Spending The Stephen King Money

You've read  Joyland, right?  You know, the 2006 Emily Schultz novel.  -- OH, wrong Joyland, right?  Turns out, a lot of people are accidentally buying the Schultz novel instead of King's book.

Schultz writes at her website:

I'm Emily Schultz. My first novel came out eight years ago. It was called Joyland. Last year Stephen King released a print-only novel with the same title. That was cool, until a few King readers bought the e-book version of my novel by mistake and started leaving negative and confused Amazon reviews. I asked Amazon to change their search results to keep people from buying the wrong book but never heard back. 

Apparently there were a lot of confused readers as this week I got a—for me—big royalty check for those mistaken books. I'm not so upset anymore. Sure, it's more a pleasant surprise than a fortune, and I'm stuck with those reviews, but I thought a blog detailing how we're spending the Stephen King money would be a nice way to end this funny and strange story. 

So what do you do when Stephen King's money starts to roll in?  Well, obviously, if you're a writer, you write about it!

Schultz has started a delightful blog titled, "Spending The Stephen King Money"  With each purchase she records, she also asks the question, "Would Stephen King like it?"  This includes:

• furniture from Ikea, a haircut for Brian, 
• the deductible for bumper repair, 
• books, 
• Dinner for two at a place called "Junoon" . . . and more.

She notes that she bought a new Apple computer, and asks if Stephen King would approve.  "WOULD STEPHEN KING ENJOY IT: According to his book On Writing, King writes 10 pages a day. I think he knows the importance of a good machine."

I think this is brilliant and quite a bit of fun.  Naturally, we wonder, what does Stephen King think of this, though.  After all, it is his book that's losing the sales, right?  King told Entertainment Weekly that he is “I’m delighted for her."  And, what's more, "I’m going to order her book.”  So there's a real sale!  And, from none other than Stephen King.  Schultz said in turn that she would be buying King's book. Of course, she'll be buying King's book with King's money.  A nice way to go!

Want To Be Buried In Pet Sematary?

www.examiner.com posted  a news article about a Pet Sematary that now allows humans to be buried with their pets.  Of course -- the connection is obvious!

The article says, "It sounds almost like Stephen King's 'Pet Sematary.'"  Well yeah!

The article then moves on to discuss pet-ghosts.  Such as  the Ghost Cat in the tower of London.

The Ghost Cat-Tower of London 

In All Hallows Church, there is a story about an organist that died, and before he died, his one wish was that he wanted his cat to be buried with him, once the beloved pet died also. Well the Vicar didn't agree with that, so he didn't bury the Persian cat with its deceased owner. Now as the story goes, the cat haunts the All Hallows Church wandering around looking for its owner.

King takes on Amazon

Stephen King, along with hundreds of authors like Nora Roberts and Donna Tartt signed an online letter criticizing Amazon.com.  Amazon has been restricting access tow orks  publishedby Hachette Books Group over  e-book prices.

Hillel Italie at The Telegraph explains, "Amazon has slowed delivery on books by Preston and other Hachette authors, limited discounts and removed pre-order tags for upcoming releases."

Italie's article focuses on author Douglas Preston, author of "The Codex."

In a telephone interview Thursday, Preston said he was receiving so many emails of support that he felt like "a data entry clerk." Known for such thrillers as "Blasphemy" and "The Codex," Preston said he admired Amazon and appreciated how many of his books have sold through the online retailer. But he objected to Amazon's "scorched earth tactics." 

"A lot of pain is being inflicted on innocent third parties," he said, referring to authors whose books have been affected. 

Preston's next book, "The Lost Island," is a collaboration with Lincoln Child that comes out in August. Only the audio edition can be pre-ordered.

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2014/07/03/3180930/king-caro-among-those-backing.html#storylink=cpy

AMERICAN LANDSCAPE -- Stephen King Style

For years Stephen King has served us up stories about ourselves. Probably what makes him so popular is that he doesn't write about Count Dracula in a far off land, he brings it all to America. I'm pressed to think of stories that even involve other countries!

The America in Stephen King's fiction is a unique place. Here's a glance at the America of Stephen King's creation:

• Christine is a kind of American Grafitti -- cars, girls and Rock and Roll.


• IT is a trip back to the 1950's. (For, uh, those who were alive in the 50's.) Seems like The Body falls into the same category.


• The Dead Zone shows the nasty side of American politics.


• The Tommyknockers is a 1940's style Scifi.


• In the Stand King boldly destroyed America, and then made his characters our new founding fathers as they established the Free Zone.


• Both Rita Hayworth and The Green Mile explore something of the American prison system.

• Under The Dome shows us America  in miniature.  

• If you haven't seen it -- there is something strangely All American about Silver Bullet, based on Cycle of the Werewolf.

No wonder George Beahm could write a biography called: "Stephen King, America's Best Loved Boogey Man." Americans love King because he writes about places we feel we know. We don't have to go to a haunted castle, the house next door might be something terrible. He brings the horror home to America. There might be monsters headed to the grocery store. What if your cell phone rang and zombies took over? It's what we know, given a slight twist, that makes things scary!

Awesome Cover For THE SHINING

I found this on my favorite Stephen King website, www.liljas-library.com

Lilja posted:

The 44th language that a King book is translated into has been found. Today I found out that The Shining has been translated into Breton. Breton is a celtic language that's spoken in western France, the Brittany region and what’s extra interesting is that only 200,000 people have Breton as their native language. Very impressive that they now got their own translation of a King book if you ask me.

