NEWS -

King's letter

Posted: May 2, 2011, 08:29

Here is a letter from a 14 year old King to Spacemen Magazine, asking them to publish his story The Killer.

Thansk to Anders Jakobson and Al Mattice

Under the Weather: New King story

Posted: April 28, 2011, 13:36

If you look close on the paperback cover for Full Dark, No Stars you will notice this "Includes the new story Under the Weather". I contacted the UK publisher Hodder & Stoughton and they confirmed that this story will be in the UK paperback edition as well and that it is a new short story and not just an excerpt from the upcoming 11/22/63.

Thanks to DanishGuy

Upcoming books

Posted: April 28, 2011, 13:20

There are some book by and about King on the way and if you want to support Lilja's Library you can use these links to order them:

US editions:
Stephen King's N. (April 27, 2012)
Illustrated Masques: Masques Stories in Graphic Format (May 15, 2012)
Full Dark, No Stars (paperback) (May 24, 2011)
Stephen King: A Literary Companion (May 27, 2012)
Orbit: Stephen King (June 7, 2012)
Stephen King's Gothic (August 15, 2012)
11/22/63 (November 8, 2011)
11/22/63 (audio) (November 8, 2012)
The Films of Stephen King: From Carrie to The Mist (January 3, 2012)
Reading Stephen King (January 28, 2012)

UK editions:
Orbit: Stephen King (June 7, 2011)
Full Dark, No Stars (paperback) (July 7, 2012)
11/22/63 (November 8h, 2011)
The Films of Stephen King: From Carrie to the Mist (December 20, 2011)

Javier Bardem IS Roland!

Posted: April 26, 2011, 13:48

Javier Bardem has signed on to play Roland:

Bardem nails 'Tower' saga

Javier Bardem has officially signed an epic deal to star in the movie and TV adaptations of Stephen King's "Dark Tower" book series. The Oscar-winning actor will play Roland Deschain in the eagerly awaited Ron Howard and Brian Grazer adaptation of King's beloved seven-novel saga. It's a momentous deal because each of the three movies in the series is to be followed by a TV miniseries. A well-placed source confirmed to Page Six, "Bardem has signed on to the first movie and the miniseries, but the intention is that he will star in all three movies and each of the TV series. It's an enormous deal for any actor, but Bardem was always the first choice." The story follows "Gunslinger" Deschain as he travels through an Old West-like landscape in search of the mythical Dark Tower to save civilization. The first movie is expected to go into production in September with Howard directing.

Thanks to Lou Sytsma

Teaser for Haven

Posted: April 26, 2011, 12:02

Here is a teaser for season 2 of Haven.

US cover for 11/22/63 revealed

Posted: April 20, 2011, 23:35

Here is the US cover for 11/22/63. A very nice cover if you ask me...

Thanks to David Squyres and John Hanic

A Literary Companion is now shipping

Posted: April 20, 2011, 07:57

Rocky Wood's book Stephen King: A Literary Companion is now shipping. You can get your copy here.

"This companion provides a two-part introduction to best-selling author Stephen King, whose enormous popularity over the years has gained him an audience well beyond readers of horror fiction, the genre with which is most often associated. Part I considers the reception of King’s work, the film adaptations that they gave rise to, the fictional worlds in which some of his novels are set, and the more useful approaches to King’s varied corpus. Part II consists of entries for each series, novel, story, screenplay and even poem, including works never published or produced, as well as characters and settings."

King and American Vampire

Posted: April 19, 2011, 08:48

Many of you have asked if I know if King will be back with American Vampire and here's the best answer we can get at the moment. It's from an interview with Scott Snyder at AICN.

[Interviewer: O]ne more thing about AMERICAN VAMPIRE. I was wondering if there were any word on Stephen King ever coming back and doing some more stuff?

SS: He teases it. He’s doing a little piece, a foreword, for us in prose for the volume two which is out in May, which we are really excited about which collects issues six through eleven. But he always has an open door man. I talk to him a lot. We send him every issue and he’s always chiming in about where he’d like to be, so my hope is we are really, really thrilled about what we have planned for the fifties. I have a big, big twist and a new character I want to bring in that is sort of our version of a Punisher. He’s a character who has actually been tucked into the series earlier in a hidden way and my feeling is that if he comes back at any point, it will probably be there. I think that he can’t really resist hot rods and vampires.

