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My interview with King part 3

Posted: February 22, 2008, 08:03

The third and final part of my interview with Stephen King is now available. I call it PART 3 – The Gingerbread Girl, The Mist and The Talisman 3 and you can read it here

Enjoy! / Lilja

My interview with King part 2

Posted: February 21, 2008, 08:39

The second part of my interview with Stephen King is now available. I call it PART 2 – Just Past Sunset, The Dark Tower and The Stand and you can read it here

Enjoy! / Lilja

Pre-order Just Past Sunset

Posted: February 20, 2008, 11:09

Now you can pre-order Just Past Sunset from Amazon:

US hardcover
US audio

My interview with King part 1

Posted: February 20, 2008, 08:16

The first part of my interview with Stephen King is now available. I call it PART 1 – Duma Key and a really long new book and you can read it here

Enjoy! / Lilja

THE DARK TOWER: THE LONG ROAD HOME #3 (of 5)
Written by PETER DAVID & ROBIN FURTH
Pencils & Cover by JAE LEE & RICHARD ISANOVE
Variant Cover by MARKO DJURDJEVIC
Variant Sketch Cover by JAE LEE
With Roland’s consciousness trapped within Maerlyn’s Grapefruit, his ka-tet companion, Alain, enters the mystical todash space in an attempt to rescue his friend. But as he and Roland flit in and out of alien dimensions, Cuthbert, the last member of their ka-tet, desperately tries to stave off a pack of slavering mutant wolves who have come to devour the unconscious Roland and Alain!

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Stories in Just Past Sunset

Posted: February 19, 2008, 21:03

Here is news about the stories in Just Past Sunset:

Update on new short story collection
We have received the list of stories that will be included in Steve's new short story collection, Just Past Sunset, which will be published in November '08. There may be one more bonus story, but this is the list so far:

The Gingerbread Girl
Harvey’s Dream
Rest Stop
Stationary Bike
The Things They Left Behind
Willa
Graduation Afternoon
N
The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates
Mute
Ayana
A Very Tight Place

Sunset in the UK as well

Posted: February 18, 2008, 23:50

Hodder & Stoughton tells me that their edition of Just Past Sunset will be out November 11 as well.

Sunset on Nov. 11

Posted: February 18, 2008, 14:01

Scribner now lists Just Past Sunset for release on November 11, 2008. The book will be 400 pages long.

Lilja interviews King...again

Posted: February 18, 2008, 00:44

This past Friday I did a new phone interview with Stephen King and it will be published here hopefully within the next days so keep checking back…or even better, subscribe to my newsletter and you’ll know about it the second it’s out.

King on Canadian TV

Posted: February 18, 2008, 00:44

Robert L from Canada sent me this interesting info:

Last summer's Canadian Booksellers Association Lifetime Achievement Gala for Stephen King will be broadcast this week. It will feature the individual intros by Margaret Atwood and Clive Barker, and the lengthy interview with Mr. King by pop culture critic Chuck Klosterman (whose book "Fargo Rock City" King highly recommends). It will air this Thursday Feb. 21 on Canada's "Bravo" channel, at 9 PM EST. No words on a U.S. broadcast.

Thanks to Robert L

King hits 30

Posted: February 13, 2008, 15:50

A bit of Trivia for you that you may or may not know... with Duma Key King has notched up 30 number ones on the New York Times best seller list... more than any other author in the history of the list.

1 The Dead Zone Viking October 14, 1979
2 Firestarter Viking September 28, 1980
3 Cujo Viking August 23, 1981
4 Different Seasons Viking August 15, 1982
5 Pet Sematary Doubleday November 13, 1983
6 The Talisman (with Peter Straub) Viking October 28, 1984
7 Thinner (as Richard Bachman) NAL Books April 28, 1985
8 Skeleton Crew Putnam June 23, 1985
9 It Viking September 14, 1986
10 The Eyes of the Dragon Viking February 1, 1987
11 Misery Viking June 7, 1987
12 The Tommyknockers Putnam November 29, 1987
13 The Dark Half Viking November 5, 1989
14 The Stand Doubleday May 13, 1990
15 Four Past Midnight Viking September 16, 1990
16 Gerald's Game Viking July 19, 1992
17 Dolores Claiborne Viking December 6, 1992
18 Insomnia Viking October 23, 1994
19 Desperation Viking October 13, 1996
20 Bag of Bones Scribner October 11, 1998
21 The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon Scribner May 2, 1999
22 Dreamcatcher Scribner April 8, 2001
23 Black House (with Peter Straub) Random House September 30, 2001
24 Everything's Eventual Scribner April 7, 2002
25 From a Buick 8 Scribner October 13, 2002
26 Song of Susannah Donald M. Grant/Scribner June 27, 2004
27 The Dark Tower Donald M. Grant/Scribner October 10, 2004
28 Cell Scribner February 12, 2006
29 Lisey's Story Scribner November 12, 2006
30 Duma Key Scribner February 10, 2008

