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Mist interviews

Posted: October 31, 2007, 23:41

If you head over to the Spacecast’s podcast page you will find (in the October 27th podcaset) some quick interviews with Stephen King, Frank Darabont, and Marica-Gay Hayden about The Mist.

Thanks to Louis Sytsma

King goes Bollywood

Posted: October 26, 2007, 08:18

According to Anurag Kashyap, director of the movie No Smoking, the movie is loosely based on King’s short story Quitter's Inc.. Here is what he said in a chat:

Shanty : hi Anurag, what has been the inspiration for No Smoking?
Anurag Kashyap: Shanty, A short story by Stephen king.

Shanty : Wow...good to know Stephen king is now in Bollywood...I have a great thriller story...is it possible for me to mail it to you?
Anurag Kashyap: Shanty, I have changed everything but base is still remains the same.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Stephen's Picks for the week of October 22nd, 2007

Posted: October 26, 2007, 08:16

Stephen's Picks for the week of October 22nd, 2007 is out:

* Stephen is reading: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle -Meaty family melodrama forthcoming from Ecco Press this fall. It's got that Thousand Acres/Jane Smiley vibe. (By David Wroblewski)

* Stephen is also reading: Twilight -Think Cormac McCarthy crossed with the EC horror comix of the 50s; bloody and brilliant. (By William Gay)

* Stephen is listening to: The wonderful soundtrack from the movie Once.

* Stephen is also listening to: Black Rain, by Ozzy Osbourne

* Stephen enjoyed the movie: Eastern Promises

* Stephen also enjoyed the movie: 3:10 to Yuma

* Stephen also enjoyed the movie: Once

Order The Paris Review

Posted: October 24, 2007, 21:06

Now you can pre-order issue 182 of The Paris Review that contains Ayana.

Thanks to Marco Lammers

More about Mute

Posted: October 23, 2007, 23:13

I asked Playboy for info about Mute and this is what they sent me:

MUTE: A traveling salesman picks up a hitchhiker and pours out his heart about his wife's infidelity -- with surprising results -- in this short story by Stephen King

They also told me that it will cover 11 pages in the magazine.

Gunslinger Born hardcover

Posted: October 23, 2007, 22:53

Today I got the hardcover edition of Gunslinger Born and while I won’t review it until later I have to tell you that there is an open letter from King. In it he talks about his ideas for upcoming comics and let me tell you, they sound mighty fine!

Second Mist trailer

Posted: October 20, 2007, 20:45

Here is a new trailer from The Mist.

Thanks to Louis Sytsma

A third short story this year?

Posted: October 19, 2007, 09:04

In his interview with Leonard Lopate, King says he sold a story to F&SF late this year for $500. No other details available at this time.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Podcast with King

Posted: October 19, 2007, 09:03

Here (scroll down a bit) is a podcast from The Best American Short Stories 2007.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Roth talks Cell

Posted: October 19, 2007, 09:03

Roth talks about Cell with MTV:

MTV: What's the latest on your adaptation of Stephen King's "Cell"?

Roth: The latest with "Cell" is that the script is not finished. I've realized that I can't multitask in the writing department; I can only kind of do one thing at a time. So right now I'm working on [a guest-director episode of] "Heroes," and then I'll work on "Trailer Trash," and then we'll see about "Cell" after that.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Official site for The Mist

Posted: October 15, 2007, 09:29

Here is the offial site for The Mist.

Darabont comments on the rating

Posted: October 15, 2007, 07:57

Here are two reviews of the test screening of The Mist. The first one is by Randy of AFTimes and the second by Jacked_up and they are both published over at Ain’t it Cool.

In one of the reviews there where talks about the rating of the movie and to set those questions straight Frank Darabont himself contacted Ain’t it Cool and left this message.

Please note that there are some spoilers in the reviews…

Thanks to Louis Sytsma and Anders Jakobson

Get ready for Pocket Rockets

Posted: October 12, 2007, 19:33

As some of you might have guessed it's now confirmed that King has enough stories for a new collection. This is from the official message board:

It's already on the planning board. There are finally enough new ones to complete a collection. It's titled (at least for now) Pocket Rockets...I don't think I'm at liberty yet to reveal which stories will be included, but will do so as soon as I can.

