King & Wright Talks The Running Man
Posted: November 8, 2025, 18:10
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My Interview With Joe Hill
Posted: November 3, 2025, 15:28
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Here is my inteview with Joe Hill. In it we talk about his new book King Sorrow, his upcoming book Hunger and Stephen King among other things.Yeah, so Hunger is in one sense the kind of story I feel very comfortable writing. It’s a ghost story and it’s very much a horror novel. In some way the last third of the book is THE most horror novel I have ever written, you know the most, goes the deepest into the sort of horror genre. In another sense though it’s way outside my comfort zone.
The Day I Met Joe Hill
Posted: November 1, 2025, 23:47
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On Thursday (I was scheduled to meet him on Friday at 4:30 PM), I set out to get my copy, and I thought that Forbidden Planet, where I would meet up with him the day after, would be a great place to get a copy of the book. I would also get a chance to check out the place so I’d know where I was going and what it looked like the next day. Well, that was what I thought. Once I got there, I couldn’t find the book in the store anywhere, and I thought it must be me looking in the wrong place. The man is scheduled to be there the next day to sign his book. He can’t do that if they don’t have the book, right? Well, I asked a gentleman who worked there if they had it, and he went to look for it. When he came back, he said, “Sorry, but I can’t sell you the book. There is a signing tomorrow between 5 PM and 7 PM, and then after that we will sell any leftovers that we have, so you can come back then.”
Well, OK, I thought. I can understand that they want to have books in stock for everyone that had bought a ticket for the signing, which I hadn’t. But I didn’t sweat it. London is huge and filled with bookstores. I was sure I’d find one that had the book.
During the rest of that day I didn’t run into a single bookstore that had the book, and I started to get stressed out. I couldn’t miss the chance to get a book signed in person when I was meeting Joe Hill. So that evening I went online, and at Waterstones on Piccadilly I found one. I ordered it for Click & Collect, and a couple of hours later I got an email that the book was ready for me to pick up.
During Friday I did a bit of sightseeing and happened to run into another Waterstones bookstore. I decided to see if the book was available there, and if so, I could buy it there, cancel my other one, and save me the extra trip to collect it. They had one copy in the back that they got for me after almost five minutes of searching for it. Only problem with that was that it was already signed. Good thing I noticed. It would have been strange to arrive with a book already signed by Joe, asking him to sign it. So, on my way to Forbidden Planet, I stopped by Waterstones at Piccadilly, and thank God they had the book. It wasn’t already signed, and they allowed me to buy it. With the book in hand, I headed for Forbidden Planet and my meeting with Joe. Of course, it started to rain the second I stepped outside the bookstore. But I was prepared. I had my umbrella, and I had my plastic bag to put the book in, and both I and the book arrived safely.
I had gotten instructions from Caitlin from Joe’s publisher to wait by the main entrance at 4:15, and she would come and get me. I was there by 4:13 and waited. By 4:20 I was still waiting and got a bit nervous that I had gotten it wrong and was supposed to wait somewhere else. I texted her, and she said Joe hadn’t arrived yet, but that she would come and get me as soon as he had. Puh, I was at the right place, I was at the right spot, and at the right time. So, I waited. After a while I heard a familiar voice. “Should I just go down there? OK.” When I looked up, it was Joe himself entering the store like any shopper would, checking where he was supposed to be with the clerk, and then went past me and down one floor. It felt so unreal that I didn’t even react. I just looked at him as he passed. And in fact, no one else seemed to realize that Joe Hill had just passed them. Very strange. I waited some more, but now I wasn’t nervous that I was in the wrong place — now I started to get a bit nervous that there wouldn’t be time for me to interview him before he was due upstairs to sign books for everyone that was lining up.
While I waited, I met some people I knew and some I didn’t know before but got to know then, and then it was time. Caitlin fetched me, and we went downstairs and into a backroom where I was told to wait — Joe was on his way.
When he arrived, there were also a few of the staff with him carrying books. Those were the staff’s books that Joe was asked to sign, and he did. I quickly understood that Joe is one of those authors that really takes the time to sign a book — he doesn’t just scribble his name and be done with it. I didn’t see what he wrote, but I did see that he took the time to sign and dedicate each and every one of the books. Just like we fans want it. Then it was my turn. My turn to interview Joe Hill face to face.