While you're at Lilja's Library,  you can send him a photo of yourself  and Mr.  Mercedes and be sure to take the "Author Photo Quiz."  --no,  it's not that easy!

Under The Dome Telephone

How did the crew over at The Wire miss the entire first season of Under The Dome?  What's worse, realizing they'd missed something that might  be important, they decided to catch up on it -- by playing telephone.

They explain:

Last summer's silly sensation Under the Dome returns for a second season on Monday. The show, a Stephen King adaptation that is, upon closer inspection, about a town that finds itself placed under a mysterious dome, was at turns junk and addictive and infuriating, and somehow all of us here at The Wire missed out on it.

Now how do you miss Under The Dome?  That  question aside, the group decided to take turns watching the episode, then passing it on to the next person.  They chose not to watch episodes they weren't writing about.

What follows is. . . hilarious, and a mess.

Here's a taste:

David: Americans don't mind domes as long as they have their propane and sunlight. After that, they start getting antsy. If someone refers to a monarch in a vision, they're probably talking about butterflies. There is no visual symbolism outside of this show that isn't to do with pink stars or black clouds, and one is obviously the most beautiful thing in the world whereas the other is the most terrifying. Also, imagine if CBS hadn't picked up this show for a second season. People would have been so mad at that incredibly open-ended, vague cliffhanger

and. . .

Ben: If Under the Dome has taught me one thing, it’s that drifters can do EVERYTHING. Seriously, Barbie (aka the almost-Monarch) has delivered a baby, operated on a gunshot victim, convinced the widow of the guy he killed to become his lover, and managed to still kickass in an episode he spent the entirety of with his hands cuffed behind his back. Sure, he finished season one about to be publicly hanged (another thing I learned: quaint townspeople will turn out in droves if you tell them there’s a hanging), but I’d vote Barbie for Councilman at this point, and we all know how big of a deal that is, considering Big Jim wields absolute power over his constituency. Also: propane = power.

Okay, catch up on their summaries at: thewire.com

The August issue of Esquire goes on sale July 18

The August issue of Esquire goes on sale July 18.  It will contain a new Stephen King short story, "That Bus Is Another world."

Stephen King Movies In Production

image credit: fanpop.com/clubs/stephen-kings-it

Den Of Geekhas posted all of the King movies and TV shows in development!  The information below are from Den Of Geek -- but the full article is at their website.

These include:

11/22/63
J.J. Abram's Bad Robot production company has acquired the rights to adapt this novel into a TV show. Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs) was working on the script, but he dropped out over disagreements on the direction the show should take. Bummer.

Ayana
NBC wants to turn this into a TV show. Chris Sparling (Buried) is writing the pilot. Ben Haber (Across the Universe) is set to produce, while Jordan Kerner (Less Than Zero) will executive produce. No director or cast have been announced at this time.

Big Driver
Lifetime recently announced it would adapt King's novella of the same name, starring Mario Bello (Prime Suspect), rock legend Joan Jett, and Olympia Dukakis (Sinatra). Richard Christian Matheson (Masters of Horror) is penning the adaptation and Mikael Salomon (Drew Peterson: Untouchable) is directing.

The Breathing Method

For now, Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity) is producing a feature film, but has yet to set it up at Universal. Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange) is set to direct.  Of course, now that Derrickson has been chosen to direct Doctor Strange, this film will most likely go on the back burner...

Cell

Eli Roth (Hostel) talked about adapting this novel into a feature film a few years back, but that didn't happen. Instead, it's currently in production eyeing a 2015 release. It stars John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Isabelle Fuhrman, and Owen Teague. The film will be directed by Todd "Kip" Williams (Paranormal Activity 2), with King and Adam Alleca (Last House on the Left remake) writing the screenplay.

Children of the Corn

Although there have been nine films already, Warner Bros. wants to make another. Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw 2) will reportedly direct with Jon Bokenkamp (The Blacklist) writing the script.

Creepshow 4

The rumor is Warner Bros. is interested in making another sequel or a possible remake. It would be interesting to see them tap someone like Ti West (V/H/S) to direct.

The Dark Tower

Now it looks like Russell Crowe (A Beautiful Mind) might play the role of Roland along with Idris Elba (Pacific Rim) in an unspecified role. Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) has also met with Howard about a part. Writer Akiva Goldsman and producer Brian Grazen, both of A Beautiful Mind fame, are also attached to move this adaptation along.  . . . Now it's rumored that Media Rights Capital will produce the film. Who knows anymore.

Firestarter

Universal and the Dino De Laurentiis Co. will produce a new adaptation of Firestarter. Mark L. Smith (Vacancy) will write the screenplay. The idea is to give the film more edge than the original in an attempt to create a potential franchise. We wouldn't mind a Stephen King movie franchise about a secret organization that investigates the paranormal and does evil shit with it.

Gerald's Game

Mike Flanagan (Oculus) is at the helm of this adaptation, co-writing the script with Jeff Howard (Oculus). Intrepid Pictures will produce. The film will release sometime in 2015.

A Good Marriage

Peter Askin (Trumbo) will direct a screenplay written by King himself. Joan Allen (The Contender), Kristen Connolly (House of Cards), and Stephen Lang (Avatar) star. The film is planned for an October release.

