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Two Talisman covers

Posted: December 3, 2009, 23:47

Here are the covers for issue #3 and #4 for The Roads of Trails
Thanks to Herbert West

SciFi wire reports taht Syfy has ordered 13 episodes of Haven, a new series based on a Stephen King novella, about a town for cursed people in exile. The show is based on King's The Colorado Kid.

Haven centers on a spooky town in Maine where cursed folk live normal lives in exile. When those curses start returning, FBI agent Audrey Parker is brought in to keep supernatural forces at bay—while trying to unravel the mysteries of Haven.

Scott Shepherd is the show runner and serves as executive producer along with Lloyd Segan and Shawn Piller. All were producers of USA's much-loved and much-missed The Dead Zone, which ran for six seasons and went off the air in 2008.

Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn are writing the pilot and will also serve as executive producers.

The show will air sometime next year.

Below is the full announcement:

Read the complete text

Thanks to Al Mattice

Vote for the next book

Posted: December 1, 2009, 07:51

The moderator on King's message board posted this yesterday.

Steve has asked for your input as to what book he should write next. To cast your vote for either a new Dark Tower book or a sequel to The Shining, please visit this thread and our home page.

Steve asked me to post this message:

Hey, you guys--I saw a lot of you Constant Readers while I was touring for Under the Dome, and I must say you're looking good. Thanks for turning out in such numbers, and thanks for all the nice things you've said about Under the Dome. There'll be another book next year. It's a good one, I think, but that's not why I'm writing. I mentioned two potential projects while I was on the road, one a new Mid-World book (not directly about Roland Deschain, but yes, he and his friend Cuthbert are in it, hunting a skin-man, which are what werewolves are called in that lost kingdom) and a sequel to The Shining called Doctor Sleep. Are you interested in reading either of these? If so, which one turns your dials more? Ms. Mod will be counting your votes (and of course it all means nothing if the muse doesn't speak). Meanwhile, thanks again for 2009.

Talk about a hard decision to make! However, which ever book you want, make sure to cast your vote.

Thanks to John Hanic

Second trailer for Discordia

Posted: November 30, 2009, 23:57

It's one week until we'll get a chance to try Discordia and today a new trailer was released. Check it out here.

Thanks to Ari

UK limited Under the Dome

Posted: November 30, 2009, 13:35

Here are some photos of the UK collector's set of Under The Dome. And to quote from the slipcase "Limited edition book signed by the author with deluxe binding, slipcase. coloured endpapers and a set of 27 trading cards."

The prize is £100 and it is limited to 500 copies reference Hatchards in London.

Thanks to John Ransome

And the winners are...

Posted: November 29, 2009, 21:47

Last week’s contest is over and here are the correct answers and the winners.

Read the complete text

Interview and preview

Posted: November 26, 2009, 16:24

Here is an interview with Robin Furth talking about The Dark Tower and there are also a preview of Battle of Jericho Hill.

Thanks to Sebastian Rahm

Segan talks Haven

Posted: November 26, 2009, 16:18

Here is an interview with Lloyd Segan in which he talks about the upcoming TV series Haven based on King's The Colorado Kid.

Thanks to Ed.

King does rumor control

Posted: November 26, 2009, 16:16

King has now commented on a sequel to The Shining:

Stephen King on proposed 'Shining' sequel: 'People shouldn't hold their breath'
by Kristen Baldwin

On the heels of the news that best-selling horror master (and EW columnist) told the audience at a Toronto book signing that he was considering writing a sequel to The Shining, King tells EW.com that he’s got no immediate plans to revisit the character of Danny Torrance. “It’s a great idea, and I just can’t seem to get down to it,” says the author in an e-mail. “People shouldn’t hold their breath. I know it would be cool, though. I want to write it just for the title, Dr. Sleep. I even told them [at the book signing], ‘It will probably never happen.’” Still, King — whose most recent novel is this month’s Under the Dome — can’t quite shut the door on the Shining sequel, adding, “But ‘probably’ isn’t ‘positively,’ so maybe.”

Thanks to Al Mattice

Battle of Jericho Hill covers

Posted: November 25, 2009, 01:41

Here are the regular cover for issue #1 and issue #4 of The Battle of Jericho Hill.

