NEWS -

40 years ago Bachman was exposed

Posted: February 9, 2025, 09:15
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Today it’s 40 years since Bangor Daily News released the news that Stephen King and Richard Bachman was one and the same and just like that we got five new books; Rage, The Long Walk, Roadwork, The Running Man and Thinner.

We also found out that the man posing as Bachman on the cover of Thinner was in fact Richard Manuel from Roseville, Minnesota, a suburb adjacent to St. Paul and Minneapolis where he worked with energy-efficient housing.

Manuel was a friend of King’s literary agent, Kirby McCauley and agreed to pose as Bachman and according to himself he kept the secret.

”I didn't tell anybody, I was sworn to secrecy. Some friends called and said 'Hey, Dick, there's a guy that looks like you who's writing books in New Hampshire.' Even my sister called and said that.”

More info about Richard Bachman can be found here.

Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream Being Filmed

Posted: February 8, 2025, 18:42
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According to The Post James Ashcroft will turn Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream into a movie. Not with Robert DiNero as the headline indicates. Question is if it’s a Dollar Baby or not…

Late last year, Ashcroft was browsing in a Los Angeles bookshop when he got an email.

It was from Stephen King, one of the world’s most famous writers and a master of horror stories.

Ashcroft had written to King some time earlier, saying how he admired the writer’s work, and wondering if there was any chance of collaborating on a project.

King said he loved The Rule of Jenny Pen, which had just premiered at a US film festival, and mentioned he had a novella Ashcroft might like to make into a movie.

The story was Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream, published last year to widespread acclaim.

“And the next day, his agent contacted mine,” remembers Ashcroft.

“And they said, ‘Stephen’s been saying no to everyone for about 18 months on this one, but he said if James would like to have a go at it, it’s his.’

“So he gave it to me for a dollar.”

(King is renowned for letting promising filmmakers adapt his shorter works for a dollar, while he retains the film rights.)

Stephen King: From Five Decades of Storytelling; Italian Edition

Posted: February 5, 2025, 13:56
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I’m happy to announce that the Italian edition of Stephen King: Stories From Five Decades of Storytelling (Stephen King: 5 Decenni Di Scrittura) is about to be released. In about 2 weeks the limited edition (199 copies) will be out and then in March the trade edition will follow.


The editions will have different covers (this one if for the limited) and the limited will include photos that’s not in the trade edition.

King On The KingCast

Posted: January 29, 2025, 13:36
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Today King returns to The KingCast and during the hour they cover a lot. Here are the most important things that they talk about.

The Talisman 3
There will be a lot of Nebraska in The Talisman 3.

King is using Peter Straub’s words in The Talisman 3.

King confirms that The Territories are The Mid World and The Mid World are The Territories.

Characters from both The Talisman and Black House are in The Talisman 3.

Never Flinch
King rewrote Never Flinch completely after his wife Tabitha said it didn’t work.

Other news
King had an idea for the last book about the character Travis McGee (he shares part of it in the episode) but the relatives of John D. MacDonald said they didn’t want King to do the book so it didn’t happen and won’t.

It was King’s idea to do the harlequin cover for Misery.

King don’t have trunk novels but he have some unfinished stories that he thinks aren’t good enough.

Check out the episode (#265) here.

Thanks!!!

Posted: January 27, 2025, 23:46
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Thanks to everyone who has congratulated me on the 29 years I have run Lilja’s Library - The World of Stephen King. It’s been a joy.

I’ve done things I have never thought I’d do. I’ve gotten to know people I never thought I would get to know or would have gotten the chance to know if it wasn’t for the site.

Some of you have asked if Lilja’s Library is my daily work, my livelihood. It’s not. It’s a hobby that I do because I love King’s books and stories.

Some of you have asked why I don’t have advertisement on the site or charge a fee for parts of the site. The simple answer to that is I don’t like advertisement myself (unless it’s for King stuff) and I don’t believe in charging for stuff online. I have never charged anything for any parts of the site and never will.

But if anyone feel they want to support the site or help me keep it going (it do cost to keep it up) there is the option to DONATE. Every dollar helps so if anyone wants to donate I’m grateful! Read how here.