Grand Central

The TV show comes from the former Dead Zone writing team Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn, and is in development at ABC for a potential summer straight-to-series order. 

IT

Being split into two parts (I'm guessing so that the film makers can tell both the children and adult stories as accurately as possible), Cary Fukunaga (True Detective) will direct. Fukunaga will also co-write with Chase Palmer (Neo-Noir) and David Kajganich (The Invasion). The film will be produced by New Line Cinema.

Joyland

Tate Taylor (Winter's Bone) is directing and adapting the screenplay. Wyolah Films is producing. Aiming for a 2015 release, the film is still in pre-production.

Lisey's Story

Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars) is attached to write and direct the feature film, which is slated for a 2015 release.

The Long Walk

Frank Darabont, super frequent King collaborator, has secured the rights and is planning a low-budget film. This has the potential to be a home run. Fun fact: this was the first novel King ever wrote, but he failed to publish until many years later.

Mercy

Frances O'Connor (Mr Selfridge), Mark Duplass (The Mindy Project), Dylan McDermott (American Horror Story), Joel Courtney (Super 8), and Chandler Riggs (The Walking Dead) are set to star. Peter Cornwell (The Haunting in Connecticut) will direct from a screenplay by King. The film is slated for later this year.

The Overlook Hotel

Glen Mazzara (The Walking Dead) is making this prequel for Warner Bros. and Mythology Entertainment. 

Pet Sematary

David Kajganich (The Invasion) wrote the first draft of a screenplay before Paramount turned writing duties to Matthew Greenberg (1408). Producers Lorenzo Di Bonaventura (Transformers) and Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity) are on board to guide the project.

Rose Madder

Naomi Sheridan (In America) is working on the screenplay. 

The Shop

Charlie McGee will be back, once again running from an even more powerful Shop. Luckily, she'll have a guy named Henry Talbot, a former Shop employee, to guide her through her life as a fugitive. The project is written by Robbie Thompson (Supernatural) and produced by James Middleton (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Jaime Paglia (Eureka) and Thompson.

The Stand

Josh Boone is directing and writing this one, too. Nat Wolff (The Fault in Our Stars), who has already worked with Boone, is rumored to be in the cast. The film would be a 3-hour movie adaptation -- plenty of room, but it probably won't be as expansive as the 1994 TV series. 

The Talisman

This adaptation has been in development hell for quite some time. Steven Spielberg was attached to produce a TV series at some point, but that fell through back in 2006. Frank Marshall (Raiders of the Lost Ark) is now trying to turn this novel into a feature film. 

The Ten O'Clock People

The film adaptation should be interesting. Tom Holland (Fright Night) is directing and writing the screenplay. Jay Baruchel (This Is The End) and Julie Browen star. Kathy Bates (Misery) and King himself are also rumored to appear. This film is slated for a 2015 release.

The full article is at: denofgeek

The DOME Is Back -- What Did You Think?

What did you think of tonight's episode of Under The Dome?

My favorite line: “Shut up and be dead, I’m busy.”

IGN's Matt Fowler posted a review of "Heads Will Roll."  (ign.com)  Fowler writes, that it is "painfully obvious that the first few minutes of this episode were an attempt to very quickly un-do a lot of the thick-headedness that dragged Season 1 down so drastically."

In his verdict, Fowler declares,

"Under the Dome" is definitely going for a new "no one is safe" vibe. Though it would help of any of the characters who were no longer safe were characters I actually care about. Plus, the dome can make anyone pop back up as a ghost-type thing so no one really leaves. And since everyone's so flat, it doesn't actually matter if we're seeing them "alive" or "dead."

By the way -- the image isn't mine.  Anyone notice a grammar problem?

THE DOME is all things King

Tonight's episode of Under The Dome is all King.  The script was written by King.  The show is based on his book.  And Stephen King has a small cameo in  this episode.  I guess he's been writing from Under The Dome.  Actually, it's not possible that Stephen King is Under The Dome -- because he's everywhere right now!

Mike Vogel told Zap2it, "There's always that thing in the back of our minds that it's a Stephen King show and anyone at any time can go anywhere" 

"There's a lot of secrets coming up this season, which is exciting for us, because that's the rich stuff we get to play with."

And then there's this from Stephen King, "After the first season, I went to Neal Baer and Brian Vaughn, the producers of the show, because I was fascinated with what they had done, especially with Mike Vogel as Barbie.  So I asked, 'Would you like me to write the first episode of Season 2?' and they said yes, and I said, 'OK, well, tell me what's going to happen. How does the arc go?' And they said, 'We have no idea.' To me that was like a blank check. So we sat down and started to figure it out."

They have no idea?  

Anyway, King says that they actually talked  about hanging Barbie after season one, but CBS wouldn't have it.  (Is that a spoiler?  I don't know, I haven't seen the episode,  just quoting Mr. King.)  If they really wanted to push things away from the book, they would do away with Barbie.  In fact, I vote for it!  Because it would say, "anything really is possible."  But the truth is, anything's not possible.  Apparently with CBS, only popular things are possible.

Also, I liked this line, "King says he's more than happy to consider other projects for television, although he finds trying to anticipate network constraints to be 'like working for the Kremlin.'"  I wish one of those projects would be The Dark Tower.

Pictures From Tonight's UTD

does it seem like Margaret White  should be pinned here?

What Is The Dome?

Are you looking forward to tonight's episode?