Ayana in November

Posted: October 11, 2007, 22:14

King's official site reports that the new story Ayana will be in the Fall issue of The Paris Review.

A Very Tight Place

Posted: October 11, 2007, 13:10

King answers 5 questions asked by USAToday and one is this interesting question about something called A Very Tight Place. Here you can read the other 4.

What are you writing? It's called A Very Tight Place. Not a novel but a long story. I've been writing lots of stories lately. I wonder why?

Thanks to Louis Sytsma

Confirmed: Hooper will direct From a Buick 8

Posted: October 11, 2007, 08:44

Shock till you drop has this to report:

It was back in April when we first told you Tobe Hooper was possibly going to direct Stephen King's From a Buick 8 based on a script by Johnathon Schaech and Richard Chizmar.

Variety has confirmed Hooper is ready to roll on the project and that Moonstone Entertainment chairman-CEO Etchie Stroh and Amicus Entertainment prexy Robert Katz are producing. Amicus is behind Stuart Gordon's recent thriller Stuck. Schaech, Chizmar and Mick Garris will co-produce.

Set in Pennsylvania, the story concerns a otherwordly Buick Roadmaster that was obtained by the state police of Troop D. The relic becomes the fascination of a young man whose father, an officer, was killed in a terrible accident.

"From a Buick 8 will not be your stock horror film by any means. There's a really cool, layered quality to the story," Hooper tells the Hollywood trade. "The producers, writers and I shared the same sensibility about the project and responded to it in a similar way."

Duma Key

Posted: October 10, 2007, 15:34

Here is a plot description of Duma Key.

Mist trailer

Posted: October 10, 2007, 13:36

Here are the trailer for The Mist if you haven't seen it already.

Click on play to see the trailer.

Mute

Posted: October 9, 2007, 08:48

King has a new story coming in the December 2007 issue of Playboy called Mute:

MUTE--In a confession to a priest, a traveling salesman tells of his encounter on the Maine turnpike with a deaf-mute hitchhiker to whom he rants about his adulterous wife. Master of the macabre STEPHEN KING delivers another compelling tale with a twist.

Thanks to John Hanic

The Pop of King: A History of Violence

Posted: October 9, 2007, 08:41

King has a new column (A History of Violence) out in the October 12 issue (#958) of Entertainment Weekly. Read it here.

Thanks to Rocky Wood

Morning Deliveries (Milkman 1)

Posted: October 8, 2007, 00:39

Here is a new Dollar Baby. This one is animated and based on Morning Deliveries (Milkman 1).

Thanks to Stephen King Short Movies

Interview with Jae Lee

Posted: October 5, 2007, 10:07

Here is an interview with Jae Lee in which he talks about how he feels about doing The Dark Tower and how he got the job of illustrating it.

The Girl Next Door

Posted: October 4, 2007, 22:45

As you might know King is a fan of the book The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum. Now the book has been turned into a movie (that will be out on DVD in December) and here is what King has to say about the movie:

"The first authentically shocking American film I've seen since Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer over 20 years ago. If you are easily disturbed, you should not watch this movie. If, on the other hand, you are prepared for a long look into hell, suburban style, The Girl Next Door will not disappoint. This is the dark-side-of-the-moon version of Stand By Me."
-- Stephen King.

To celebrate this The Overlook Connection will include a free signed book plate by Jack Ketchum if you buy the book from them (this edition has a 3,000 word long introduction by King) and they will also sell signed copies of the DVD once it’s available.