READ THE INTERVIEW HERE
The interview went great, and Joe answered all my questions, and not once, even though there were a lot of fans waiting to get their books signed one floor up, did Joe feel stressed or make me feel like I had to hurry up with my questions. He took the time to answer everything, and he was a joy to interview.
Once I was done, I asked if he had time to sign my copy of King Sorrow, which he did. As with all the other copies I saw him sign, he didn’t just sign his name but also wrote a great inscription and he drew a dragon. After that we took a picture, I thanked him for everything, and he went upstairs to sign books and chat with his fans for two hours. I can only hope that all of you had the same good experience as I did.
Big thanks to Joe and Caitlin for making this happen. I really appreciate it.
Claudia Bachman’s First Contribution
Posted: October 31, 2025, 22:02
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When asked what byline he’d like to use for the paper, King suggested Claudia Inez Bachman, the wife of Richard Bachman, to whom the apocryphal writer dedicated Thinner.
“It opened up many, many more imaginative doors for me,” Percy said. “Because now The End Times was shouldering up to King’s universe. I'm grinning like an idiot just thinking about it. I've been a constant reader my whole life, so to be able to join forces with my hero is beyond belief.”
Some Thoughts On The End Times
Posted: October 28, 2025, 16:05
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Here are some thoughts aobut The End Times. The first issue will be released the week of November 18 and the second in mid-December so there are still time to get your subscription.The End Times is a very interesting thing. Not your normal book or short story and I really like it. You can decide for yourself if you want to read one issue a month digitally or buy the entire thing as a physical copy once all issues are out. The paper will run for one year, and what happens after that we don’t know. Maybe the world is no more by then, or, if we are lucky, it’ll be a continuing thing. Either way, make sure you get this. You do NOT want to be left out!
There are still physical editions left but get them fast, no way of telling how long they will last. Get the physical edition here.
If you rather get a digital edition you can get that here.
End Times New Hire!
Posted: October 28, 2025, 13:41
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So, Bachman is back--with a twist! Longtime Constant Readers will immediately recognize Claudia as the widow of King's pseudonym Richard Bachman.
The first issue of The End Times is expected to ship around the 19th of November.
There are still physical editions left but get them fast, no way of telling how long they will last. Get the physical edition here.
If you rather get a digital edition you can get that here.
My Thoughts On The Begining Of Welcome To Derry
Posted: October 26, 2025, 09:00
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Today Welcome to Derry premiers on HBO. There will be one episode each week between now and December 14th. I’ve gotten a sneak peek of the first five episodes and here are my thoughts about them. I’ve kept the review spoiler free…or if you have been following the news about the show you are safe from getting it spoiled.So, the scope of Welcome to Derry is to uncover the origin of the entity called Pennywise. We also know it as IT or as a clown from the book, movies, and miniseries we’ve seen and read, but where does it come from, and why does it look like a clown?
Hill On CBS Morning Show
Posted: October 26, 2025, 01:31
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Joe Hill on CBS Morning show.
Carrie Done Filming
Posted: October 25, 2025, 08:35
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King Reflects On His Adaptations
Posted: October 24, 2025, 23:42
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At Least One More Holly Book
Posted: October 24, 2025, 23:33
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Behind The Scenes In Derry
Posted: October 24, 2025, 23:13
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King Talks Holly Live Later This Month
Posted: October 23, 2025, 13:06
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”Who better to be our inaugural author guest than Stephen King, a writer who has moved (and horrified) millions and millions of readers in dozens of countries for decades.”
- Andre Dubus
Please register for the event (to get the link) here.
King Awarded The H.C.A. Special Literature Award
Posted: October 22, 2025, 23:46
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In September, Stephen King received The Hans Christian Andersen Special Literature Award, presented by The Hans Christian Andersen Literature Committee.
The award is given for King’s “unique ability – similar to Hans Christian Andersen – to use imaginative storytelling to explore the dark and sinister sides of human life, while captivating millions of readers worldwide.”