Synopsis for tonight's episode: Stephen King’s “Under the Dome” (CBS at 10) returns for Season 2 with Barbie in danger and Julie coming to the aid of a girl who may have clues about the origin of the dome.  (washingtonpost.com)

What is the dome?

Could be. . .
1. An alien force-field placed by leather headed creatures who consider  humans insignificant.
2. The dome is a living entity caused by the earth itself.
3. It's powered by the Dark Tower.
4. The result of an alien spaceship.

. . . I HAVE NO IDEA.

Here seems to be the guidelines (they're different than the book)

• Weather, rain, so on can pass through.
• The Dome itself gives some people visions of pink stars falling.
• The Dome goes deep into the earth.  You can't dig your way out (sorry Maggie Simpson.)
• The Dome gives an electric charge and can jolt people with pacemakers, hearing aids and other electrical devices.
• The Dome appears to have a will of its own and can direct peoples behavior at times.
• The Dome that appears to in some way control the Dome itself. 

Could UNDER THE DOME Give Life To THE DARK TOWER?

Cody Collier posted an interesting story at guardianlv.com that announces that the Dark Tower is set to be a live-action production.

Wait . . . WHAT?  Collier writes:

On the subject of The Dark Tower, much of the information about the production is still surrounded by speculation and mystery, but a few statements have been made clear. Academy award-winning director, Ron Howard has been attached to direct the adaptation of The Dark Tower series, but the form of adaptation the title is to take is still uncertain. The initial plan for the project was to create a trilogy of feature films deriving from multiple excerpts from the eight books included in the saga, but also, similar to Under the Dome, create two seasons of a television series that would seal up any gaps left in between each of the movies.

Stephen King may have this new series in the works, but the Under the Dome creator still suffers many difficulties in getting The Dark Tower on its feet. The two production companies, Warner Brothers and Universal have pulled their support for the project, most likely due to the complexity of its production. King states that he is still putting his faith in director, Ron Howard to see the project through at some point in the near future. Ties to the network HBO have been rumored and whispers of Russell Crowe playing the titular role of Roland Deschain have surfaced, but still nothing has been confirmed. The only official evidence that the project is still even happening can be seen on The Dark Tower IMDb, Internet Movie Database page confirming Howard as the director, Akiva Goldsman as the screenplay writer and Imagine Entertainment as the production company.

Since he's not citing a lot of sources, and most of the information here is a look BACK -- I'm not sure what Collier basing this on.  However, I'm always hopeful for a Dark Tower series.  HBO would be AWESOME.

At the heart of Collier's discussion seems to be that since Under The Dome series is doing well, maybe King might yet pull off a Dark Tower series.  I hope the fate of the Tower does not rest on the ratings of Under The Dome.

Esquire Offers New KING Story UPDATED

This was first posted at Lilja's Library -- which is a well written King site with LOTS of  news, information and interviews.  Check  it out at liljas-library.com/

Apparently the August edition of Esquire  will be running a new story from Stephen King.  Of course,  none of my local stores have Esquire -- and so I must wait patiently.  Waiting is only made easier by the fact that I still have a few pages of Mr. Mercedes to finish up.

UPDATED: (from Lilja's Library)

King's upcoming story in Esquire Magazine is called That Bus Is Another World.

PHOTO: liljas-library.com

PHOTO: liljas-library

Jeremy Wheeler Gives Us A Unique Stephen King Movie Guide

I like this 2013 "Everything You Need to Know About Stephen King Movies and Shows, A-Z" by Jeremy Wheeler at esquire.com 

(yes, I did find it as I was trying to find out more about the new Stephen King story in the August edition of Esquire)

King Talks Dome

Right now the web is pretty flooded with Under The Dome Season Two stories.  This seattletimes.com discussion with Stephen King is pretty good.

“I knew that George R.R. Martin had written a few episodes of ‘Game of Thrones,’ and I was very jealous,” King told the Seattle Times.

Why is King writing the first episode?  He explains (apparently as they eat pizza), “It gave me a chance to set the arc in motion for the season, and it gave me a little more input into what was going to happen.”

The article cites Neal Baer saying, “We thought this would be a great way to solidify the support of the fans...”  Does the fan base need solidifying?  Maybe.

What's my reaction to another season of Under The Dome?  Fearful.  Things took off with a bang  first season, then fell apart.

Is King Writing About Hodges? . . .
After discussing his "ritual" for writing, the article notes:

That’s not to say that King lives free of the self-doubt that afflicts most, if not all, writers. In fact, he’s currently a “mess” over the troublesome third act of an upcoming book.

“I don’t usually plot in advance, the book usually tells me what to do, but I’m getting to the point where there’s a lot of mist ahead and I just sort of hope things work out,” he said. “They usually do.”

 Makes me wonder if he is hard at work on the next installment with Detective Ret. Hodges.