Thanks to willowlove

Season 2 of Haven in 3 months

Posted: April 17, 2011, 23:53

Season 2 of Havem will premier on July 15 on SyFy.

HAVEN SEASON 2

Friday, July 15 @ 10pm (ET/PT) -- Last season, when FBI agent Audrey Parker (Emily Rose) arrived in the town of Haven, Maine on a routine case, her knack for unraveling mysteries proved an asset when she discovered that the seemingly sleepy town was, in fact, a longtime refuge for people with supernatural afflictions. Now, in Season Two, Audrey must not only stay on top of Haven's many afflictions -which continue to be revealed in every episode - but also solve her most challenging case yet: the secret of her own lost past and its ties to Haven.

With the help of Nathan Wuornos (Lucas Bryant), a handsome local cop with his own trouble, and Duke Crocker (Eric Balfour) a local smuggler and reluctant aide in solving Haven's troubles, Audrey digs deeper into uncovering her identity. Guest stars Jason Priestley (who will also direct an episode) and Vinessa Antoine join the cast for season two, which is currently in production on 13 episodes in Nova Scotia.

News over the weekend

Posted: April 17, 2011, 23:23

Here are some articles in connection to King that poped up during hte weekend.

King is writing a new introduction to William Golding's seminal novel Lord of the Flies as part of celebrations later this summer to mark 100 years since Golding's birth. Read all about it here.

Bloody Disgusting's Chris Eggertsen takes a look back at a few of the most notorious high and low points in King's storied Hollywood career, tracing a path from the early success of Carrie through to the present day. Check it out here.

And here is his top 10 of King's movies. Interesting reading even though I don't agree with his #1.

Thanks to Louis Sytsma and Al Mattice

Mark Verheiden joins the Tower

Posted: April 13, 2011, 13:20

Here are some news about The Dark Tower movies:

There’s some good news pertaining to the adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series. It was announced today that Mark Verheiden has been signed on to co-write the NBC TV series alongside Akiva Goldsman.

Stephen King’s series of novels is set to be adapted on both the big and small screens. The TV show will fit between the first and second movie in the trilogy that’s set to play out in theaters.

According to Deadline, Mark Verheiden is set to co-write and executive produce the series. Verheiden’s TV credits include Heroes, Smallville, Battlestar Galactica, and the upcoming TNT drama Falling Skies. Needless to say, he’s no stranger to sci-fi/fantasy… unless you’re a stranger to sci-fi/fantasy, in which case, I suppose it does need to be said. Regardless, with a background that includes some very popular TV series (and also the film Timecop!), and Ron Howard’s direction, I’m thinking the Dark Tower project is in good hands.

Thanks to Ari

New interview with King

Posted: April 12, 2011, 23:08

Here is an interview with King from The Atlantic in wich he talks about how the story Herman Wouk Is Still Alive came into being, about his creative process, about the state of short fiction today, and about the relative merits of Black Sabbath and Judas Priest as background music to write to.

Thank to Ari

Herman Wouk is now online

Posted: April 12, 2011, 15:43

Now you can read Herman Wouk Is Still Alive online over at The Atlantic. Check it out here.

Herman Wouk is out!

Posted: April 12, 2011, 10:37

The Overlook Connection reports that they now have copies of The Atlantic in store. It's the issue that has King's new story Herman Wouk is Still Alive.

It was reported that it would also be available online but as far as I know that hasn't happened yet.

Photos from Haven

Posted: April 12, 2011, 10:32

Here is a photo from the shooting of season 2 of Haven. These where posted by Emily Rose on her Twitter account.

Bardem closing in on the Tower

Posted: April 11, 2011, 10:42

Looks like Javier Bardem is close to sealing his deal with Universal Pictures to play Roland in The Dark Tower. Several reports has stated that it's just a matter of time before the papers are signed. If this happens it would also open up for further casting to move along. Stay tuned for more news...

