Library. All you have to do it leave a comment in any of these three places:

The article
Facebook
Twitter

I will announce the winners on April 22nd.

Report From The Shining Stage Play

Posted: April 14, 2014, 15:57
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Here is a recap of the stage play version of The Shining from a friend that attended.



When we arrived at the theater a VW bug with 1974 Vermont plates and Stovington Prep Pride bumper sticker greeted us.


The playbill cover. Art by Jeremy Caniglia who's work we should all be familiar with. He is also born in Omaha so he is another local helping with the production. http://www.caniglia-art.com/about.htm


The theater was set up with seating for 800-1000 people. Off stage right (don't know my theater terms) is the basement/boiler set. There was a smoke machine they used when Jack spun the valve wheel. in the foreground is a chair and boxes. The boxes held the records of the Overlook. Above is a hotel hallway. There were life sized photos of doors taped to the wall. Looked like they were actually doors. There was some butcher knife/ roque mallet chasing up there.


Center stage has an upper and lower component. The upper is the interior of room 217 replete with shower. The lower stage is used for the majority of the production. The beds pull out for the scenes in the caretaker's quarters. Ullman's desk, a bar, kitchen equipment and chairs for a doctor's office were all brought in from back stage.


Stage Left holds the shed and hedge lion (which squatted moved it head). Above this was additional seating. Here you can see the snowmobile, the battery for which is on the stairs behind the topiary, and the roque mallet hanging by the ladder.


The topiary squatted. Whoever made it was a genius.


Mr. Ulman shows the Torrences the hotel.


Danny deciding whether or not to use the passkey to enter room 217. The production used projectors to show things on 2 walls, this being one. 217 is in the white oval but the camera didn't catch it. They also showed the newspaper pages when Jack was going through them in the basement.


Jack got angry near the end. We attended the last show so Jack got to go wild on the only door the production had.


The Cast! (and writers and directors) I'm gonna get this wrong but here's my best shot. Left to right, back to front. Back back row : Garrett Sheeks (Lloyd & Lady in 217's boy-toy), Rasheed Allison "Spoozy Ali" (Dick Halloran). 3 unidentified (party girls mostly, I think the brunette played one of Grady's daughters), Christina Rohling (yellow dress. By far THE BEST Wendy Torrance of the three), unidentified (works for the theater fundraising if I remember right), Billy St.John (Ullman and Horace Derwent), Marc Ericson (Jack Torrence), Tag Ryan (Tony), Cheri Bloomingdale (Woman in 217), Christopher Scott (Dr. Edmonds), Tim Barr (Watson and the guy in the dog costume (the eyes glowed and mouth moved!!)). Unidentified little girl (played one of Grady's girls), Jason Levering (Director, Co-writer), Cristopher Levering (Danny Torrence), Aaron Sailors (Asst. Director, Co-writer).

Here are some clips.


Danny In Room 217


Unmasked


Door Goes Smash

Ep. 30 - Summer Thunder & Swedenborgian Space

Posted: April 14, 2014, 11:24
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With your hosts Han Lilja of Lilja's Library and Lou Sytsma.

Welcome to Episode 30 of The Stephen King Podcast!

A SPOILER filled episode.

First up is a review of the 2004 TV series - Kingdom Hospital. You do us a solid and we'll do you one. That's how it works.

Plus Hans and I discuss our differing reactions to the Stephen King short story - Summer Thunder - which can, so far, only be found in the Cemetery Dance 25th Anniversary Hardcover Anthology - Turn Down The Lights.

As usual, we bring you the latest Stephen King News.

We hope you enjoy this episode and, as usual, we want to hear from you.

Good or bad, we want it all!

You can leave us comments, questions, topic suggestions at:

1) FaceBook - Lilja's Library

2) Audio Message - Speak Pipe widget on the right hand of the podcast page (send voicemail)

In this podcast:

1) 00:00 - Intro
2) 00:56 - Podcast Setup
3) 01:43 - From The Death Room - The Latest Stephen King News
SPOILERS
4) 21:03 - Kingdom Hospital - Series Review
5) 1:06:16 - Reviews From The Night Shift - Summer Thunder
6) 1:17:04 - Signoff
7) 1:18:15 - Outre



Podcast edited by Lou Sytsma

Intro Music - Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult

Outro Music - Stand By Me - Ben E. King

Itunes
- The Stephen King Podcast

RSS Feed - RSS

Direct Download Link - The Stephen King Podcast - Episode 30
(Click to play, right click and Chose 'Save Link As' to save the file)

Support The Show - Thank You!