Norris talks Dome

Some of my favorite lines from Dean Norris' comments on Under The Dome:

• "Big Jim is a guy who loves  power.  He thinks he's doing it for the sake of the town."
• "[Big Jim] is just a delicious character to play!"
• "He's like a lizard that's  cooking along, when he sees the fly,  he eats  it. He doesn't think about it."
• "He's manipulative, he uses salesman tactics when he needs to.  He's playing different characters for different people in the show."
• "There's some new characters this season that Big Jim has to determine if he trusts  them, if they trust him.  It's always an interesting question of do you trust Big Jim."
• "The Dome, even though it was a big character in season one, it's an even bigger character in season two.  The question is, is the Dome calling Big Jim to lead the town?"

cbs.com

Concept Art from Ron Howard's Cancelled Adaptation of Stephen King's 'The Dark Tower'

photo source: www.comicbookmovie.com

comicbookmovie.com has posted concept art from Ron Howard's stab at The Dark Tower.  It includes this note, "Conceptual illustrator, Gregory Hill ("The Amazing Spider-Man 2"), has updated his website with concept art that he created for Universal's cancelled film adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower, which Ron Howard ("Rush") was set to direct."

Movies.com Peter Hall remarks, "As much as we love to root for movies around here, we actually kind of hope that Howard and Goldsman's plans for a Dark Tower movie trilogy never do get off the ground. There's just too much material in the books to condense into even three movies. It really does deserve the Game of Thrones HBO treatment, but that will never happen so long as the movies are still in the works."

The current work on THE STAND movie should take note, as they are trying to squeeze  what could be an entire series into a feature movie.  (Yes, still sulking)

Hall explains the release of the concept art this way:

This week some concept art (and video; see above) created for the movie has been put online by illustrator Gregory Hill, and while it's not exciting material (it's basically just a tour through a few key locations from the books), it being published may be a sign that the movie has completely stalled. Universal was the last studio working with them on it, and this may be from the version that it nixed. Most movies don't let concept art out into the wild until after the movie has come out, so this could mean that whatever work Hill did would have never seen the light of day otherwise.

photo source: www.comicbookmovie.com

photo source: www.comicbookmovie.com

Stephen King A Face Among The Msaters AMAZON COUNTDOWN

Kindle is running a countdown special for Stephen King, A Face Among The Masters.

Get it at www.amazon.com

Today you can get  the kindle version of my book, for 1.99.

Later, it will be 3.99.

Saturday it will be 4.99

The Kindle edition is usually runs for 7.50.  Unless you buy the print edition, in which case it is always .99cents.

Lego Stephen King

I've been obsessed with Lego's lately.  Might have something to do with the awesome Lego movie!  It was total mash-up at its best.

Here's  some Lego Stephen King:

IT:

Here's Carrie:

yeah, I like that one a lot.

Here's The Dark Tower

How cool is that, Roland?  Show up at the Dark Tower  and find that the beams all lead to LEGO LAND!

Here's THE SHINING

Here's THE MIST

Here's CHRISTINE

Here's

Creepy Happy Meal Would Please Pennywise

My fourteen year-old found this today at www.bforbel.com

BIG DRIVER is headed to LIFETIME

The hollywoodreporter has news that Big Driver will be a Lifetime small screen adaptation.  The article notes that Big Driver marks the first collaboration between King and the A+E Networks-owned female-skewing cable network.

Here's the highlights from the Hollywood Reporter:

• The show will star Maria Bello as Tess Throne.
• She will be joined by Olympia Dukakis, Joan Jett and Will Harris also star in the revenge tale adaptation, expected to premiere this fall. 
• Production begins in Halifax, Nova Scotia, this summer.
• Poduced by Ostar Productions and executive produced by Bill Haber (The Trip to Bountiful) and Jeffrey Hayes (A Day Late and a Dollar Short). 
• The screenplay was adapted by Richard Christian Matheson (Masters of Horror, Happy Face Killer)
• Directed by Mikael Salomon (Drew Peterson: Untouchable).

Finally, the article reminds us that CELL, starring Sameul L. Jackson, is in postproduction.

The Shining by Stephen King (1977): Now I Wanna Be a Good Boy

I really like Will Errickson's blog, Too Much Horror Fiction.  It's like a cave full of horror books from the 60's and 70's.

I also enjoyed this article  on The Shining, which he declared, "unputdownable."  I think it's insightful.  And is reposted here with permission.

By the way, the first cover Errickson posted (the silver) is the version I first read.  I never liked that faceless, silver cover -- but the book grabbed me anyway.  My favorite is actually the first edition.  I wish they would print a paperback with that cover.

Reviews and insights on The Shining are all the more fun now that we have Doctor Sleep.

Be sure to check out, toomuchhorrorfiction.blogspot.co.uk

The Shining by Stephen King (1977): Now I Wanna Be a Good Boy

by Will Errickson

Although it may be Stephen King's most famous horror novel and certainly the one that made him a household name, I must confess that for many years, The Shining was not a novel I really liked. It was never a book that I revisited as I did with many of King's other works, although I knew its reputation was stellar. About five years ago I skimmed through a copy and was even more disheartened as it seemed to me - yes, it's true - poorly written and conceived. Well, I don't know what the hell I was smoking: I picked up my recently-acquired Signet '78 first-edition paperback (only edition with that fantastic, yet easily faded, Mylar cover) on Friday morning, ready to give it another try and... could barely put it down all weekend: this time I got it. I raced through The Shining and barely gave myself the time to jot down a note or page number. It is awesome fun to find that a reread of a once-dismissed book is so rewarding. If you haven't read King, The Shining would be a fine intro.