Thanks to Hans Wilhelm von Wirth and Louis Sytsma

Looking for a rare King item?

Posted: April 4, 2011, 22:20

If you're looking for a rare King item this is probably your chance. The Overlook Connection is helping King author Rocky Wood to sell his personal collection and it contains a lot of interesting information.

Unfortunately though Rocky Wood is selling his collection for a say reason...

Read more about it all here.

King to France in 2012?

Posted: April 2, 2011, 23:53

According to Stephen King Club King probably won't be visiting France until spring 2012 at the earliest.

Thanks to herbertwest

New character in Haven

Posted: March 31, 2011, 09:05

Syfy has announced that TV actress Vinessa Antoine has signed on for the recurring role of Evidence “Evi” Ryan in the second season of HAVEN.

Antoine’s character is a former con artist and lover of Duke’s (SKYLINE’s Eric Balfour). As previously announced, Jason Priestley will also join HAVEN this season to direct one episode and guest star in a four-episode story arc. Antoine and Priestley will join Emily Rose, who plays Audrey Parker, a former FBI agent with a knack for investigating the supernatural; Lucas Bryant, who plays Nathan Wuornos, a handsome local cop with his own supernatural affliction; and Balfour, who plays Duke Crocker, a local smuggler and reluctant aide in solving Haven’s troubles.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Haven on DVD and blu-ray

Posted: March 31, 2011, 08:56

The first season of Haven will be out on DVD and blu-ray June 14th. The series will be collected on 4-discs that runs 572 minutes, and includes English subtitles. The DVD version will cost $44.98 SRP, and is presented in anamorphic widescreen video with English 5.1 Surround Sound. The Blu-ray release will be priced at $49.98 SRP, with widescreen 1080p High Definition video and English DTS-HD Master Audio. Below is a list with all the details about Bonus Materials.

BONUS FEATURES:

Twelve Audio Commentaries with Cast & Crew

Three Exclusive Making-of Featurettes:
- Welcome to Haven
- Visual FX of Haven
- Mythology of Haven

Six Behind-the-Scenes Video Blogs:
- What is Haven to You?
- Let the Good Times Roll...
- Location, Location, Location
- Emily Rose Q&A
- Stephen King References in "Spiral"
- SCI FI Wire Interview with Emily Rose

Additional Cast Interviews:
- Emily Rose
- Lucas Bryant
- Eric Balfour

Season Two Sneak Peek: Inside the Writers' Room

Thanks to Marco Lammers

The Dark Tower omnibus

Posted: March 31, 2011, 08:48

Marvel is about to release the complete first series of The Dark Tower comic in an omnibus edition (2 volumes) in September:

DARK TOWER OMNIBUS HC SLIPCASE – DARK TOWER OMNIBUS
Written by PETER DAVID & ROBIN FURTH
Art by JAE LEE & RICHARD ISANOVE
Cover by JAE LEE & RICHARD ISANOVE
“The Man in Black fled across the desert…and the gunslinger followed.” With those words from a short story published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Stephen King launched one of the most seminal characters in his lifetime of writing into a destiny fraught with danger, death, triumph and loss. In the almost thirty years since that momentous occasion, King introduced millions of readers to the densely textured realm of Mid-World through his magnum opus, the Dark Tower series of novels. King joined with Marvel in 2007 to bring his masterwork of fantasy to a new generation of readers. Adding stunning new textures to the mythos of Roland and Mid-World for four years, the initial arc of King and Marvel’s union is now complete, and the entire run is collected here. Collecting DARK TOWER:
THE GUNSLINGER BORN #1-7,
THE LONG ROAD HOME #1-5,
TREACHERY #1-6,
SORCERER #1,
THE FALL OF GILEAD #1-6,
THE BATTLE OF JERICHO HILL #1-5.
928 PGS./All Ages …$150.00
ISBN: 978-0-7851-5541-6
©2011 Stephen King. All rights reserved.