Early Books Reissued by Cemetery Dance

Posted: April 7, 2014, 09:06
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Six of Stephen King’s early novels, all originally published by Doubleday between 1974 and 1983, are being given the deluxe treatment by Cemetery Dance Publications.

First out is Carrie who will be followed by Salem's Lot, The Shining, Night Shift, The Stand and Pet Sematary.

Carrie is due in August, in three versions.

• Slipcased Oversized Hardcover Gift Edition of only 3,000 copies printed in two colors on a specialty paper stock; bound with a fine binding, two color hot foil stamping, and embossed endpapers; and featuring a unique black-and-white limitation page ($85)

• Traycased Oversized Hardcover Artist Edition signed by the artist and limited to only 750 hand-numbered copies printed in two colors on a specialty paper stock; bound with a different fine binding, two color hot foil stamping, and different embossed endpapers; featuring a full-color signature sheet signed by the artist; and housed in a traycase similar to our previous Stephen King traycased editions ($225)

• Traycased Oversized Hardcover Artist Lettered Edition signed by the artist and limited to 52 hand-lettered copies printed in two colors on a specialty paper stock; bound in two different fine materials in a hand-made three piece binding featuring spine hubs, gilded page edges, two color hot foil stamping, and imported hand-marbled endpapers; featuring a different full-color signature sheet signed by the artist; and housed in a traycase similar to our Legacies Lettered Edition ($1000)

The remaining five books are expected to follow at six-month intervals. More info here.

The Drawing of the Three Comic

Posted: March 31, 2014, 19:15
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Comic Book Resources reports that Marvel will turn The Drawing of the Three into a comic.

During his Emerald City Comicon Secret Origins panel, Peter David was asked by a member of the audience whether he enjoyed the collaboration with his co-creators on the "Dark Tower" comics. Rather than answer directly, he revealed the Marvel adaptations of Stephen King's fantasy epic will resume with "Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three." He also provided the 'secret origin' of how the project was greenlit.

"We are going to be doing more 'Dark Tower.' 'The Drawing of the Three' will actually be happening in comic book form," David stated. "We are very, very pleased about that. I literally just got an email about this, two days ago. And it's really funny -- would you like to know why we're doing more 'Dark Tower?' OK, no -- well, yes, but -- OK. Funny story! [Laughs]

"I had a stroke about a year and a couple months ago, and I was in a recovery center down in Jacksonville, FL, because I had the stroke down in Orlando, FL, during our vacation to Disney World," David continued. "Go to Disney World, have a stroke and then go see Goofy! [Laughter] Because you're both going [imitates Goofy's laugh]! At any rate, so -- I get an email from Robin Furth, who is my co-writer on 'Dark Tower,' and she says, 'Stephen would like your email. Can I give him your email address?' So I go, 'Sure!' So I get an email from Stehen King, and Stephen says, 'I'd like to come up and visit you, you know, up in the hospital. I'm down in Florida.' And I went, 'OK - sure!' And he drove up. And I thought that he was in Jacksonville. No -- he was five hours away. He did a five hour drive to come up and see me, because I think he was really relating to the concept that I was having to teach myself how to walk again. Because he had to go through the same thing when he got hit by that van, so this was really his wheelhouse. And while he was there, I said to him, 'You know, we should really do more 'Dark Tower,' 'cause I get a lot of people coming up to me, saying, "I want to see 'The Drawing of the Three.' I want to see the next book."' And Steve said, 'Really?' And I went, 'Yeah!' and he says, 'OK -- we'll do that!' And then he contacted Marvel Comics, and... Marvel went, 'OK!' And lo and behold, now we're doing 'Dark Tower' again, so thank God I had a stroke!"

Thanks to Lou Sytsma

The Moving Finger On DVD

Posted: March 27, 2014, 20:00
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“Monsters: The Complete Series” (eOne, 1988-91, nine discs, $99.98, 72 episodes) is released on DVD.

Each half-hour features some sort of monster, vampires, werewolves, zombies, witches, mummies, and so on. Among the episodes you will also find an adaptation of King's story The Moving Finger that originally aired in 1992.






Thanks to Lou Sytsma

Josh Boone Makes A Stand

Posted: March 27, 2014, 16:32
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Today I spoke to Josh Boone (who’s developing Lisey’s Story for the big screen) and he told me he’s been hired by Warner Bros. to write and direct a 3 hour, R-rated feature film version of The Stand. As we speak Josh is writing the script and no release date has been set yet.

Creepshow on Vinyl

Posted: March 27, 2014, 16:16
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Here is something pretty cool for all you vinyl lovers out there.