With that I’d like to thank you for all your support during these 29 years.

THANKS!
// Lilja

King And Straub Talks The Talisman In 1984

Posted: January 24, 2025, 15:31
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This is something interesting. This is an interview with Stephen King and Peter Straub from 1984 when they released The Talisman. The interview is done by Michael Small and this audio tape hasn’t been shared with anyone for 40 years. But that is not all, before the interview Michael evaluates the tape with Bev Vincent.


We also get this photo, taken by People photographer Raeanne Rubinstein.

Very interesting to hear them talking about The Talisman back in 1984. You can listen to the interview here

Carrie Start Filming In June

Posted: January 18, 2025, 19:50
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Club Stephen King reports that the new "Carrie" TV series, by Mike Flanagan for Amazon Studios / Amazon Prime, is scheduled to start filming in June in Vancouver. Hopefully we’ll get some casting news soon.

Who would you like to see as Carrie? Comment below.

Stephen King: (Odd) Anecdotes: Czech Edition

Posted: January 17, 2025, 09:56
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I’m happy to tell you that the next publisher that has bought my upcoming book about Stephen King is my Czech publisher Carcosa who have already released my books Shining in the Dark, Stephen King: Not Just Horror and Stephen King: Stories From Five Decades of Storytelling. Now I’m very happy to announce that they will release my upcoming book Stephen King: (Odd) Anecdotes as well.

Check Out These Fantastic Figures From The Stand

Posted: January 16, 2025, 13:42
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The cover for King’s sixth book, The Stand has always been a favorite of mine. The figure on the cover has always been intrigued me. Who are they and why are they fighting? Is this cover done exclusively for King’s book or are they using an already existing illustration?

Some of those questions have been answered. We know that the cover was done by John Cayea. And we know that it was based on a painting by Goya, the battle of Good and Evil.


The characters on Cayea’s cover are representations of good and evil in the book and are not any exact characters from the book.

As mentioned the cover is and has always been a favorite of mine. I even got the figures tattooed on my shoulder so when I saw these amazing figures I just know I wanted them. And now I do.

The figures are resin 3D printed, then painted black and dry brushed with bronze paint to give it a metallic look. And the base of each figure features the maker's logo laser etched into cork.


The creator of these figures are Jesse Nelson and you can find out more about them here.


King Sorrow By Joe Hill: Cover Reveal

Posted: January 15, 2025, 21:24
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Today the cover for Joe Hill’s upcoming book King Sorrow was released (check it out below).

“King Sorrow” opens at a small college in Maine, Hill’s home state, where student Arthur Oakes becomes cornered in an scheme to steal books from the library. Desperate to get out of it, Arthur turns to his friends — who turn to magic. Using an old book, they summon up a dragon to do their bidding, but it comes at a price. Every year from now on, the friends must choose a new sacrifice for the dragon ... or they’re next.

The book is almost 1,000 pages and released on October 21 and is Hills first standalone novel in 9 years. Pre-order your copy here

Stephen King: (Odd) Anecdotes : Publisher #1

Posted: January 15, 2025, 13:35
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I’m happy to tell you that the first of the four publishers that so far has bought my upcoming book about Stephen King is my US publisher BearManor Media who have already released my books Stephen King: Not Just Horror and Stephen King: Stories From Five Decades of Storytelling. Now I’m very happy to announce that they will release my upcoming book Stephen King: (Odd) Anecdotes as well.

Colman Domingo Is Damon Killian

Posted: January 12, 2025, 00:17
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Colman Domingo has been cast as the game show host Damon Killian, played memorably by Richard Dawson in the 1987 film.

Also in the movie is Glen Powell as Ben Richards and Josh Brolin plays the central antagonist behind the violent reality show. Lee Pace will play chief hunter Evan McCone, Michael Cera is set to play ally Bradley Throckmorton and William H. Macy another character who will assist the film’s protagonist in some way.

The films primer is set for November 7.

Three Seasons Of Welcome To Derry?

Posted: January 9, 2025, 17:24
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Andy Muschietti told the radio show Radio TU that HBO is eager to continue Welcome to Derry and start production on the second season as soon as possible.