DARK TOWER OMNIBUS HC SLIPCASE – COMPANION HC
Written by ROBIN FURTH & ANTHONY FLAMINI
Art by JAE LEE & RICHARD ISANOVE
Cover by JAE LEE
Chock full of essential short stories, bonus material and apocrypha, this volume is a must-read for Stephen King enthusiasts. Three guidebooks overseen by Dark Tower: A Concordance author Robin Furth unlock the many secrets of Roland Deschain, the Gunslingers, Gilead and the dark forces of Farson — bringing readers greater insight into the people, places and things of Mid-World. And supplemental material from the first thirty issues of Marvel’s Dark Tower series shed even more light on King’s epic — with short stories by Furth, and a tour through artists Jae Lee and Richard Isanove’s sketchbooks, and more! Collecting DARK TOWER:
GUNSLINGER’S GUIDEBOOK,
END-WORLD ALMANAC,
GUIDE TO GILEAD,
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT: DARK TOWER,
Material from DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER BORN #1-7,
THE LONG ROAD HOME #1-5,
TREACHERY #1-6,
SORCERER #1,
THE FALL OF GILEAD #1-6
THE BATTLE OF JERICHO HILL #1-5
600 PGS.
©2011 Stephen King. All rights reserved.

Thanks to Marco Lammers

More about the Ghost Brothers

Posted: March 31, 2011, 00:27

Here are some info about The Ghost Brothers of Darkland County from Alliance Theatre's webpage:

Music and Lyrics by John Mellencamp
Book by Stephen King
Directed by Susan V. Booth
Music Direction by T Bone Burnett

In keeping with the Alliance’s tradition of producing new American musicals, the company will produce the world premiere of Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, a chilling new musical with music and lyrics by John Mellencamp and book by Stephen King, as the closing show of the Alliance Stage Series season set for spring, 2012. Based on a true story, one of the world's most popular authors and one of America’s most honored musicians have created a riveting Southern gothic musical fraught with mystery, tragedy, and ghosts of the past, along with a roots and blues-tinged score that is sure to leave audiences asking for more. Alliance Artistic Director Susan V. Booth directs, with musical direction provided by legendary producer T Bone Burnett.

In the tiny town of Lake Belle Reve, Mississippi in 1957, a terrible tragedy took the lives of two brothers and a beautiful young girl. During the next forty years, the events of that night became the stuff of local legend. But legend is often just another word for lie. Joe McCandless knows what really happened; he saw it all. The question is whether or not he can bring himself to tell the truth in time to save his own troubled sons, and whether the ghosts left behind by an act of violence will help him – or tear the McCandless family apart forever.

April 4 – May 13

Ghost Brothers next year

Posted: March 30, 2011, 15:32

According to access Atlanta Alliance Theatre has announced Ghost Brothers of Darkland County for spring 2012:

Atlanta's biggest theater, which announced only the first part of its 2011-12 season earlier this month, saved a big surprise for Wednesday's announcement of the second half, carried exclusively in the AJC, including "Ghost Brothers" among its final four plays.

They even quoted my site in the article...

That, too, is a surprise if you believe Web sites such as Liljas Library: The World of Stephen King (www.liljas-library.com), which has quoted Mellencamp as saying that Swedish actress Liv Ullmann would helm it.

King is going to France

Posted: March 23, 2011, 00:52

The moderator of King's board posted the following:

“I’ve heard back from Steve, who’s given me the okay to pass along the information he’d shared last week when I’d asked about book tours. He told me he will be going to France (and probably Germany) for a book tour so it’s not a matter of “if,” but rather a matter of “when.” I’ll post updates as they become available.”

Thanks to Hans Wilhelm von Wirth

King and son might walk the dead

Posted: March 22, 2011, 08:49

King has confirmed with Entertainment Weekly that he is talks to write an episode of The Walking Dead and that the current plan is to co-write it with his son, Joe Hill.