Fall of Gilead covers

Posted: November 25, 2009, 01:35

Here are the regular and sketch cover for issue #6 of Fall of Gilead.

Thanks to Sebastian Rahm

Soul Survivors covers

Posted: November 25, 2009, 00:37

Here are the varian cover for issue #2 and the regular cover for issue #4 of Soul Survivor.

More Dr. Sleep

Posted: November 25, 2009, 00:34

Torontoist reported the following about a posible sequel to The Shining:

Last night at Toronto’s packed Canon Theatre, fans of Stephen King were treated to a 15-minute reading from the author’s new novel, Under the Dome, and nearly an hour’s worth of typically funny anecdotes and keen observations during an on-stage interview with director David Cronenberg. Then King dropped a fan bombshell on the crowd by casually describing a novel idea he began working on last summer. Seems King was wondering whatever happened to Danny Torrance of The Shining, who when readers last saw him was recovering from his ordeal at the Overlook Hotel at a resort in Maine with fellow survivors Wendy Torrance and chef Dick Halloran (who dies in the Kubrick film version). King remarked that though he ended his 1977 novel on a positive note, the Overlook was bound to have left young Danny with a lifetime’s worth of emotional scars. What Danny made of those traumatic experiences, and with the psychic powers that saved him from his father at the Overlook, is a question that King believes might make a damn fine sequel.

So what would a sequel to one of King’s most beloved novels look like? In King’s still tentative plan for the novel, Danny is now 40 years old and living in upstate New York, where he works as the equivalent of an orderly at a hospice for the terminally ill. Danny’s real job is to visit with patients who are just about to pass on to the other side, and to help them make that journey with the aid of his mysterious powers. Danny also has a sideline in betting on the horses, a trick he learned from his buddy Dick Hallorann.

The title for King’s proposed sequel? Doctor Sleep.

Perhaps sensing that he’d let the cat out of the plot bag a little early, King then told Cronenberg and the audience that he wasn’t completely committed to the new novel, going so far as to say, “Maybe if I keep talking about it I won’t have to write it.”

Thanks to Al Mattice

Kev's review

Posted: November 24, 2009, 01:19

Here is a review of Artists Inspired by Stephen King that also contains a photo that shows you just how big this book really is.

New column

Posted: November 24, 2009, 00:58

Here is a new column by King. This one is called Stephen King's Ultimate Playlist.

Thanks to Sonia Rodríguez Riveiro

King's review of...

Posted: November 20, 2009, 20:28

Raymond Carver’s Life and Stories is now online.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Dr Sleep?

Posted: November 20, 2009, 20:25

Is there anything to the talk about a sequel to The Shining? Well, here is a report from King's visit to Toronto:

He talked about it again in Toronto: "He also mentioned that he wanted to, or already had begun work on a sequel to The Shining. Danny Torrance is now 40 years old and is an orderly of sorts in a retirement home and he uses his 'shine' to help the dying. Something along those lines. He even asked what the audience thought of a title..Dr Sleep."

King on The Hour

Posted: November 20, 2009, 11:42

Talk Stephen King links to this clip of King's visit to The Hour. Jump up to about the 22min marker if you want to go straight to King's part.

King and Spielberg

Posted: November 20, 2009, 11:10

Variety reports that King and Spielberg is teaming up:

Steven Spielberg and Stephen King are joining forces to develop a limited series based on King's just-released supernatural thriller "Under the Dome." DreamWorks TV has optioned the book and is looking to set it up as an event series, likely for cable.

DreamWorks principal Stacey Snider was key in bringing the project to the company. Spielberg, King and Snider will exec produce along with DreamWorks TV chiefs Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey.Book, which has earned strong reviews as a return to form for the prolific author, revolves around the drama that unfolds after an invisible force field suddenly descends on a small vacation town in Maine. As the locals fight for their survival, the town descends into warring factions led by enigmatic characters.

DreamWorks is starting to meet with writers for the project. The plan is to set a writer before shopping the skein to prospective buyers.

Thanks to Anders Jakobson and Marco Lammers.