Muschietti also said he sees three seasons. The first season takes place in 1962, with a second season in 1935 and the third in 1908. Yes, 27 years apart.

Bill Talks Going Back To Pennywise

Posted: January 2, 2025, 13:49
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Bill Skarsgård talks about being back as Pennywise again in Welcome to Derry. Fast forward to 24:20 to hear what he has to say.

It was fun. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would actually. And there are parts of it where we got to explore sides of old Pennywise that we haven’t seen and that’s fun.

It’s pretty hardcore.

Thank You For The Support During 2024!

Posted: December 30, 2024, 09:18
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2024 is coming to an end and what a year it has been. I have given no less than 15 lectures/author talks during the year. The absolute coolest one was when I sat on the Stephen King panel at Comic Con in San Diego, USA. It's something I've seen the big stars do, and now was doing it. Unbelievable.


On the book front, a lot has also happened. A Dutch edition of Shining in the Dark with a luminescent title was released. Stephen King: Not Just Horror spread around the world. It was released in both the Czech Republic and France, where I also went on a promotional visit.

As for my other book about, Stephen King: Stories From Five Decades of Storytelling, it was released in Sweden, the United States and Greece.

Now I am looking towards 2025 where I will continue to give lecture throughout the year.

Where I’ll see Stephen King: Not Just Horror released in Spain, Germany, Greece and Brazil. Where I’ll see Stephen King: Stories From Five Decades of Storytelling released in Italy, the Czech Republic, Germany and Brazil. And there will be a paperback trade edition of Shining in the Dark released in Germany.

And not only that, right now I'm working on the next book. I can't say much about it other than that it will be about twice as thick as Stephen King: Not Just Horror and that I plan to turn in the manuscript to the four publishers (so far) around the world who have bought the rights to it in the spring.

Thanks for all the support in 2024. I hope you’ll join me in 2025!

The Monkey, A Comedy?

Posted: December 19, 2024, 23:51
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According to Theo James The Monkey is a comedy. A dark one but still a comedy.

"He wanted to make a family movie, but an R-rated one," James, who recently saw a cut of the film, says. "It's hyper dark, but also it has heart to it, and it's really funny."

Source

Length Of Never Flinch

Posted: December 18, 2024, 13:14
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It has now been confirmed that Never Flinch is 440 pages long (US edition) and compared to his previous three books it's shorter.

Fairy Tale = 608 pages
Holly = 464 pages
You Like it Darker = 512 pages

The Institute; Trailer, Weekly Episodes & Season 2

Posted: December 6, 2024, 00:59
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MGM+ previewed the upcoming series based on King’s The Institute at Content London on Thursday and during the panel a full trailer for the series was played. They also announced for the first time that King has come on board the project as an executive producer.


The trailer gave a first look at the Institute itself, a cement, brutalist-style building where kids with telekinetic powers are taken after being mysteriously abducted. Luke is seen meeting the fellow children in the Institute as well as villain Ms. Sigsby for the first time, who encourages him that he is doing something good for the world as he is hooked up to machines and made to move objects.

“You’re not kids, not here. There’s no bedtime, there’s no chores. But here, if you break a rule, there’s grown-up consequences.”

Parker says in the trailer as clips flash of the children being abused and tortured.

In King’s book Luke is 12 years old, but for the series they aged him (and other characters) a few years. Director Jack Bender said this was for a good reason.

“We were very aware of not wanting this to be as awful as it can be, what these kids go through. We didn’t want it to be a sadistic experience. There’s a fine line and, god knows, as storytellers we didn’t want to go there.”

Cavell revealed that “The Institute” is connected to King’s universe as the children in the story all have “versions of ‘The Shine,'” the psychic abilities possessed by Danny Torrance in “The Shining.”

Head of MGM+ Michael Wright also teased that their intention is to drop episodes weekly to encourage appointment viewing. He also said a potential second season is already being discussed.

“The end of ‘The Institute’ Season 1 is very cathartic, but it still sets up some fun games for Season 2.”

Skarsgård On Welcome To Derry

Posted: December 2, 2024, 09:59
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Bill Skarsgård talks about returning to Derry as Pennywise.