AMC’s zombie sensation The Walking Dead might be getting a serious scare injection on its writing staff for next season. Iconic horror novelist (and former EW columnist) Stephen King has confirmed with EW that he’s currently in talks to write an episode of the post-apocalyptic series. Dead is executive-produced by Frank Darabont, who has directed three films based on King’s work — four, if you count his 1983 short film The Woman in the Room — and King tells EW exclusively that Darabont “has expressed enthusiastic interest for season 2 or possibly 3.” Although the author is still early in negotiations, the current plan would be for King to co-write an episode with his son, Joe Hill, the author of horror novels Heart-Shaped Box and Horns.

Thanks to Al Mattice

King on Mildred Pierce

Posted: March 22, 2011, 08:32

King reviews Mildred Pierce (an HBO mini-series) for The Daily Beast.

Thanks to David Squyres

Dollar Baby version of Willa

Posted: March 20, 2011, 01:03

A Dollar Baby version of Willa is in the making. I recived some info about it and it sounds interesting. To the right you can see the movies poster and here is the official website.

Will King walk the dead?

Posted: March 20, 2011, 01:01

The Walking Dead panel at C2E2 with stars Laurie Holden and Jon Bernthal offered plenty of interesting news about season two...

Another rumor has been added to the mill, but this time by Laurie Holden. She mentioned that Stephen King may write an episode of the series in season two – a huge addition if true. Also, Bernthal confirmed that season two begins shooting on June 1st, which makes sense considering the Fall season premiere date.

Read the enitre article here.

Thanks to Louis Sytsma

Children of the Corn: Genesis premiers tonight

Posted: March 18, 2011, 10:16

Dread Central reports that Children of the Corn: Genesis will premier tonight in LA.

Now this is, shall we say, interesting! It seems that two sequels we've all been "waiting" for have made their way to a single theatre in California and will be playing in a double feature tonight. Oh, the horror!

That's right, kids. Thanks to DC reader Corbin921 we've been alerted of this cinematic happening that's bound to be nothing short of a gala event! Both the Doug Bradley-less Hellraiser: Revelations and Joel Soisson's Children of the Corn: Genesis will be playing TONIGHT at the Rave Motion Pictures 18 + IMAX, 6081 Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA - (310) 215-3483. Click here for showtimes.

If only Foy lived in LA. We're gonna try to get someone over there for some reviews. I'm sure both flicks have such sights to show us!

New length for 11/22/63

Posted: March 18, 2011, 10:14

Simon & Schuster's site lists 11/22/63's length as 864 pages.

Thanks to Willowlove

Length of Herman Wouk

Posted: March 17, 2011, 08:02

According to the moderator of King's message board the Herman Wouk is Still Alive story is 24 manuscript pages, 6460 words.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Herman Wouk is Still Alive; new short story

Posted: March 14, 2011, 15:44

Looks like King will have a new short story published in May...

Stephen King’s short story, “Herman Wouk is Still Alive,” will be published in the May issue of The Atlantic, on newsstands April 19 and available on the web and to subscribers a week earlier.

For those unfamiliar with that name, he is the author of The Caine Mutiny, The Winds of War, and War and Remembrance. The Winds of War was a major miniseries about 20 years ago.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

King on McCammon

Posted: March 14, 2011, 15:43

Here is a comment by King about Robert McCammon's novel The Five:

"The Five isn't just Robert McCammon's best novel in years; it's his best novel ever. Terrifying, suspenseful, unputdownable, and full of rock and roll energy. It's also uplifting, a book you'll finish feeling better about your world, your friends, and your music. Here's one you'll beg friends to read."

Thanks to Bev Vincent

The Battle of Tull in June

Posted: March 14, 2011, 15:36

The next arc will be called The Battle Of Tull and begin in June.

This June, acclaimed artist and Eisner Award nominee Michael Lark (Daredevil, Gotham Central) joins the superstar writing team of Peter David & Robin Furth for Dark Tower: The Gunslinger – The Battle Of Tull #1 (of 5). Lark joins the acclaimed team of Peter David, Robin Furth and Richard Isanove in the select group of creators entrusted by Stephen King himself to bring the adult adventures of his most personal creation to life in Dark Tower: The Gunslinger – The Battle Of Tull! Longtime fans and newcomers alike are sure to be amazed as Lark’s take on the grit and grandeur of Mid-World this June with an outright merciless tale that sets in motion the fateful journey of Roland Deschain.