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Thanks from Steve

Posted: February 12, 2008, 13:53

Here is a thank you from King for all the entertainment experiences he asked for earlier:

Hey, you guys—

Thanks so much for sharing your worst entertainment experiences. Not only did I get a great Entertainment Weekly column out of it, I almost laughed myself into cardiac arrest. I know that on one level it’s dreadfully mean to laugh at the misfortunes of others, but on another level…let’s just think of it as “identification and sympathy,” okay? It was great.

And speaking of Entertainment Weekly, I saw a great movie last week called Jumper and I can’t write about it for them because the executive producer also happens to be the guy who got me the EW gig. It would look like log-rolling. Probably this does, too, but I don’t care. It was the fun movie I hoped for last summer when Transformers opened (the only pic I walked out on all year; it offended even my low standards). Jumper is about a picked-on teen who discovers he can teleport. So if you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to eat lunch on the head of the Sphinx, or take your girlfriend on a make-out expedition into the catacombs below the Roman Coliseum, this is the movie for you. You may have also wondered what Samuel L. Jackson would look like in a 1940s-style bathing cap. If so…check out the ’do.

Now you’re probably wondering, Uncle Stevie, how much did you get comped for this? Answer: not a penny. I’d tell you I liked this movie if Hugo Chavez was an executive producer. (Come to think of it, I’ve never seen Hugo and my pal Ralph in the same place, so maybe…) Aw heck, think of this as my little Forry Ackerman turn and go see the darn movie.

Plus…thanks again for having so many weird experiences. I loved em.

Steve

Mist DVD cover

Posted: February 11, 2008, 13:24

Here is the cover for the double DVD release of The Mist

Today Amazon released the DVD cover art for Genius Products release of The Mist (review) on March 25. On both the single and two-disc you'll find: Audio commentary by writer/director Frank Darabont, Eight deleted scenes with optional commentary, and “A Conversation With Stephen King and Frank Darabont” featurette; the two-disc exclusively carries: “When Darkness Came: The Making of The Mist” featurette, “Taming the Beast: Shooting Scene 35” featurette, “Monsters Among Us: A Look at the Creature FX” featurette, “The Horror of It All: The Visual FX of The Mist” featurette and “Drew Struzan: Appreciation of an Artist” featurette.

Pre-order your copy here.

Thanks to Marcus Caesar

Just Past Sunset

Posted: February 6, 2008, 21:12

Here are some of the news we have been waiting for about the upcoming collection:

New Short Story Collection

The title for Stephen's new short story collection has been chosen. It will be titled Just Past Sunset. The publication date and story list are still being finalized but a fall 2008 date is a possibility.

A Very Tight Place

Posted: February 6, 2008, 21:10

Aperantly the story King will have in McSweeney's issue 27 will be called A Very Tight Place.

King talks about A Very Tight Place in his interview with Nightline:

Let me give you an example. There's a story that's written, it's been accepted for publication by a magazine. It's called "A Very Tight Place." And we live part of the year down in Florida, and I have a walk that I go on every day, that's fairly isolated. Which is good, because people don't bother me or anything. I get a chance to read a little bit, to think a little bit. And one day while I was on that walk, I saw one of these Porta-Potties. You know what I mean? They stand up, and I thought you know what? There's nobody around ... the house that it belonged to was under construction, and the workers had all gone home for the day, and I still had a mile to go to get home, and I thought, you know what? I'm going to go in there and I'm going to take a leak. That'll be good. Why not? It's there. I'll get comfortable.