New behind-the-scenes video from The Mist

Posted: October 3, 2007, 08:20

Here is a new behind-the-scenes video from the set of The Mist. And here is a contest where you can win a signed (by both King and Darabont) copy of the audio version of The Mist.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Two appearances in October by King

Posted: October 3, 2007, 08:20

Stephen will be making two appearances in October to promote the Best American Short Stories (2007) which he edited. He will be in New York on October 10th and in Boston on October 16th. For more information, please go to the web sites for each venue:

October 10th at Symphony Space, NYC
http://www.symphonyspace.org/event/2130

October 16th at Cambridge, MA
http://www.harvard.com/events/press_release.php?id=1897

Marvel talks King

Posted: October 3, 2007, 08:19

Here is an article in which the Marvel’s Dark Tower team talks Stephen King.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Winners of 1408

Posted: October 2, 2007, 00:41

The 1408 contest is over and her are the correct answers:

Question 1: What is the release date for 1408 on DVD in the US?
Answer 1: October 2, 2007

Question 2: Who directed 1408?
Answer 2: Mikael Håfström

Question 3: Did Stephen King have a cameo in 1408?
Answer 3: No

And here are the winners:

- Kyle Clark
- Chris Loan
- Jackie Metcalf
- Paul Roukat
- Darlene Wright
- Tom Twinem
- Dawn Rosconi
- Alex Willis
- Laura Peckyno
- Robin Wallace
- Justin Tate
- Cheryl CJ Clickstein
- Bill Smith
- Keith Young
- John Suit
- Fred Pellerito
- Judith Beier
- Benjamin Barbee
- Jeannie Horning
- Michael Danielson

1408 review

Posted: October 2, 2007, 00:00

Here is my review of the DVD editions of 1408.

Gunslinger Born hardcover

Posted: October 1, 2007, 23:46

Here are some info about the upcoming hardcover of Gunslinger Born. It will contain the following:

- A cover gallery (showing all of the covers)
- 2 of the maps
- Pencils of Jae Lee's artwork

I don't know if there will be more but this is what's confirmed as of now.

You can order your copy from Tales of Wonder.

What Ails the Short Story

Posted: October 1, 2007, 23:42

King had an essay in yesterday's New York Times. It's called What Ails the Short Story and you can read it here.

Thanks to Paul Poroshin

The Mist poster

Posted: September 30, 2007, 00:41

Here is the finished poster for The Mist. You can see some other new photos from the movie here.

Thanks to Anders Jakobson and Louis Sytsma

1408 game

Posted: September 30, 2007, 00:40

Here is info about a 1408 game:

DALLAS, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Fifty-six people have met their doom in the Dolphin Hotel's haunted Room 1408. Now, just in time for the Halloween season, BLOCKBUSTER(R) is giving consumers the room key to see if they'll be next. The online game "1408 Room & Doom," inspired by the fictional movie "1408" starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson, launches today along with a sweepstakes at www.1408themoviedvd.com. Both the game and sweepstakes highlight that BLOCKBUSTER will have exclusive rentals and alternate endings of the Weinstein Company film "1408" when it is released on DVD on Oct. 2.

Now through Halloween, "1408 Room & Doom" will pit players against the evil forces of Room 1408. There is only one way to escape: to find the hidden key releasing them from the room. Players will experience eerie flashbacks from scenes from the movie and, if they are unable to outwit the evil room, one of several unpleasant fates. Like in the movie and the Stephen King short story it's based on, a clock counts down the seconds until your untimely death.

Players who survive the psychological onslaught of Room 1408 will receive one of three bonus experiences. These include a special "1408" wallpaper download or a sneak peak at an alternate ending to the movie, otherwise available only on rentals from BLOCKBUSTER. In a third experience, players can watch a trailer and behind-the-scenes footage of "The Mist," a Frank Darabont-directed horror film also based on a Stephen King thriller coming to theaters Nov. 21.

Those who want to share the "1408 Room & Doom" game experience can email a postcard to a friend with the ominous warning sent to John Cusack's character in the movie: "Don't Enter 1408."

The game is available online at www.1408themoviedvd.com through Oct. 31. Those who play "1408 Room & Doom" also have the option of entering the "1408 Room & Doom" sweepstakes. Prizes include a grand prize trip for two to New York City, which is the setting for the movie "1408," or American Express(R) gift cards. No purchase is necessary, nor is participation in the game or BLOCKBUSTER membership required to enter the sweepstakes. Entries must be made by Oct. 14.

The "1408 Room & Doom" game and sweepstakes highlight the psychological fright film "1408" and two alternate endings that will be available exclusively on rentals from BLOCKBUSTER beginning Oct. 2. Those who want to see if John Cusack's character lives, dies or somewhere in between can rent "1408" at BLOCKBUSTER stores or online at www.blockbuster.com.