“It was strange to be back. [Producers] Andy and Barbara Muschietti were doing the show, and I adore them. Most of the crew was the same people that did the movies. So it was this weird thing of going back to this gang of people that you created this thing with,"
"I don’t know why, but Pennywise is very accessible for me," Skarsgård adds. "So in terms of getting back into it, it was just like 'Da da dah!', and he explodes out. He’s so defined, he’s sort of dormant but very easily activated. We explored things that we haven’t explored in the movies – particularly one side of it, which I can’t go into. I hope the fans are excited."

SFX reports that Welcome to Derry takes place in 1962, just 27 years before the events of the first It movie. Pennywise is much more than just a scary clown, and the series is set to explore his terrifying origins.

Greek Review Of Stephen King: Stories From Five Decades of Storytelling

Posted: November 21, 2024, 09:27
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Check out this great review of the Greek edition of my book Stephen King: Stories From Five Decades of Storytelling.

The question that arises for us readers is: Why should I read a book with all these details about an author and his works? The answer is: Simply because you will like it!

It's enjoyable, a quick read, and carries a novelistic feel that seems influenced by King's style and sarcasm.

It's a light, beautiful and quick read.

The Shining stage adaption set for 2025

Posted: November 19, 2024, 21:11
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A stage adaptation of The Shining is heading for the West End stage. It was back in 2017 we first heard about it and then it’s been delayed but now it looks like negotiations are underway with West End theatre owners to find a home for the show, which will open in 2025 in London.


The Shining is set to be produced by the team behind hit Broadway and West End show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Colin Callender’s Playground Entertainment and Sonia Friedman’s Sonia Friedman Productions (The Book of Mormon). The novel is being adapted by Tony Award-winner Simon Stephens.

The stage production of The Shining will stick closer to the plot of the novel than Kubrick’s movie did.

“Stephen King hated the movie. He thought Jack Nicholson was just a two-dimensional villain and he couldn’t stand Shelley Duvall. The book is partly autobiographical – the alcoholic writer, that’s what it’s really about, and the first 115 pages of the book are about the father, husband, teacher, who is an alcoholic and trying to write, and who is having trouble with his son and his wife. All that leads to a climax where going to the hotel is the final straw. None of that is in the film… so the play is rooted in character in the way that I think Stephen King didn’t feel the film was”.
– Colin Callender in a recent meeting of the Broadcasting Press Guild.

In terms of casting, Ben Stiller was rumoured to be starring in the show as crazed father Jack Torrance, played by Jack Nicholson in the movie, although no casting has currently been confirmed for the project.

Never Flinch Out In The UK May 27, 2025

Posted: November 19, 2024, 10:31
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Today Hodder & Stoughton announced that they will publish King’s new book Never Flinch on May 27, 2025.

When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to ‘kill thirteen innocents and one guilty’ in ‘an act of atonement for the needless death of an innocent man’, Detective Izzy Jaynes has no idea what to think. Are fourteen citizens about to be slaughtered in an unhinged act of retribution? As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realises that the letter writer is deadly serious, and she turns to her friend Holly Gibney for help.

Meanwhile, controversial and outspoken women’s rights activist Kate McKay is embarking on a multi-state lecture tour, drawing packed venues of both fans and detractors. Someone who vehemently opposes Kate’s message of female empowerment is targeting her and disrupting her events. At first, no one is hurt, but the stalker is growing bolder, and Holly is hired to be Kate’s bodyguard – a challenging task with a headstrong employer and a determined adversary driven by wrath and his belief in his own righteousness.

Featuring a riveting cast of characters both old and new, including world-famous gospel singer Sista Bessie and an unforgettable villain addicted to murder, these twinned narratives converge in a chilling and spectacular conclusion – a feat of storytelling only Stephen King could pull off.

Thrilling, wildly fun and outrageously engrossing, Never Flinch is one of King’s richest and most propulsive novels.