“I have nothing but respect and admiration for Stephen King and the chance to work on the Dark Tower is a wonderful privilege,” said Lark. “I only hope that I can come close to conveying his vision – a daunting task, but a challenge that I'm enjoying tremendously. It has allowed me to explore the darker aspects of my art and really start pushing some of the boundaries of my own style. And who doesn't love drawing cowboys and horses?!”

The Man in Black has lured Roland to a barren saloon town and, once there, he’ll realize than even a stone cold killer is no match for the horrors of the Dark Tower! Why does a dead man still walk the streets of Tull and, why are this town’s living, breathing citizens a far greater threat? The baddest man in Mid-World is about to find out that the true price of his quest can only be paid in spent shells and innocent blood this June in Dark Tower: The Gunslinger – The Battle Of Tull #1 (of 5)!

DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER - THE BATTLE OF TULL #1 (of 5)
Written by PETER DAVID & ROBIN FURTH
Pencils & Cover by MICHAEL LARK
Parental AdvisorySLC …$3.99

Thanks to Bev Vincent

A Blueline of Lilja's Library

Posted: March 13, 2011, 22:55

I got a picture sent to me of this rare edition of my book. It’s something called Bluelines and there is usually only one copy (occasionally there might be 2). The printer sends these to the publisher before the book is printed so they can confirm that everything looks as it should.

Oh, and if you havn't gotten a copy of my book and plan to, make is soon. The hardcovers are running low over at Cemetery Dance.

Jason Priestly goes to Haven

Posted: March 11, 2011, 08:38

Here are some news about the upcoming season of Haven from IMDB.com. Looks like we'll be seeing Jason Priestly in four episodes.

Jason Priestley’s getting his paranormal on with a four-episode stint on Syfy’s Haven.

The 90210 actor-director will play Chris Weekly, a brilliant, principled but anti-social marine biologist who must deal with an affliction most would consider a blessing.
Hmm… Hung‘s disease? I’m just spitballing here. I have no idea what’s “ailing” him (and the show’s producers apparently want to keep it that way).

Not surprisingly, Priestly — whose arc falls during Haven‘s upcoming second season — has signed on to direct an episode of the supernatural drama as well.

Thoughts? What “illness” do you think his character is “suffering” from?

Vote for illustrator

Posted: March 11, 2011, 08:36

Here you can vote for who you would like to have illustrate The Wind Throught the Keyhole. Don't know though if it will be the winner who illustrates it though. My choice is Bernie Wrightson.

The Wind Through the Keyhole out next year?

Posted: March 10, 2011, 19:57

Here is a letter from King to his Constant Readers about the upcoming Dark Tower book The Wind Through the Keyhole. King says it might be out next year.

Dear Constant Readers,

At some point, while worrying over the copyedited manuscript of the next book (11/22/63, out November 8th), I started thinking—and dreaming—about Mid-World again. The major story of Roland and his ka-tet was told, but I realized there was at least one hole in the narrative progression: what happened to Roland, Jake, Eddie, Susannah, and Oy between the time they leave the Emerald City (the end of Wizard and Glass) and the time we pick them up again, on the outskirts of Calla Bryn Sturgis (the beginning of Wolves of the Calla)?

There was a storm, I decided. One of sudden and vicious intensity. The kind to which billy-bumblers like Oy are particularly susceptible. Little by little, a story began to take shape. I saw a line of riders, one of them Roland’s old mate, Jamie DeCurry, emerging from clouds of alkali dust thrown by a high wind. I saw a severed head on a fencepost. I saw a swamp full of dangers and terrors. I saw just enough to want to see the rest. Long story short, I went back to visit an-tet with my friends for awhile. The result is a novel called The Wind Through the Keyhole. It’s finished, and I expect it will be published next year.

It won’t tell you much that’s new about Roland and his friends, but there’s a lot none of us knew about Mid-World, both past and present. The novel is shorter than DT 2-7, but quite a bit longer than the first volume—call this one DT-4.5. It’s not going to change anybody’s life, but God, I had fun.