King On The Vampire Movie That Flew Under Everyone's Radar
Posted: October 20, 2025, 13:05
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The movie is based on John Ajvide Lindqvist’s 2004 novel and remakes its 2008 Swedish adaptation, Let the Right One In and centers on a bullied 12-year-old boy, Owen and a vampire named Abby. King found it the movie beautiful and frightening, saying:
"Moving and bloodthirsty, tender and horrifying, sweet and gruesome. These beautifully drawn contrasts — plus the bleak snowscape of Los Alamos, New Mexico — make Let Me In the best remake ... of the year, and the best horror film of the decade."
Entertainment Weekly Visit Derry
Posted: October 17, 2025, 13:43
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Talisman 3, One More Holly Book And Then…
Posted: October 16, 2025, 00:48
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I’m trying to clear my desk as much as I can. At my age, you're off the warranty. You can't take anything for granted.
King is planning one more book starring Gibney that he hopes to write this winter.
I love Holly. Right now I am rereading The Outside’ because I have a way into this last Holly book so I need to refresh myself with that.
Before that he has to finish the third Talisman book. King says that at the end of Black House it was made “pretty clear” that the world of the Territories, is also the Mid-World of his Dark Tower books and that he plans to “button up” both series with the new tome. Straub had given King some ideas for their third book before his death in 2022.
I kept putting it off when Peter was alive. Peter had stuff to do, too. I mean, it wasn't all on me. But I would say, ‘Well, this time, this time…’ and time ran out for Peter. That made me feel really bad.
King also reveals that he wants to take some time off while he’s still healthy.
You can't guarantee anything once you get past the age of 75, 76. So you've got to be a little bit careful. Anything can happen to anybody. I got hit by a car while I was in my prime, so to speak. I might have another 10, 15 years, but you can't count on it, that's all.
In a recent interview about his new novel King Sorrow his son Joe Hill admitted he wants to be a “book-a-year guy” like King.
He’s a force, man. My dad (sneezes) and then he pulls out the tissue and goes, ‘Oh wow. Look, there's a novel there.’
King’s explanation:
The thing is, I try to entertain myself. I sit down like at quarter of 6 in the morning before anybody's up, and before my wife's having her first cup of coffee and she's in another part of the house. I really enjoy those three or four hours where I can play in a kind of a fantasy world. It's kind of nice.
But don’t worry. King’s not retiring tomorrow, if ever.
I’m a busy guy. However, I’d like to stop before I start to drivel. Like, repeat myself. I feel like I've still got a little more space to explore, but I have to watch out and not become a bore. I hate that idea, of being a boring person. I'd like to still surprise people a little bit.
Words we have heard before…
New Trailer For Welcome To Derry
Posted: October 15, 2025, 08:40
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Pennywise Is Joined By Another Familiar Face In Derry
Posted: October 15, 2025, 00:17
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”Dick is in Derry because Dick f---d up and that's the truth. You'll see the show and you'll get that."
- Chris Chalk at New York Comic Con
Chalk has been asked a million times how Dick made the jump from The Shining to IT and says it helps him weed out the casual fans from the absolute diehard fans:
”When people ask that question I go, 'You didn't read the book! You're not a big fan, are you?,'"
And executive producer Barbara Muschietti pointed out that Dick Hallorann indeed appears in King's original IT novel.
New Trailer For The Running Man
Posted: October 13, 2025, 18:19
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Not Just Horror Mentioned In Greek Magazines
Posted: October 13, 2025, 16:45
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The Greek magazine Ladylike include Stephen King: Not Just Horror in it’s Editor’s choice at Ladylike: The Perfect Autumn Reading List where they pick six books that they think everyone should check out this autumn.Clickatlife calls Stephen King: Not Just Horror fresh and introspective.
A fresh and introspective look at the character and creative path of the King of Horror from the pen of Hans-Åke Lilja, the man who knows Stephen King better than anyone.
Loads Of Updates From Joe Hill
Posted: October 12, 2025, 17:30
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Joe revealed that the first story his dad wrote for him was called something like Joe and Naomi in the Fart Cookies of Death. My guess is that it was The King Family and the Wicked Witch that involves a witch that begins farting so explosively that she blows herself to the moon. The first real Stephen King book he read was IT and that he read it in manuscript form that was about 200 pages longer than the finished book.As for Joe’s upcoming publication there are a lot to look forward to. Besides King Sorrow who was called both Coil and Serpentine in early stages Joe revealed that a limited edition of the book will be out in 2 volumes from PS Publishing in the future and in that edition, he hopes to be able to include a major subplot with Donovan McBride that he cut from the original version of the book.