Photos of Artists Inspired by Stephen King

Posted: November 19, 2009, 19:44

Here are some cool photos of Artists Inspired by Stephen King that I just got my hands on. Enjoy!

Art book with signatures in back

Traycase for the signed edition (outside)

Traycase for the signed edition, art book and book of prints (13x19 inches)

Michael Whelan holding Knowing Darkness
John Picacio signs a copy of Knowing Darkness
Don Maitz holds slipcase with his Desperatino artwork

Here are info about the different editions:
The limited edition of 1500 copies (not numbered or signed) is slipcased and is called "THE SLIPCASED EDITION" by the publisher. This currently retails for $295.

The edition of 300 copies (numbered and signed) is traycased and is called "THE TRAYCASED EDITION" by the publisher. The extra book is only in the TRAYCASED EDITION. It is 13-x19 inches and consists of artwork from the book, bound into the oversized hardback that is laid into the traycase with the art book itself. This currently retails for $995.

King in Minneapolis

Posted: November 19, 2009, 14:55

Here are two articles about King's visit to Minneapolis:

StarTribune.com
TwinCities.com

And there were also an update on where Danny Torrence is today:

King elaborated on his idea about where Danny Torrence is today. He said Danny's working in a hospice, taking care of the dying. He has an idea for a novel with Danny and also a title--Dr. Sleep--but also said he thinks the idea has gone beyond its sell by date and that the time for writing such a book has passed.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Win Under the Dome

Posted: November 18, 2009, 18:16

Over at BookRabbit.com you now have the chance to win a copy of the UK edition of Under the Dome. And this competition is open to people everywhere.

King's Holiday movie

Posted: November 18, 2009, 18:04

Here is a clip King and other authors from Simon & Schuster talking about their favorite Holiday movie.

Q&A with King

Posted: November 18, 2009, 16:40

Star Tribune: Q&A

Q What's on the stereo today?

A I'm listening to a lot of alt-country -- Ray Wylie Hubbard, Robbie Fulks. I've really gotten into that; it sounds like the rock I grew up with.

Q Any books you'd like to revisit?

A I'd like to go back to "Firestarter." She was 9 or 10 at the end of the book; she's probably in her 40s now. I'm always curious about Danny Torrance in "The Shining," what it was like to grow up with psychic talent, in an abusive family. I'd like to see them meet."

Read the complete text

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Talisman review

Posted: November 18, 2009, 11:45

Today the first issue of The Talisman comic is released and here you can see what I think of it.

King in McSweeney's

Posted: November 17, 2009, 19:47

Here's more info about King's coverage of The World Series in McSweeney's.

Thanks to Larry Fire

Kris Kristofferson in Ghost Brother

Posted: November 17, 2009, 19:16

According to King's Sarasota appearance we can now add Kris Kristofferson to the list of performers.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Captain Trips in hardback

Posted: November 17, 2009, 18:25

When Marvel released the hardback version of Captain Trips it was only sold online. Next year they will release a new version that you will be able to buy in any bookstore that wants to carry it. Today I got a copy and the cover looks really, really nice.

Stephen King chats with Robin

Posted: November 17, 2009, 18:20

Here is a 3 min clip from King's chat with Robin at CNN.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Carrie: The Musical

Posted: November 17, 2009, 18:15

Shock till you Drop has the following report about Carrie: The Musical:

Last month we got wind that a new production of Carrie: The Musical was headed to Broadway with producers Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum (of Rent, Avenue Q, West Side Story) spearheading the project. Now, Playbill has announced the complete cast for the musical based upon Stephen King's novel and it looks like we have ourselves a new Carrie.

Stafford Arima will direct the 29-hour Equity reading that will take place in Manhattan Nov. 20. The cast will feature Sutton Foster as gym teacher Ms. Gardner, Marin Mazzie as Margaret White, Molly Ranson as Carrie (pictured left) and Jennifer Damiano as Sue.

Also revealed in the cast are "American Idol" finalist Diana DeGarmo (Hairspray, The Toxic Avenger) as Chris, Matt Doyle as Tommy and John Arthur Greene as Billy.