Original 1977 hardcover

Do I even need to recount the plot and the characters? Jack Torrance is a struggling writer, trying to create believable people and conflicts in his play, when he's had no shortage of conflict in his life. His alcoholism has put serious rifts in his relationships with his wife Wendy and five-year-old son Danny; he's lost his job as prep school English instructor; he's also had two very grave moments of violence. But all that, he hopes - they all hope - that's in the past now that he's hired to be the winter caretaker for the Overlook Hotel, thanks to an huge favor from an old drinking buddy who's cleaned up. Sitting high atop a frigid, panoramic Colorado mountain, the enormous hotel is closed for the season and the only occupants will be the Torrance family.

Jack's feelings of inadequacy are front and center in the opening chapter, in his humiliating job interview with that infamous officious little prick, Mr. Ullman (one of my favorite scenes in the book is when Jack calls Ullman and tells him he's going to write a book about the history of the Overlook and Ullman freaks the fuck out). But Jack knows it's time to do right by his family, and taking this job is the classic point of starting over. He's not drinking and he's writing again, but Jack's about to go on one hell of a dry drunk, and have one motherfuck of a writer's block.

UK hardcover 1977

As for "the shining" itself: Danny's psychic power comes in the form of Tony, a little boy a bit older than Danny who appears inside mirrors and as a tiny shadow down a midnight street, always with some bit of information that Danny would have no other way of knowing. It is this ability of Danny's that the Overlook "wants," so it "employs" Jack's troubled past as it spurs Jack on to murder his family, to truly own the Overlook and inherit its foul nature. You almost ache for Danny, who so wants to please his parents, his daddy most of all (which makes Wendy feel guiltily jealous), who wants his daddy to be well and not do the Bad Stuff. King is great at getting inside kids' heads, their goggle-eyed yet strangely rational perception of the strange adult world that surrounds them.

Thematically, The Shining is one of King's richest. Yes, the Overlook Hotel is a repository of human evil; Jack knows this when, in the basement, he finds the scrapbook containing clippings of its unsavory past. Generations pass on their faults; sons pay for their father's transgressions. Abuse becomes a family trait. These are all very much in the grand tradition of haunted house and Gothic tales. Jack's creativity suffers; the real first sign of his madness is a complete 180-degree reversal of his feelings towards his play's characters. The relationship between Jack and Danny is mirrored in the memories of Jack's relationship with his own father, as both are fraught with a heartbreaking mixture not only of love and concern, but also of violence and alcoholism.

UK paperback 2007

It is the back-story in which King *ahem* shines, as he reveals what he wants when he wants for maximum impact. There's the Overlook's blood-drenched past, of course. We get glimpses throughout the novel of Jack's fearsome father, as well as harrowing moments from his drinking days with a colleague. The tortuous memory of accidentally breaking little Danny's arm plagues him, as does his beating of a debate student of his whom he had to kick off the debate team because of a stutter. Both Danny and this student had destroyed something of Jack's: Danny, as a toddler, pours beer over the manuscript of Jack's play, while the student slashes Jack's car tires. He was drunk when abusing Danny but sober when attacking the student, but no matter: it's all Jack Torrance.

UK paperback 1984

The novel is easily one of the most "unputdownable" - wretched word - I've ever read, at least it was this read. The pacing is relentless, lulling you at one moment and then shocking you the next. Suspense wracks up in the final chapters by interlacing chapters on the family's last stand against Jack - or whatever he is at that point - with Dick Hallorann's journey through the snowstorm, the Overlook head cook who also has "the shining" and is heeding Danny's psychic call. But still, we must ask: are there faults in The Shining? Of course. King's writing can be thin in places, too familiar, too pedestrian; there are times where a character's feelings of horror are told to us, instead of simply letting the horrific scenarios speak for themselves. The constant italicized interior thoughts, or maybe too many flashbacks. That final chapter, perhaps (King has intimated he may write a sequel).

Holy shit, they made a movie out of it?!

But these are to quibble; when you're reading King you know you're not getting an elegant flight of poetic prose or a delicately composed novel of modern manners and foibles. Fuck no! You're getting shrieking blasts of icy terror happening to real people. That might sound like one of the myriad cheesy critical blurbs from the first page ("REAL SCARE-ABILITY!" "DELICIOUSLY SHIVERY READING!" "BACK-PRICKLING!") but I don't know how else to phrase it. My moments of fear? When the wasps come back. When Jack hears his dead father's voice on the radio. When the unmanned elevator starts to clank into use. When Danny enters Room 217. When Wendy turns around and sees Jack. When the long-dead masquerade party guests screech "Unmask! Unmask!" and reveal rotting insect faces...

Mmm, now that's good horror, from a good little boy.

 
toomuchhorrorfiction.blogspot.co.uk

Bleak Movies Colouring Book: THE SHINING

Shortlist gives us an interesting look at coloring books themed around horror movies!

It's a shame that many of the great movies out there are rated 18, as it means that youngsters (well, those who haven't mastered YouTube and avoiding their parents) are unable to take in those cinematic masterpieces. 

So artist Todd Spence, of break.com, decided to find a way to get the kids involved - and created this fantastic Bleak Movies Colouring Book. 

There's games to play and friendly characters to colour in; don't the Se7en gents look like they're having fun together? What larks they must have!

What books/scenes would you include in a coloring book?

Mr. Mercedes Journal #4: Funerals

Mr. Mercedes is a tough book to journal through because it's full of surprises, twists and unexpected turns.  You just kind of have to be there.  The story absolutely blindsided me -- more than once.  I find myself going, "I never saw that coming!"