He also confirmed that his next book will be called Hunger and revealed that it will be out in October 2026 if everything goes as planned. b>Hunger is a historical ghost novel taking place in the 18th century and he’s been doing research for it for the last 7 years.And as if that isn’t enough, he has two more books that he is working on as well as a finished novella that probably will be released as an illustrated stand-alone book. Joe has also written a screenplay based on that same novella.
And, to make things even better Joe reveals that the plan for the next 10 years is to release 1 book and 1 screenplay a year for the next 10 years. This means we will have a lot more to read from Joe up until 2035, at least.
Check out the entire interview over at The Loser’s Club podcast. It’s really worth a listening.
Narrator Of King Sorrow
Posted: October 11, 2025, 12:48
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Ari Fliakos will be the primary narrator of King Sorrow but there will also be some ensemble bits that are more like an audio play. Ian Shaw will do the voice of King Sorrow.
Schwarzenegger On The $100 Bill
Posted: October 11, 2025, 09:41
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New Poster For The Running Man
Posted: October 10, 2025, 17:33
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My Thoughts On King Sorrow
Posted: October 9, 2025, 14:50
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Here are my thoughs about King Sorrow by Joe Hill out on October 21st.Having finished the book, I realize how much I’ve missed Hill’s books. I know he has released a few collections and short stories over the years, but a full novel is something else entirely.
The Long Walk Out In Hardcover
Posted: October 8, 2025, 10:52
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The Long Walk is now out in hardcover (previously it's only been out in paperback). Get your copy here.
Date & Length For Derry
Posted: October 5, 2025, 14:35
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Richard Bachman Connection In The End Times
Posted: October 4, 2025, 00:40
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Interesting news about the upcoming The End Times. I have heard that…
King's Constant readers will be excited to learn that King's contributions will have an interesting connection with Richard Bachman.
There are still physical editions left but get them fast, no way of telling how long they will last. Get the physical edition here.
If you rather get a digital edition you can get that here.
Tom Gordon On Becoming Subject Of A King Novel
Posted: October 3, 2025, 13:28
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Gordon said Stephen and Tabitha King came to his hometown to see if he was the right person for the book.
"They came and met me at my hometown and ate at a restaurant called Olympic Restaurant. And she told Stephen, she says, Flash is the right person for this. Stephen told me, he said, when she said that there was no other body, no other person, we were thinking that this was gonna happen with you, my friend," Gordon said.
"And that was the actual final outcome. And I'm grateful."
Gordon questioned King about why he was chosen and not anyone else.
"I asked a couple times, why me? You know, why me? And he said to me, there was no better guy to do this with because we liked how you approached the game. And I approached the game the same way I did as a kid," Gordon said.
Check out the full clip here
Edgar Wright On The Ending Of The Running Man
Posted: October 1, 2025, 13:08
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Possibly the most nerve-wracking day of the entire production was writing to King with an attachment of the screenplay and pressing send. Everybody knew at the outset that [the novel’s ending] wasn’t going to be part of this adaptation exactly the way.
But would King approve the new ending?
He realised even before he read it that we weren’t going to be doing the ending from the book. And when [King] emailed back, he said, ‘I was very curious how you were going to tackle the ending, and I think you did a great job.’ So I was very happy with that.
We Have A Dragon Winner!
Posted: October 1, 2025, 08:45
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The question was:
Joe Hill has written two short stories with his father Stephen King. Name the title of one of them.
The answer is:
Throttle, published in He Is Legend in 2009.
In the Tall Grass, published in Esquire in 2012.
Both stories can also be found in Joe’s collection Full Throttle from 2019 so if you haven’t read them, order the book here and do that now. In the Tall Grass can also be found as a feature film on Netflix.
And now to the winner. From over 1,000 entries I have drawn one winner. This person gave the correct answer and followed me on social media as required and will now receive an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) of Joe Hill’s upcoming book King Sorrow, signed by Joe.