King Takes on His CriticsAnd I did. I went in, and the thing had been undercut, not a lot, just the tiniest little bit. So that when I stepped into the Porta-Pottie, I could feel this thing rock a little bit on its base. And I thought to myself, you know, if ... if one of those things fell over on its door, and a person was inside, that person would be in trouble. And immediately I'm thinking Poe, The Premature Burial, I'm thinking about all the buried alive stories that I've ever read, and I'm thinking, but I've never read a story about anyone trapped in a Porta-Pottie. And there are so many interesting things that you can do with people who are in tight places, people's feelings of claustrophobia are easy to bring out. I'm not a particularly claustrophobic person myself, but I thought, "Oh, my God, this is wonderful!" So then I go online ...

Thanks to Bev Vincent & Larry Fire

My thoughts...

Posted: February 6, 2008, 13:27

Check out my thoughts about the last season of The Dead Zone right here

Steve needs your help

Posted: February 4, 2008, 16:07

King is asking for help on his message board:

Dear Constant Browser,

As you know, I do a column for Entertainment Weekly, and I had an idea for a column called My Worst Entertainment Experience. If you have stories about your absolute worst entertainment experience--anything from a guy who threw up in your lap at a movie to a concert where the lead singer passed out--let me know. Please limit your responses to 100 or so words. After all Ms. Mod and I have to wade our way through these things. In any case, thank you for your help! And if you never had a terrible entertainment experience…I hate you!

Steve

P.S. Please sign a first name (it doesn't have to be your real name) that I can use along with your experience in the column.

Slipcases from Overlook Connection

Posted: February 4, 2008, 09:01

The Overlook Connection is releasing a bunch of slipcases to different Stephen King books (including Blaze and Duma Key) as well as to The Dark Tower comic and I’m now very pleased to let you all know that Dave over at
The Overlook Connection has agreed to give all you readers of Lilja’s Library a 10% discount when you buy these slipcases.

All you have to do is head over to The Overlook Connection and pick the ones you like and then use the code LiljaSlipDeal in the REDEEM CODE box for their discount.

The deal is valid from now until Feb. 15th.

Black and white

Posted: February 3, 2008, 23:41

Here is a black and white version of the cover of the first issue of The Long Road Home.

Black and white Mist

Posted: February 2, 2008, 22:34

As reported earlier there will be a black and white version of The Mist on the DVD release of the movie and now Frank is telling us why that is in this clip.

Thanks to Marcus Caesar

A new story in McSweeney's

Posted: February 1, 2008, 22:12

Yet another short story...

McSweeney's 27 comes to you as three separate books in a windowed slipcase, presenting six different possible faces to the world, in order to best match your home décor. Book One plunges into the grayish, faintly understood area of the art world involving oddly drawn objects coupled with uncertainly spelled text. Book Two is a never-before-seen 72-page sketchbook by the legendary Art Spiegelman. Book Three collects new stories by Stephen King, Jim Shepard, and fiveish others.

The issue will probably be out during the first half of 2008.

Thanks to Ari and Bev Vincent

The Pop of King: The Celeb-ing of the President 2008

Posted: February 1, 2008, 21:10

King has a new column (The Celeb-ing of the President 2008) out. Read it here.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Mellencamp talks Ghosts

Posted: February 1, 2008, 21:06

Here is an interview with John Mellencamp from Rolling Stone:

RS: Can we have an update on the Stephen King project [the "play with music" The Ghost Brothers of Darkland County]?

JM: We have another workshop in New York coming up, and from there it goes into production in Atlanta, Georgia next spring. And then if it goes well in Atlanta, then we'll come to Broadway. If it don't go well in Atlanta, we're done.

RS: What can you tell me about working with Stephen?

JM: Oh, I love Steve. Steve is nothing like everybody thinks he is. Steve and I really have a lot in common. He lives in the middle of nowhere. I live in the middle of nowhere. He's not comfortable being around a lot of people. I'm not comfortable. We just have a — you know, we're kinda antisocial guys, and, of course, we're bigmouths.

RS: How did working in this new medium, the play, challenge you both?

JM: Steve is not used to a live performance. I am. So whenever the stage goes dark, he's pumped up, man. He's excited. Somebody came and watched the last reading that we had in New York and reviewed it. The review said this is a musical that men will enjoy. Unheard of, the guy said.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Message from King

Posted: January 31, 2008, 13:20

A new message from King about Duma Key was posted on his official message board today:

"Thanks, everybody, for buying DUMA KEY and--even more--saying
nice things about it. I haven't seen so few "flame throwers"
on this website (and others) in...well, more years than some
of you have been alive. Stay tuned, and keep checking this
site for new material. It's coming..."