There is a lot of funeral  talk in Mr. Mercedes. In fact, the last time King gave us a story that edged up this close to funerals was Pet Sematary.  Of course, Pet Sematary took things to a whole new messed up level, as Creed actually went to the cemetery and dug up his dead son.

So, here's some funeral notes. . .

• I think it's interesting that King says the preacher used the Proverbs 31 text (the virtuous woman) as his sermon for the funeral.  That would indeed be a strange text to discuss the dead.  And King's perception is right on when he notes that it is uncomfortable when preachers try to eulogize people they don't know.  Best to just stick to preaching and giving comfort.

• Perhaps one of the strangest customs we have is something called a "wake" in the South and a viewing other places.  At a viewing people come to view a dead body and give their goodbye.  From my chair, I think it's perhaps one of the most painful customs we ask mourning families to endure.  Second most painful custom has to be an open casket at a funeral.  This is pretty pointless, since most people are there to remember the person, discuss the hope of heaven and love on the grieving family.  Some funerals have a period at the end when people walk by the dead body to pay final respects.  

• One objection raised by a family member is that cremation is unethical.  Of course, there are some who hold that view -- but I haven't met them.  Most people I encounter are pretty confused about what religion, and in particular Scripture, says about burial.  The truth is, there are no commands about burial methods, and no prohibitions to cremation.  So characters, such as we find in Mr. Mercedes, who are strongly against the practice are because of personal opinion, not Biblical scholarship.  

Speaking of funerals and Mr. Mercedes, check out this review, www.emissourian.com

Star Wars Misery

My kids wanted to watch Star Wars the other day.  That lead to a typical argument of "which one"they wanted to see.  Finally, we agreed to watch the whole series in order.  That was a mistake.  At the midpoint of the first episode, I was alone in the room, holding in there as something really bad happened on my screen.

My wife was surprised when I moved on to episode two.  Really, her look said, you're going to stick with it?  Yep.  Because sometimes when you don't like a movie, it gets better with the lowered expectations.  But it didn't.  I just kept saying, "This is so stupid!"  For instance, in the first episode, Jar Jar Binks brings help to his home planet;  so what do they do?  Give him his own speeder or a special house?  Maybe a medal?  Nope.  They make him a general!  A GENERAL!  Now in Return of the Jedi, Han was made a general; but it made some sense.  But who would follow Jar Jar into combat as a sergeant, just as well a general?  "Naboo deserves to lose against the trade federation," I murmered.

When it was time for episode three, I decided to move to something new.  That lead to The People v. George Lucas.  My favorite part were scenes from a longer fan movie (Forcery) in which a woman plays Annie Wilkes, from Misery.  In the first scene, she is explaining (by screaming, just like Annie) that the scene with Han Solo and Greedo doesn't make sense anymore.  In the final scene, George forces Annie to eat the Star Wars film he created just for Annie.  Message is: It's my toys, and you don't get to change it.  He will control what fans see.

So what exactly is wrong with the first three movies?  Here you go:
1. Jar Jar Binks is ridiculous. He's a cartoon character in the real world.  It's like Star Wars became Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
2. Metachlorians created a virgin birth for little Anakin.   Or something like that.
3. It's boring.  Turns out Jedi are like Vulcans, no emotion.
4. There's a rain/storm planet in episode two -- but the landing pad to the robot factory is in the open.  Good idea, when you live on a rain planet -- don't build a covered walkway to your landing pad.  I mean, we lowly earthlings can figure out the need for a garage and covered walkways, but apparently the people who are doing advanced human cloning can't think of a way to land a spaceship inside.
5. Darth Vader's, "nooooooo."
6. Is it me, or did Obi Wan age really bad between episode 3 and episode 4 ?  Really bad.

I'll stop.  Here's Forcery, I like it a lot.

Skeleton Crew First Edition

I found two copies of Skeleton Crew at a local used bookstore the other day.   Different boards and covers.  One cover wrap did not include the price and the copyright page did not have a number line.  Both clear indications it is a later edition.  However, the second copy had both.

Is  it "worth"  something?  I dunno.  Probably not  much.  I paid $1.99 for it.  But a find like that makes me pretty happy.  It appears to go on ebay for $15+.  I also have a British first edition of this book.  (I'm not sure why I bought a British edition of that particular book, except that I thought the cover cool.)

My favorite story in Skeleton Crew is by far The Mist.  The book as a whole remains among my favorite of King's short story collections.  As Kevin Quigley pointed out,

"Skeleton Crew is a frustrating instance, because a perfectly terrific version of Skeleton Crew on audio simply doesn’t exist anymore.  The collection Skeleton Crew: Selections is the only version available on audio, which is insane.  Sure, the narrators are fine – King reads “The Raft,” and it’s awesome – but there are only four stories.  Why let the terrific Frank Muller version rot in purgatory?" (interview with Kevin Quigley on THE MIST, at talkstephenking.blogspot.com)

Mr. Mercedes and Thinner

Mr. Mercedes Journal #3

I'm loving Mr. Mercedes.  It's a different style and tone than King usually employs.  I think one reason I respect him as an artist is that he is not locked into one form of story telling.  When it comes to King and genre, he's quite versatile.

I had a long drive the other night to get my wife; and that meant lots of time to listen to Mr. Mercedes.  It's pretty cool, driving down long stretches of moon lit desert highway listening as King's story unfolds.