The winner is Will Steven from the US. Now, I know this is a fairly common name so before you get all excited let me tell you that I have been in touch with the right Will and if I haven’t been in touch with you even though your name is Will Steven you are not the winner.
With that said, congratulations to Will and a HUGE thanks to Headline, Joe Hill and all of you that entered the contest.
Last Night I Dreamt I Went To Manderley Again
Posted: September 29, 2025, 09:00
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Thanks to Leon Russell
One-Night Only Special Screening Of The Life Of Chuck
Posted: September 25, 2025, 16:15
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This unique event will feature an exclusive conversation with director Mike Flanagan and legendary actor Mark Hamill, offering audiences rare insight into the making of the film, its emotional resonance, and the enduring legacy of Stephen King’s original short story.
Tickets are available beginning September 24th at participating theaters and major ticketing platforms. At AMC Theaters the film will be screened in Dolby and at Regal in RPX screens.
New Ending For The Long Walk
Posted: September 25, 2025, 15:17
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1. They list the running time as 2 hours and 30 minutes. While shown at the cinema the running time was only 1 hours and 48 minutes. It's not stated what the extra 42 minutes are. It could be a directors cut edition, all extra material included or just an error on Amazon's part.
2. They list a new ending on the 4K edition that I'm very interested in. This new ending is only included in the 4K edition.
Jay Van Hoy Filming Rat
Posted: September 25, 2025, 08:20
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Ezban said:
“Stephen King has always been my favorite writer, ever since I started reading horror as a teenager, and since then, I’ve had the long-time dream of adapting some of his material… He embodies that essence of the contrast of beauty and brutality that has shaped my vision and sensibilities as a storyteller. I’ve read most of his work, and Rat remains one of my favorite stories he’s ever created… the perfect match — a dark, intimate, bizarre, even humorous and deeply unsettling story that gets under your skin… I see this as a survival movie about writer’s block, and also as the ultimate tale of our craft vs. our people, our creations vs. our loved ones, our art vs. our family, a theme I can very personally relate to. King has always inspired me as a filmmaker and a storyteller, and I feel honored to bring this tale to life.”In a joint statement, the producers added:
“Coming off the incredible experience of producing 52nd State, we were eager to dive into a project with the same level of ambition and artistic edge. Rat gives us that opportunity. Stephen King’s work has always been a touchstone for genre filmmakers, and with Isaac and Jeff steering this adaptation, we believe it will capture both the terror and humanity that make his stories timeless.”
Earlier Ben Stiller has been mentioned as the films producer but he seems to be out of the picture as of now.
Writing Books On A Typewriter
Posted: September 24, 2025, 09:47
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It’s no secret to regular readers of Escape Hatch that I’m in some kind of managed retreat from the 21st Century. I try to keep the median temperature in my office set to about 1976. I mostly skip streaming my music and opt for vinyl. I don’t bring the cell phone in the office, if I can help it. And I wrote all of The Fireman longhand in a bunch of massive ledgers.But I don’t know if I can work that way and get a novel done every year. So, just in the last couple months, I’ve shifted over to writing my first drafts on the typewriter instead of the computer. It’s the happy spot halfway between scrawling a story on parchment with a raven’s feather and using some bloated piece of word processing software.
If you even want to call working on the typewriter “writing” at all. In the time since I’ve shifted over, I’ve hardly felt like I was writing at all. It’s more like driving nails—or squeezing the trigger on a nail-gun. The steel keys on my Olivetti go chomp-chomp-chomp and eat up the page and a while later I’ve got another 1600 words. No going back to fix things. No second thoughts.
I’ve got a whole stack of functioning typewriters, and I thought I’d rotate them between pieces, see how it goes. I’ve got a frail Selectric III (with a fancy-pants innovation: Correct-Tape!), a robust olive-colored Selectric II, and the one I’m using currently, my blood-red Olivetti, a 60-year-old manual. So far it seems like there might still be some good words left in this antique. Whether I refer here to the machine or the man sitting behind it, I leave you to decide.
Subscribe to Joe’s Substack to receive the next email.
New Trailer For Welcome to Derry
Posted: September 23, 2025, 19:37
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Ben Percy Talks The End Times
Posted: September 23, 2025, 15:37
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Ben Percy is interviewed about The Bad Signal about the upcoming The End Times and how King got involved as a contributor.