"1408", released by Genius Products, is part of an agreement that provides Blockbuster Inc. with exclusive U.S. rental rights to The Weinstein Company's theatrical and direct-to-video movies. Other recent Weinstein Company releases made available for rent exclusively through Blockbuster include "Miss Potter" starring Renee Zellweger, the ensemble feature "Bobby" from Emilio Estevez and the "Grindhouse" double feature including Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof" and Robert Rodriguez's "Planet Terror."

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Tales of Wonder

Posted: September 27, 2007, 22:26

As you all know Silver Bullet Comics didn't hold up their end of the deal
that I made with them for a contest that I ran some time ago. For this I'm
very sorry. However, many of you have mailed me telling me that you have had
the same experience while dealing with Silver Bullet Comic, so it seems
that's the way they do their business.

However, today I'm very happy to let you all know that I have made a new
deal with an online comics store called Tales of Wonder. They have agreed to
send out the prizes that Silver Bullet Comics failed to send, which means
that all winners will get their prizes after all. For this I am extremely
happy.

I also want to thank Tales of Wonder for stepping up and doing this, and I
would also like to ask you all to stop by their site and show them your
support. After all, how many stores would do what they now do?

You'll find them at: http://talesofwonder.com

Two Dollar Babies

Posted: September 25, 2007, 23:02

Today I have two reviews for you. Both are of Dollar Babies. One is Suffer the Little Children and the other is the Spanish version of Harvey's Dream.

King on turning 60

Posted: September 25, 2007, 21:52

King's comments on turning 60:

From the official site:

To Everyone,

Although I am trying to make the best of it, turning 60 is a bit of a bummer. Nevertheless, so many people who visit the web site have cheered me up with their greetings and good wishes. Not to mention all the people who contributed checks to The Haven Foundation to mark my passage into the golden city of Geezerdom! Thank you all! And now, please, can't we just forget the whole thing? From now on, I am going backwards. Next year I will be 59 and by 2017, I will be 50 again.

Love and best wishes to all you Constant Readers out there,

Steve King
Posted 24 September 2007

Thanks to Bev Vincent

1408 preview

Posted: September 25, 2007, 21:48

Here is a preview from the 1408 DVD that is being released on October 2nd.

Click on play to see the trailer.

A warning...

Posted: September 24, 2007, 12:11

I’m very sorry to have to do this but as it is now I feel I have no other choice. As you might remember I ran a contest some months ago where the prices were issues of Marvel’s comic; Gunslinger Born. The sponsor of that contest was Silver Bullet comic and unfortunately they have not honoured their part of the agreement.

The deal was that they would provide the issues and also send them directly to the winners. This has not happened. Instead, what has happened is that they have done absolutely nothing and when the winners or I contact them about it they just ignore our mails.

As you all understand this is not the correct way to do business. It reflects badly on me personally and on Lilja’s Library and it makes the winners understandably very frustrated. That is why I now feel the need to put this info on my site.

And to prevent others from having the same problems the winners and I have with Silver Bullet comics I now want to warn you all for having anything to do with them. They have proven again and again that they don’t hold up their part of the deal.

I also want to apologize to anyone that has done business with them because of their banner on my site. I thought they were reliable but it turns out they weren’t and I just hope it haven’t caused too many problems for you!

Lilja
Comments…

60th birthday!

Posted: September 21, 2007, 00:17

Congratulation on your 60th birthday (Sept. 21) Stephen!!!

Mist review

Posted: September 19, 2007, 13:25

Here is a review of an early version of The Mist. It sounds very promising but please be ware that there are spoilers in the review.

Thanks to Anders Jakobson and Louis Sytsma

And the winner is...

Posted: September 18, 2007, 00:05

OK, the winners has been selected but before I let you know who they are I’ll give you the correct answers:

Question 1: Stephen King is Richard Bachman is also available as a Sterling Limited Ed. True or False?
Answer1: True.

Question 2: Who is the author of Stephen King is Richard Bachman?
Answer2: Michael R. Collings

Question 3: What is the release date for Stephen King is Richard Bachman?
Answer3: Halloween Day, 2007 (October 31st)

And, here are the winners;

1st Prize: $100.00 Gift Certificate at the Overlook Connection and a copy of Stephen King is Richard Bachman
- - Ken Turvey from Canada.