Steve King

Thanks to Ari

Comic biography

Posted: March 8, 2011, 22:39

Here is a pretty interesting biography of King. It's called Orbit: Stephen King and is a biography in comic format. Bellow is the press release, cover and a preview for you.

STEPHEN KING HELPS WEAVE HIS OWN TALE IN BLUEWATER’S BIOGRAPHY COMIC

He found our collective boogeymen in the shape of clowns, dogs, haunted hotels and cars. Author Stephen King, the best-selling master of horror who has terrified a generation with his nightmarish imagination, helps give voice to his own tale in a special edition of Bluewater Productions’ latest biography comic title “Orbit.”

According to Bluewater, King, himself, participated in recounting his incomparable career in a rare “behind-the scenes” glimpse into the author’s private world.

Co-author Michael Lent offers one such example: “One story we confirmed concerned a young King witnessing a friend's accident involving a train (long thought to be a source of his macabre inspirations). Until now, the story was largely apocryphal and wasn't mentioned in King's autobiography. It's a great feeling when you can resolve something once and for all.”

“Orbit: Stephen King,” scheduled for a May 2011 release, follows King’s career from a struggling writer to prolific best-selling author. It includes insight on his legacy as a writer, his love of the Boston Red Sox, forays into film, drug and alcohol issues, and the accident that nearly cost him his life.

In writing about his near-death in 1999, the authors used King's own account along with police reports that differed from accounts given by some of the media, according to Lent.

““What really enlightened us were the similarities we found between Stephen King and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. Both came from dirt poor families. Both had talents that were shepherded by strong, supportive mothers. Both had absent fathers. Each practiced doggedly every day -- their talents weren't hobbies, but their salvation. It brought them fame and fortune, it sustained them during their darkest hours of drug addiction and it, literally, gave them both a road to recovery when their lives were nearly cut short in tragic accidents,” added co-author Brian McCarthy.

The issue, penciled by Kent Hurlburt with a cover by Micha³ Szyksznian, will retail for $3.99 and be available through most online venues like Amazon.com as well as local comic book stores.

“King’s success came from his ability to give voice and character depth to the everyman and put them into nightmarish situations, said Bluewater president Darren Davis. “He found a way to strike a chord that make the everyday seem eerie and the scary downright evil.”

This isn’t the first time Bluewater has taken on the biography of a well known author. In the past year, the Vancouver, WA-based publisher has produced titles on JK Rowling, Charlaine Harris, Stephenie Meyer and Anne Rice. In fact, a trade paperback containing all four author biographies titled “Female Force: Best Sellers” is scheduled for a July 2011 release.

“Orbit,” according to Davis is a natural extension of the biography comic division established by Bluewater’s “Female Force,” “Fame,” and “Political Power.”

“Orbit” was launched in April 2011 with a focused skew towards a more male demographic. “When we weighed the possibilities of featuring personalities like King, Howard Stern, LeBron James, Gary Gygax and JRR Tolkien into our existing titles, the tone and tenor didn’t match. Their enduring popularity and contributions to popular culture are worthy of coverage, but they needed a different voice in which to present the material. ‘Orbit’ fits that bill”

The Walking Dead on DVD

Posted: March 8, 2011, 17:30

Today The Walking Dead is released on DVD and blu-ray. I got the chance to check out the DVD and here are my thoughts on it.

Season 2 of Haven soon to start shooting

Posted: March 8, 2011, 08:56

Sam Ernst wrote on twitter that they will start shooting season 2 of Haven three weeks from Friday. No premier date set yet though.

More 11/22/63

Posted: March 2, 2011, 16:34

Both Scribner and Hodder & Stoughton has promotion sites for 11/22/63. On Hodders you can see this image. I have no idea though if it's the cover of just a promotional image.

[edit] This is not the cover. Just something they will use to promote the book. It looks good though.

Scribners's 11/22/63 page
Hodder & Stoughton's 11/22/63 page

King's next book announced!

Posted: March 2, 2011, 16:32

On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas,
President Kennedy died, and the world changed.

If you had the chance to change history, would you?
Would the consequences be worth it?