Steve

No Today for King this weekend

Posted: January 28, 2008, 21:05

King's Today Weekend show delayed:

Because of other breaking news, King's appearance didn't air this past weekend. It will be on next weekend instead.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

King on Today again.

Posted: January 26, 2008, 00:30

From King's official site:

Stephen on Weekend Today - 7:50am EST.

Weekend Today has let us know that Steve's interview (this is a different one than shown on Tuesday) will air on Saturday, January 26th at approximately 7:50 AM Eastern Time. Please check your local listings as the time may be different in your area for this show.

Collection's title

Posted: January 24, 2008, 20:55

King comments on the new collection in an interview with USA Today:

His next book will be a collection of short stories, but he and his publisher can't agree on a title. He wants to call it Unnatural Acts of Human Intercourse, which "could be a tough sell in some markets."

King also commented on a new book he is working on:

He also has begun work on another novel, but he won't discuss it for fear of "bad luck. If I didn't think it would work out, I'd talk your ear off about it," he says and laughs.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Duma winners announced

Posted: January 24, 2008, 20:53

The winners in Hodder & Stoughton's Duma Key contest has been chosen. You can see the two winning entries as well as the eight finalists here.

Mist DVD details

Posted: January 23, 2008, 21:54

Here are the details about the DVD edition of The Mist

On March 25th, Genius Entertainment and The Weinstein Company will issue Frank Darabont's The Mist on DVD. Sticking with Darabont's original intentions for the film, a two-disc collector's edition will present "Mist" in black and white along with a standard color version and the following special features...

• Audio commentary by writer/director Frank Darabont
• Eight deleted scenes with optional commentary
• A Conversation With Stephen King and Frank Darabont featurette
• When Darkness Came: The Making of THE MIST featurette
• Taming the Beast: Shooting Scene 35 featurette
• Monsters Among Us: A Look at the Creature FX featurette
• The Horror of It All: The Visual FX of THE MIST featurette
• Drew Struzan: Appreciation of an Artist featurette

A single-disc presentation is being released as well sans the b&w version and certain bonus goodies.

Thanks to Marcus Caesar

The Long Road Home preview

Posted: January 23, 2008, 21:44

News about The Long Road Home from King's site:

Marvel is proud to present your first full-color look inside Dark Tower: The Long Road Home #1, arriving in stores at 12:01 AM, March 5th, 2008 (at participating comic stores)! The best-selling, chart-topping team of writers Robin Furth & Peter David, artists Jae Lee & Richard Isanove, joined by special guest variant cover artist (and Marvel Editor-In-Chief) Joe Quesada, present the second limited series inspired by Stephen King's epic Dark Tower series. Overseen by Stephen King himself, Dark Tower: The Long Road Home explores a chapter in Roland's life only hinted at in the novels!
The Long Road Home #1, goes on-sale in stores at 12:01AM, March 5th, 2008 (at comic stores participating in the midnight launch)! Otherwise the issue will hit shelves at your local comic and book stores during normal business hours.

For an exclusive look at the artwork for this new series, click here:

View the exclusive artwork here

The Long Road Home #2

Posted: January 22, 2008, 22:54

THE DARK TOWER: THE LONG ROAD HOME #2 (of 5)
Written by ROBIN FURTH & PETER DAVID
Art & Cover by JAE LEE & RICHARD ISANOVE
Variant Cover by MIKE DEODATO, JR.
Sketch Variant by JAE LEE

Roland’s spirit is trapped inside Maerlyn's sinister Grapefruit and is taken on a terrifying journey to the outer reaches of End-World...to the harsh domain called Thunderclap! Back in Mid-World, Roland’s ka-tet is pursued by the Hambry posse which intends to kill them all before they are able to cross the Xay River on their journey home. Revenge will soon be at hand for Eldred Jonas and the Big Coffin Hunters.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

More King on Today

Posted: January 22, 2008, 22:30

King may also be on the Saturday edition of The Today Show Weekend on NBC. Check your local listings for details.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

King on today (clip)

Posted: January 22, 2008, 16:29

Here is King’s clip from The Today Show.

King on The Today Show

Posted: January 22, 2008, 09:19

Don’t miss King on The Today Show later today. In the mean time you can check out this links from The Today Show.

Excerpt from Duma Key
Stephen King Q + A

Duma Key is now out

Posted: January 22, 2008, 00:28

It’s January 22ns and Duma Key is out. If you haven’t already gotten your copy of the book here is how you can.