There is genuine mystery involved here.  King keeps me guessing -- how did the killer steal the car if the key wasn't in the ignition?  And, there's a great mid-novel plot twist.  I can't say a lot about it, except that it reminds me a lot (A LOT) of the ending to Thinner.  But in Thinner, King was just messing with readers.  In Mr. Mercedes, King is down to the serious business of story telling.  Where King ended Thinner, he is just getting started with Mr. Mercedes.  It is the sign of a more mature writer. This isn't just a Twilight Zone twist, it's a defining moment in the book and will be a driving force for the plot here on.

Anyone want some strawberry pie?

PHOTO: Stephen King A Face Among The Masters

THANKS Michele Eggen!  I see the book as found a good home.

Under The Dome Wardrobe

Curious about the fashion in Chester's Mill? Take a tour of the Under The Dome wardrobe with Costume Designer Robbie McKeithan.

Mr. Mercedes Journal #2: It's In My Head

It's Friday the 13th, and Stephen King has me uncomfortably close to a serial killer known as Mr. Mercedes.  Thankfully the book alternates back and forth between Mr. Mercedes and Detective Hodges.

King does a nice job of getting us inside the killers head.  Awful thoughts, images, ideas are passed from the killer to the reader; and the reader is startled because maybe  those same thoughts went through their head at some time in the past.  Mr. Mercedes would suggest that everyone has some pretty wicked ideas, but he's the only one with enough courage to act on them.

The letters and correspondence from the killer are particularly haunting and well done.  I'm generally not a fan of letters in books.  The epistolary novel has never really engaged me.  (Sorry Dracula fans -- including Mr. King.)  However, these letters are brilliant.  Mr. Mercede's might be messed up, but this guy can really mess with your head.

One thing King does that almost relieves the tension the reader feels when reading the book is gives Mr. Mercedes a sick/sexual relationship with his mother.  So just about the time the reader might say, "I've had thoughts like that" -- some nasty scene between  sicko and mama comes along and the reader breathes a sight of relief, "nope, I'm not that sick!"  I actually dislike those portions of the novel quite a bit.  Is King trying to give us the Bates family?

The novel is written almost entirely in the present tense.  This is a little strange to me, but King pulls it off effortlessly.  This style is usually utilized by new writers, or experimental fiction.  It gets really awkward in the first person, which King stays away from.  "I'm walking down a long hallway. . ."

Thank You For The New Fears, Mr. King:

Oh, and you can add to the list of things Stephen King makes me uncomfortable with. . . THE ICE-CREAM TRUCK.  Thanks Uncle Stevie.  Just thanks.

I was in another city tonight, and heard something we don't hear in our town; yep, it was the ice-cream truck.  "That is disturbing," I thought.

Does the ice-cream truck have some root in a real case?  Maybe.

FROM creepypasta: Ice_Cream_Truck

Several years ago, a string of child-abductions struck residents of a small American suburban community. Eventually these abductions were found to be the work of a travelling ice-cream truck driver who used to lure children away with his charm, sweets and the sing-song tune of Yankee Doodle Dandy. 

Convicted of at least a dozen child abductions and murders the driver was convicted and sentenced to death. 

With his execution came a bittersweet sense of ease for the community as he had refused to tell where he had hid their children's bodies. 

After a few years, the continued search for the victims' bodies finally came to an end. To this day, authorities are unable to trace the whereabouts of the children. Many suspect they were burned, and their remains dumped in a nearby river. 

However this is not where this tragic tale ends, for according to local legend every day on the anniversary of the murderous ice-cream van driver's execution, a ghostly van appears on the streets of the same suburban community he once terrorized. One can hear the playing of Yankee Doodle Dandy and see the van, never stopping as it makes its way out of the community and into the unknown.

So what's this story missing?  Names.  Places.  Dates.

Here's some creepy ice-cream trucks: pooboy.com/creepy-ice-cream-trucks

WAIT. . . before you go, check this out:

Now I would swear, Pennywise is on that truck.

Alright, sweet dreams.

Neurotic Friday The 13th

I enjoyed this 1984 article in the New York Times by Stephen King, titled, "A Bad Year if You Fear Friday the 13th."  HERE.

I had to check this, since there is that other Stephen King who posts economic news.  But I'm pretty sure this is our writer friend, since it's hard to imagine the economist being that concerned about Friday the 13th.

King wrote:

I always take the last two steps on my back stairs as one, making 13 into 12 (there were, after all, 13 steps on the English gallows - up until 1900 or so - and executions were traditionally carried out on Fridays). When I am reading, I will not stop on page 94, page 193, page 382, et al. - the digits of these numbers add up to 13. Such behavior is, of course, neurotic, but I sometimes think it is neurosis and not love that reallymakes the world go round - think of all those basketball players who cross themselves before taking foul shots, not to mention stockbrokers who carry lucky coins and carpenters who wouldn't think of completing a house without first nailing a branch to the rooftree.

King gives special attention to years with a triple Friday the 13th.  For instance, " In 1956 Bela Lugosi died and was buried in his Dracula cloak."

Finally, the 1984 Stephen King informs us that the year he's reallydreading is 1998. "In that triple- whammy year I'll be 49. Can you add 4 and 9?"  So what did happen in 1998?  He gave us Bag Of Bones.  Not so bad!  However, 1999 would be the year that wasn't so friendly.

Rachelle Lefevre Reads Script Excerpt

Want to hear a bit of the script that Stephen King wrote for the Season 2 premiere? Indulge below.