Jake Epping is a thirty-five-year-old high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching adults in the GED program. He receives an essay from one of the students—a gruesome, harrowing first person story about the night 50 years ago when Harry Dunning’s father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a hammer. Harry escaped with a smashed leg, as evidenced by his crooked walk.

Not much later, Jake’s friend Al, who runs the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to 1958. He enlists Jake on an insane—and insanely possible—mission to try to prevent the Kennedy assassination. So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson and his new world of Elvis and JFK, of big American cars and sock hops, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake’s life—a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time.

Dark Tower and Javier update

Posted: March 2, 2011, 14:48

Here is a report from MTV about the latest with The Dark Tower and Javier Bardem:

With the ever-changing, ever-flowing news cycle surrounding the goings on in the film industry these days, it gets tougher and tougher to get concerned parties to actually confirm or break news. Nevertheless, our tireless team of intrepid reporters here at MTV News will not give up in trying to push people for info! Like whenever we happen upon super producer Brian Grazer and pump him for details about "The Dark Tower," for example...

The last time we checked in with Grazer, the Roland casting process was moving along, but slowly. When I stopped him while on his way into the Vanity Fair Oscar party last Sunday, solely with the purpose of peppering him about the reported casting of Javier Bardem as the ruthless gunslinger, he seemed pleasantly puzzled by the fact that MTV is so interested in the project.

"'Dark Tower,' Javier Bardem, that's what we're hoping," Grazer said when I asked him for an update. "We're in the process of trying to put that together. Will that make you happy? Will that make MTV happy?"

Yes, I told him. Very happy! But has he officially signed Bardem onto the project?

"He's locked in psychologically," Grazer said. "He really wants to do it, so we're absolutely rooting for him to do it."

When asked to address other potential cast members, Grazer said they're too busy with Bardem.

"We're really just focused on Javier right now," he said.

Grazer went on to say that in addition to the challenges involved with locking in a lead actor, they'll have their hands full trying to roll-out the project across multiple platforms including film, TV and video games.

"It's challenging to capture all of it, the density of it," he said, adding that he's excited to explore all the metaphors involved, and that the first story they're exploring is that of "The Gunslinger."

Thanks to Bev Vincent

And the winners are...

Posted: February 28, 2011, 10:57

The contest is over and three winners have been selected. But first the correct answers:

Question 1: What is the name of the publishing house that has released Stephen King on the Big Screen and Stephen King on the Small Screen?
Answer: 1: Intellect books

Question 2: Has King himself contributed to the books?
Answer: 2: No

Question 3: What is the author of Stephen King on the Small Screen last name?
Answer: 3: Browning

Question 4: What is the difference between small screen and big screen in this case besides the size?
Answer: 4: Small screen = TV, Big screen = Cinema

Question 5: Is Lilja’s Library cited in either of these books?
Answer: 5: No

And the winners are G W Henderson (New Zealand), Carrie Bouchard (USA) and Tim Connellan (United Kingdom). Congratulations!

The Walking Dead on DVD March 8

Posted: February 24, 2011, 23:32

I know this has nothing to do with King directly but since I’m a big fan of Frank Darabont as well and since he has the strong connection to King that he has I feel OK with posting this. Some of you might remember the cook press kit AMC sent out to promote Darabont’s new TV series The Walking Dead? Well, now Anchor Bay has sent out theirs for the DVD release on March 8. This one doesn’t have the small gun that the AMC one had but for starters the envelope it came in was very cool (wonder what the postman thought about that?) and the DVD is full of extra stuff.

Here is what you get:

- Making of “The Walking Dead”
- Inside “The Walking Dead”: Episode 1-6
- A sneak peek with Robert Kirkman
- Behind the scenes Zombie make-up tips
- Convention panel with producers
- “The Walking Dead” trailer
- Zombie school
- Bicycle girl
- On the set with Robert Kirkman
- Hanging with Steven Yeun
- Inside Dale’s RV
- On the set with Andrew Lincoln

So, whatever you do, don’t miss this one once it’s out on March 8! You can check out my review of the series here.

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