US hardback
US audio
UK hardback
Download

My review of Duma Key

Posted: January 21, 2008, 00:02

Check out my thoughts on Duma Key here.

"God punishes us for what we can't imagine"
- Wireman (Duma Key)

The Duma Key winners are...

Posted: January 20, 2008, 01:18

The Duma Key winners has been drawn but before I reveal their names I want to give you all the right answers:

Read the complete text

Title of new collection not finalized

Posted: January 19, 2008, 23:23

Last day's topic has been the new title of King's next book (the collection) and when I asked King's office about it they said that "details regarding the book, including the title, have not been finalized" which means that Unnatural Acts of Intercourse might or might not be the final title.

Another interview

Posted: January 19, 2008, 23:15

Here is a new interview with King from Bangor Daily News. King talks about Duma Key, turning 60 and a new novel he is writing right now:

The author is now in the midst of writing a long novel set in western Maine. "So tell folks they can enjoy a short vacation in warm weather ["Duma Key"], then I’m coming back home," King joked.

Thanks to Lou Sytsma

The Pop of King: Books With Batteries -- Why Not?

Posted: January 19, 2008, 23:13

King has a new column (Books With Batteries -- Why Not?) out. Read it here.

Thanks to Lou Sytsma

New collection title

Posted: January 18, 2008, 08:40

Time Magazine releases the title of King’s upcoming collection:

His next book of short stories, Unnatural Acts of Intercourse, will come out this fall or next spring, and he's working on a "novel that's going to be very long. I'll be killing a lot of trees if it gets done."

Thanks to Bev Vincent

King on Today

Posted: January 17, 2008, 08:12

It looks like King will appear on Today on NBC on Tuesday, January 22 after all...

Do you have burning questions about psychic powers, haunted cemeteries or possessed cars for author Stephen King? Or do you want to ask him about his new book, Duma Key? Write in your questions, and he might answer them on TODAY!

Ask your question here.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

The Three Kings

Posted: January 16, 2008, 08:07

The Three Kings: Stephen King, Tabitha King, and Owen King read from their work. A reception and book signing will follow.

Please note that the authors will be able to only sign one book per audience member.

Dates & Times: April 4, 2008 8pm

Location: Lutheran Church of the Reformation
212 East Capitol Street, NE
Washington, D.C.

Tickets: $30
Buy tickets now

Interview with King

Posted: January 15, 2008, 21:10

An interview with King is now up on the official site. Check it out here

On TV or not?

Posted: January 15, 2008, 01:00

According to Zap2it King will be on the Today show on the 22nd. Other reports says that King, a former Guild member, supports the striking writers and won’t promote Duma Key on television talk shows.

More news to come as soon as I get it.

Thanks to Herbert West

Duma Key trailer

Posted: January 11, 2008, 16:49

On King's official site there is now a video trailer for Duma Key

Interviews with Frank and Greg

Posted: January 7, 2008, 13:51

Today I’m very happy to give you two interesting interviews I have done with people connected to The Mist. One is Frank Darabont, director of the movie, and the other is Gregory Nicotero who did the special effects for the movie.

I’m very pleased with how the interviews turned out (I even got some exclusive’s from Frank) and I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do.

The Mist soundtrack and DVD

Posted: January 7, 2008, 00:32

Amazon.com lists the DVD release of The Mist to March 25. You can pre-order here.

You can also get the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack from the film here

The score is by Mark Isham and here is what you will get:

1. Won’t Somebody See A Lady Home? (1:24)
2. Tentacles (3:18)
3. Bugs (7:49)
4. Mist (1:32)
5. Spiders (4:26)
6. ExpIation (2:24)
7. The Host Of Seraphim* Performed by Dead Can Dance Written by Perry / Gerrard Special film version including additional material composed by Mark Isham (7:19)
8. The Vicious Blues† from Mrs. Parker And The Vicious Circle Composed by Mark Isham (3:48)

The Pop of King: The 10 best books of 2007

Posted: January 5, 2008, 10:48

Part 3 of King’s best of 2007 is out in the December 18 issue of Entertainment Weekly. It’s called The 10 best books.

Thanks to Willowlove

Duma audio

Posted: January 4, 2008, 00:44

Not much to report as the news flow is slow right now but I can tell you I get a copy of the audio version of Duma Key today and John Slattery is doing a very good job narrating it. It’s on 18 CDs and takes about 23 hours to finish.

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