The Carrie ensemble includes Corey Boardman, Lilli Cooper, Katrina Rose Dideriksen, Benjamin Eakeley, Emily Ferranti, Kyle Harris, Philip Hoffman, Kaitlin Kiyan, Max Kumangai, Mackenzie Mauzy, Preston Sadleir, Jonathan Schwartz, Bud Weber and Sasha Weiss.

Producer Seller has reunited composer Michael Gore, lyricist Dean Pitchford and book writer Lawrence D. Cohen, whom took a crack at the stage show back in 1988 to reprise their roles for this update.

You can actually check out an official Carrie: The Musical website with plenty of tid-bits on the original show, as well as info on the new one right here.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

King in Sarasota

Posted: November 17, 2009, 18:01

Here are some pics and info from King's visit to Sarasota to promote Under the Dome. The event was a great 90min and covered a range of topics. Here is a summary:

1. He re-confirmed Wind through the Keyhole as another Dark Tower novel that he will be working on.

2. He re-confirmed that he and Straub will be doing another Talisman / Black House novel to make it a trilogy for Jack Sawyer.

3. One of the scariest scenes for him personally that he's had to write was the bathtub scene in The Shining.

4. He believes he's seen one ghost in his life. It was at a party that he went to when going to retrieve he and Tabitha's coats before leaving. He saw a man sitting in the bedroom where the coats were being kept out of the corner of his eye. There were so many coats that Steve thought the man might think he was stealing and was about to tell the man that wasn't true when he looked up there was no man actually in the room. He described the man as bald, wearing glasses, in a brown suit.

5. He was presented The Key to the City of Sarasota at the end of the evening by the Mayor.

Here are more links to articles about the event, including a blog of the interviewer Susan Rife.

Thanks to Gordon W. Olson and Bev Vincent

And the winners are…

Posted: November 16, 2009, 22:07

Under the Dome week is over here at Lilja’s Library and it’s time to select the winners in the contest that run during the week. But first here are the correct answers:

Read the complete text

Matt Venne to adapt BoB

Posted: November 16, 2009, 13:25

Rocky Wood found the following:

We’ve discovered that Matt is currently working on adapting Stephen King’s Bag of Bones for Mick Garris (The Stand, The Shining, Desperation) to direct.

Matt is Matt Venne and you can read more here (scroll down a bit).

Thanks to Rocky Wood

New column

Posted: November 16, 2009, 13:00

King has a new column in the 11/20 issue of Entertainment Weekly called My Ultimate Playlist.

This column notes that it essentially takes the place of a 2009 Best Music column, because King simply hasn't heard enough new music to write one. There will be a Best TV column this year, though.

Thanks to willowlove

King on The Hour

Posted: November 16, 2009, 12:58

This was posted on King's site today:

Stephen will be on the Canadian news magazine The Hour on Thursday November 19th to talk about Under the Dome. Acclaimed Director, David Cronenberg will also join the conversation. We will post this video to the multimedia section as soon as it becomes available.

King on Ghost Brothers

Posted: November 15, 2009, 23:33

Here's King's update on the musical:

"It's there ... it's in the editing studio right now. We've got a lot of people from the music world who agreed to do parts – Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Roseanne Cash ... it should be like an old-time radio show and then it's scheduled to go on stage in Atlanta next fall."

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Wolf Blitzer in Under the Dome

Posted: November 15, 2009, 23:27

Here is a clip of Wolf Blitzer who has a cameo in Under the Dome.

King on The View

Posted: November 15, 2009, 23:17

Here clip of King visiting The View.

A new story...

Posted: November 15, 2009, 23:08

This quote is from a Toronto Star article with Stephen King:

"I have one (story) that's kind of like Under the Dome, that I tried to write when I was 22 or 23 years old and I'm going to try to go back to that after this tour. I'd like to write that one. Beyond that, I have things that bounce around in my head. Dome bounced around a long time. I don't keep a writer's notebook of ideas because I've felt all my life that if I get a really good idea, it will stick."

Thanks to Lou Sytsma

Diana DeGarmo and Carrie

Posted: November 13, 2009, 23:45

American Idol finalist Diana DeGarmo joins Carrie cast. Read more here.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

The Wind Through the Keyhole

Posted: November 12, 2009, 09:01

Here is a clip from the book signing King did at Walmar in Dundalk, Maryland yesterday. In the Q&A he confirmed the new Dark Tower book, that Under the Dome will be an HBO miniseries and that he has written a script for Cell. This clip is shot by Steven Seebode.