Waxwork Records, who’ve done stellar work with reissues of ROSEMARY’S BABY, DAY OF THE DEAD and RE-ANIMATOR have unveiled the full package behind their definitive release of John Harrison’s CREEPSHOW score. The soundtrack of George Romero and Stephen King’s iconic ode to horror comics past will boast art by “Ghoulish” Gary Pullin, five variants so that you may celebrate whichever segment of the film is your favorite and much more.


Read more here

Thanks to Anders Jakobson

Screening of A Good Marriage

Posted: March 25, 2014, 00:09
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Wanna go see the cast and crew screening of A Good Marriage on April 24th in New York City? Here is your chance. This was posted on King's Facebook page.

We’re giving away some tickets to a screening of my new film “A Good Marriage”. Anyone who likes the Facebook page for the film in the next 48 hours (by March 26th at 12pm) will have their name entered to win: https://www.facebook.com/AGoodMarriage

Two names will be picked out by yours truly, and both will receive two tickets to the cast and crew screening on April 24th in New York City. You have to provide your own transportation to New York but a hotel will be provided for the night as well as a car to the screening for each of the two winners.

What Happens April 7?

Posted: March 21, 2014, 15:44
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Here is something really interesting from Cemetery Dance. They have posted this teaser…with the date April 7, 2014. And how is that interesting some of you might say? Well, as you know Cemetery Dance has published a lot of cool King related books in the past and with a comment like this to go with this teaser I believe it is King connected in some way.



There is a big Cemetery Dance Publications announcement coming on April 7, 2014. This will probably be one of our most important projects in a very long time. We can't share any specific details, but anyone who is interested can sign-up to be notified when the news goes live:

http://cemeterydance.com/April72014/

There has also been talking about it on forums that here are some comments that makes me even surer it’s got something to do with King.

Richard Chizmar tweeted few hours ago - "Maybe the two most significant weeks in our history, culminating in three deals for a total of 8 books with the best of the best."

Question: Can we know if it's King related or not?
CD: Looking back at our history, we've only done little teaser sites and "save the date" announcements for one author, so... that seems very likely to me.

Question: They're talking about three deals so even if King is involved I assume there are at least two other authors and two/three books per author, max. But we'll see.
CD: Correct, this week we're signing deals with three different New York Times bestselling authors. Not all of those deals will be announced this year, though. It's just been a tremendously good week in terms of landing very interesting projects from well-known authors.

So, what do you think? King related or not? I put my money on King related.

Behind The Shining

Posted: March 18, 2014, 11:17
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Take a Fascinating Tour Behind the Scenes of The Shining.



What was it like working on the set of legendary film director Stanley Kubrick as he adapted The Shining, Stephen King's bestselling horror story, to the silver screen? If these cast and crew interviews from the new documentary Staircases to Nowhere, are any indication, the answer is: pretty dang awesome.

Thanks to Lou Sytsma

King Signing

Posted: March 18, 2014, 09:10
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King signs in Sarasota...

On Sunday afternoon, 400 faithful King aficionados who prepaid to get his latest tome, “Doctor Sleep,” lined up outside Bookstore1 on downtown's Main Street to get him to sign their copies.


More info here.

Thanks to Lou Systma

Haven Foundation Charity Auction

Posted: March 11, 2014, 07:18
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Veryfinebooks is running a Haven Foundation Charity Auction that I recommend you check out! You can find it here. One of the titles being auctioned is extra special to me...

Announcing our Haven Foundation charity auction!

Win something special for your Stephen King collection and help out a great cause at the same time. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the Haven Foundation. This is a seven day auction that ends Sunday, March 16th. Bidding starts at only $1 and the highest bidder will win, so bid with confidence and bid often! Thee auction includes free Shipping within the US.

"The Haven Foundation gives financial assistance to provide temporary support needed to safeguard and sustain the careers of established freelance artists, writers and other members of the arts and art production communities who have suffered disabilities or experienced a career-threatening illness, accident, natural disaster or personal catastrophe. Grants are awarded and renewed at the discretion of the Haven Foundation Board. The Haven Foundation is a national, nonprofit organization."

Cary Fukunaga To Direct IT

Posted: March 10, 2014, 22:37
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True Detective director Cary Fukunaga will reportedly direct adaptation of Stephen King's IT.

“… Cary Fukunaga is writing and directing Stephen King’s It for me, and I’m really excited for that. So I’m hoping that’ll be his next movie after the indie he’s shooting in Africa. So I love what he did with True Detective. I think it’s a great sample for Stephen King’s It. So I’m really excited about that.”

Read more here.

Thanks to Lou Sytsma