We are thrilled to be publishing Never Flinch in 2025. I was held captive from the first page of this brilliantly suspenseful crime thriller. King offers readers both a fascinating exploration of justice and a glimpse into the world of an author on promotional tour, and his description of a woman’s singing comeback is matched only by his brilliant observation of dance in his story ‘The Life of Chuck’, soon to be a major movie. Never Flinch is the perfect entry point to readers new to Stephen King and offers and enticing reunion for fans of Holly Gibney.”
- Philippa Pride, Editor for Stephen King

Cover & Excerpt From Never Flinch; King’s New Book

Posted: November 18, 2024, 18:46
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Here is the cover for King’s next book Never Flinch. Entertainment Weekly has an excerpt that you can check out here. The book is release on May 27, 2025.


Never Flinch features intertwining storylines — one about a killer on a diabolical revenge mission and another about a vigilante stalking a feminist celebrity speaker. The novel features a host of familiar characters, including King's beloved Holly Gibney and gospel singer Sista Bessie, as well as riveting new faces that include a villain addicted to murder.

"When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to 'kill thirteen innocents and one guilty' in 'an act of atonement for the needless death of an innocent man,' Detective Izzy Jaynes has no idea what to think," reads the book's description. "Are fourteen citizens about to be slaughtered in an unhinged act of retribution? As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realizes that the letter writer is deadly serious, and she turns to her friend Holly Gibney for help."

"Meanwhile, controversial and outspoken women’s rights activist Kate McKay is embarking on a multi-state lecture tour, drawing packed venues of both fans and detractors," it continues.

"Someone who vehemently opposes Kate’s message of female empowerment is targeting her and disrupting her events. At first, no one is hurt, but the stalker is growing bolder, and Holly is hired to be Kate’s bodyguard — a challenging task with a headstrong employer and a determined adversary driven by wrath and his belief in his own righteousness."

Eventually, the twin narratives converge, resulting in a spectacular, chilling climax.

Flanagan Brings Carrie To Present Time

Posted: November 10, 2024, 17:27
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Mike Flanagan brings Carrie from the 70’s to present time.

It initially started as a conversation that Amazon initiated, and they said, 'Hey, would you have any interest in Carrie?' And I had to think about it, because my first instinct is always — why? It's been done perfectly by De Palma, it's then been done three other times after the fact. Why do it again?

Carrie White is a story about high school violence and bullying, and that feels immediate and important today, unfortunately, even more kind of sharply relevant than I think it was when he wrote it. So there felt like a chance for some true modernization beyond just changing the time period, and to use it to talk about the issues that affect high school kids in America today.

You know, Carrie White walking through a metal detector is interesting to me. Carrie White with social media. The iconic scene in the locker room is very different when people have phones in their hands. So that was the first germ of an idea, like, there is room for this to actually have a lot to say that's very relevant. And I can't spoil the changes that we made in order to kind of find a story that felt like it needed to be told. But we made some pretty substantial changes."

When I brought it to Stephen King — because that's the other side of this, if Steve says no, he doesn't want to see it happen, we're not going to do it; I'm not about to do that in that relationship. And so when I mentioned it to him and said, 'What do you think about Carrie for TV?' He said, 'Well, why? Leave her alone . She's good, she's done. I'd rather we focus on other things.'

But when I sent him kind of the layout of how I saw it could work, he really liked it and he came back and said, 'Actually, yes, I think this is interesting, and I think this could be really relevant and could be really exciting.' And so that was when I said yeah, we should do this. I can't talk more about it, other than we're in the writers' room. We're having a great time, and I think we're going to tell a story that will be surprising and impactful, very relevant to our modern society and to issues in our country.

Source

It’s A Really, Really, Really Dark Story

Posted: November 9, 2024, 18:32
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In an interview with Collider Judy Greer opened up about her experience working on The Long Walk, diving into the story’s dark themes and the impressive young talent featured in the film.

Yeah, it’s called The Long Walk . It’s based on a novel Stephen King wrote in 1979. It was in response to the Vietnam War. Our movie kind of takes place again in sort of like a timeless place. Like there’s some technology, but then there’s a lot of throwback elements to the script. Francis Lawrence directed it, and Cooper Hoffman is the star. There are so many great young actors in this movie. I’m excited for all the talent that’s going to emerge.

It’s a really, really, really dark story, and it’ll probably be perfect for when it comes out.

The Long Walk has now wrapped shooting, but no release date has yet been announced.