Congratulations To Stephen King Who Turns 78 Today!
Posted: September 21, 2025, 09:00
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A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Stephen King who turns 78 today!Not Just Horror Out In Greece September 24
Posted: September 19, 2025, 08:15
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My Interview With JT Mollner
Posted: September 18, 2025, 15:18
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Hill's Introduction To Salem's Lot
Posted: September 15, 2025, 21:46
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In the upcoming 50th anniversary edition of Salem’s Lot Joe Hill has written an introduction where he talks about seeing the adaptation of the book back in 1979 with his parents as well as the importance of the book in the vampire genre. Check it out here
Celebrating 30 Years of Lilja’s Library - With Your Help!
Posted: September 15, 2025, 10:22
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A couple of times during the 29 years Lilja’s Library has been online, I have asked you for financial aid, and every time, you have come through for me. This is something I feel very proud of, and hopefully, it’s a sign that you like what you find here. And once again, I find myself asking for your support.Read the complete text
My Thoughts On The Long Walk
Posted: September 12, 2025, 09:39
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Here are my thoughts about The Long Walk.I really like the movie and I’m going to go so far as to say that it’s one of the best movies based on a King movie ever done. I know there are movies like The Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption but I stand by my word. Given the chance to watch only one of those two or The Long Walk I would pick The Long Walk.
Contest Time
Posted: September 9, 2025, 23:06
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This is Joe’s first book in 9 years if you’re not counting collections and comics and the wait is finally over on October 21st. And if you’re like me you’ll love this one.
To win this special book you need to do the following:
1) Follow Lilja’s Library on one or more of my social medias. Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky or Threads.
2) Answer the question below no later than September 30.
I will then after drawing a winner randomly select one of my social media and if the person I have drawn follows me there, we have our winner. If the person is not, I will draw a new winner and again randomly select one of my social media and so on. So, the more of my social media you follow the better.
Question:
Joe Hill has written two short stories with his father Stephen King. Name the title of one of them.
Send in your answer here.
Good Luck everyone and again, thanks to Headline and Joe Hill.
The Black Phone 2, Trailer #2
Posted: September 8, 2025, 08:15
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King Talks Hansel & Gretel
Posted: September 7, 2025, 00:55
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King talks about Hansel & Gretel and a few other things on Velshi Banned Book Club. Check out the clip here.
Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King
Posted: September 3, 2025, 08:59
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Pre-order your copy now:
From Amazon.co.uk
From Amazon.com
After Caroline Bicks was named the University of Maine’s inaugural Stephen E. King Chair in Literature, she became the first scholar to be granted extended access by King to his private archives, a treasure trove of manuscripts that document the legendary writer’s creative process – most of them never before studied or published. The year she spent exploring King’s early drafts and hand-written revisions was guided by one question millions of King’s enthralled and terrified readers (including her) have asked themselves: What makes Stephen King’s writing stick in our heads and haunt us long after we’ve closed the book?Bicks focuses on five of his most iconic early works – The Shining, Carrie, Pet Sematary, ‘Salem’s Lot, and Night Shift – to reveal how he crafted his language, storylines, and characters to cast his enduring literary spells. While tracking King’s margin notes and editorial changes, she discovered scenes and alternative endings that never made it to print, but that King is allowing her to publish now. The book also includes interviews Bicks had with King along the way that reveal new insights into his writing process and personal history.
Part literary master class, part biography, part memoir and investigation into our deepest anxieties, Monsters in the Archives – authorized by Stephen King himself – is unlike anything ever published about the master of horror. It chronicles what Bicks found when she set out to unearth how King crafted some of his scariest, most iconic moments. But it’s also a story about a grown-up English professor facing her childhood fears and getting to know the man whose monsters helped unleash them.
international bestseller Stephen King.
Philippa Pride, Stephen King’s British editor, says: ‘This is a fascinating and unique exploration of King’s work – authorised by Stephen King himself – by Shakespearian scholar Caroline Bicks. It offers new insights into the creative and personal world of Stephen King, which will appeal not only to those fans who devoured King’s book On Writing, but also to those who are fascinated by the writing process.’
Welcome To Derry Premiers October 26
Posted: September 2, 2025, 17:09
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