Also, this was posted on King’s board:

The moderator at S.K. message board gave details on the new D.T. book:
"Stephen has given me permission to pass along that he has an idea for a new Dark Tower book, the working title of which will be THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE. He has not yet started this book and anticipates that it will be a minimum of eight months before he is able to begin writing it."

Thanks to Steven Seebode and David Squyres

Under the Dome Week, Day 4

Posted: November 11, 2009, 23:59

Day 4 of Under the Dome Week is here and today I have an interview with illustrator Matthew Diffee for you. Matthew is the one that has illustrated the cards with all the characters on them that's included in the collector's edition of Under the Dome and you can see what he had to say here.

Some news...

Posted: November 11, 2009, 19:04

Other news from King’s TimesTalk last night:

- King said he's always thought there should be a third "eclipse novel," where Jessie Burlingame from Gerald's Game and Dolores Claiborne meet up.

- He said he's always wondered what happened to Danny Torrance, that he'd be about 40 by now, and so would Charlie McGee from Firestarter, and maybe they could meet up and...

- King said he thinks The Under the Dome is being developed as a miniseries for HBO.

- He did reaffirm that a third Talisman novel will be written with Peter Straub.

Nothing of this has been confirmed though.

No Tower for Abrams

Posted: November 11, 2009, 18:03

It looks like there won't be a Dark Tower movie for J.J. Abrams after all.

This is what Abrams told MTV News:

It coulda be great, but it ain't gonna happen, as Abrams himself told MTV News' Josh Horowitz recently. "The 'Dark Tower' thing is tricky," he said. "It's such an important piece of writing. The truth is that Damon and I are not looking at that right now."

Read more here.

Thanks to Anders Jakobson, Alex Carmona and Joseph Altomere

There will be a new Dark Tower novel!

Posted: November 11, 2009, 18:01

Great news! In his TimesTalk last night King released the following big news, and I'm quoting Zach Dionne at GQ:

King stated he will write another Dark Tower novel. It will center around supporting characters and revolve around some important events between Wizard and Glass and Wolves of the Calla.

Mark hidden text below for SPOILER.

One fan asked him to make sure Oy comes back, and King said not to worry, that Oy would return.--

Under the Dome Week, Day 3

Posted: November 11, 2009, 00:00

Today I have a very interesting interview for you. I have spoken to none other than the team behind the US cover of Under the Dome about how, what’s probably the best cover for a King book so far, was created. They showed me very cool versions of the cover (that I’m now sharing with you), including a sketch by King himself. Check it out here

Under the Dome released today!

Posted: November 10, 2009, 22:24

Under the Dome is released today and because of that King appeared on God Morning America today. You can see the clip here.

Simon & Schuster is, like me, hosting a contest where you can win copies of Under the Dome. To enter you need to live in the US though. You can find it here.

And if you are on Twitter, check out @ScribnerBooks and @SimonSchuster for their Dome Day giveaways. They plan to giveaway some of King’s backlist titles and other items throughout the day so check it out.

Under the Dome Week, Day 2

Posted: November 10, 2009, 00:00

Today we continue the Under the Dome Week here at Lilja’s Library with an interview with King’s publisher at Simon & Schuster, Susan Moldow. You can read what she had to say here

Q&A with King

Posted: November 9, 2009, 22:13

Here is a Q&A with King where he talks about his ten longest novels. Quite interesting. Check it out.

Under the Dome Week, Day 1

Posted: November 9, 2009, 00:00

King’s new book Under the Dome is released tomorrow but today I’m kicking of a week filled with Under the Dome stuff. If you check back during the week you’ll be able to read no less than three interviews with people involved with the book, two reviews and a contest where you can win either a US hardcover, a UK hardcover or a US audio edition of the book. I won’t reveal just yet what you’ll find on the site during the week but I can tell you that I’m kicking it off with the contest which you can enter by clicking the link to the right and my review of the book which you can find here.

But please remember to check back every day during Monday to Friday this week. Take my word for it; you don’t want to miss this.

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