2nd Prize: $50.00 Gift Certificate at the Overlook Connection and a copy of Stephen King is Richard Bachman
- - Andrew Pecanic from the US.

3rd Prize: A copy of Stephen King is Richard Bachman
- - Beverly Davis from the US.

1408 DVD trailer

Posted: September 14, 2007, 22:07

Here is a trailer for the 1408 DVD that is being released on October 2nd.

Click on play to see the trailer.

A first look at The Long Road Home

Posted: September 14, 2007, 22:06

Here is a first look at The Long Road Home. These illustrations have not been published anywhere else until now so enjoy. They look very promising if you ask me.

The Pop of King: The Great Escape

Posted: September 14, 2007, 22:05

Here is a new column by King. It's called The Great Escape and can be found in the September 21 (King's birthday) issue.

Thanks to Paul Poroshin

The Talisman delayed

Posted: September 13, 2007, 23:38

The Talisman has been delayed again...

Steven Spielberg's latest attempt to bring "The Talisman" to the screen has hit a snag.

TNT's six-hour adaptation of the Stephen King-Peter Straub novel, executive produced by Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, has been put on hold because of budgetary issues, sources said.

The limited series, from DreamWorks TV, was announced by TNT with big fanfare in December and slated for a summer 2008 premiere.

After all scripts were recently completed, it became clear that their execution would require a larger budget than previously allocated, sources said.

The fantasy-horror project, about a boy's quest through this world and a parallel world known as the Territories to find a talisman that will save his mother, is said to involve elaborate special effects. TNT and DreamWorks are now addressing the financial issues and looking for ways to make the series, sources said.

"Talisman" has been a passion project for Spielberg and Kennedy, who have developed it since optioning the book about 25 years ago though Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment.

Originally, "Talisman" was envisioned as a feature, with Richard LaGravenese writing a draft in the early 1990s.

In 2000, the project was set up at ABC as a four-hour miniseries executive produced by Spielberg and Kennedy. Mick Garris was brought in to write and direct the mini, but after he delivered the script to the network, ABC opted not to proceed with the project because of what was reported at the time as budget issues.

"I got a call from Kathleen Kennedy saying the network said they can't afford it," Garris told IGN FilmForce in a 2003 interview.

"Talisman" was resurrected as a feature again at Universal Pictures and DreamWorks. After a series of writers, including Ehren Kruger, Carlo Bernard and Doug Miro; directors, including Vadim Perelman and Ed Zwick; and production start dates, including July and then September 2004, the project was put on the back burner until Spielberg mentioned it to TNT's Michael Wright in summer 2005 after TNT and DreamWorks TV's collaboration on the 12-hour mini "Into the West."

Thanks to all of you that sent this in.

Robin talks about The Long Road Home

Posted: September 11, 2007, 23:12

Robin Furth talks about The Long Road Home with Newsarama.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

Gunslinger Born omnibus

Posted: September 9, 2007, 01:43

Here are some info about the omnibus edition of Gunslinger Born:

On November 7, the year's biggest comic book event will be chronicled in graphic novel format for the first time as Marvel Comics launches an epic, 240-page hard cover edition of "Dark Tower: Gunslinger Born," adapted from the master of modern horror Stephen King’s magnum opus.

The graphic novel will bring together the complete, initial 7-issue story arc of the comic book series that ranks as one of the year’s biggest sellers and generated huge media attention and significant acclaim. The graphic novel will be available for a suggested retail price of $24.99.

Under the direction and guidance of King himself, collaborating with the all-star creative team of "Dark Tower" expert Robin Furth (Stephen King's "The Dark Tower: A Complete Concordance"), The New York Times-bestselling author Peter David, and Eisner Award-winning artist Jae Lee and fan-favorite Richard Isanove, "Dark Tower: Gunslinger Born" expands the saga of King's epic hero, Roland Deschain, whose quest to save the Dark Tower is captured in seven best-selling novels published over the course of twenty-five years.

King's unparalleled storytelling power presents new tales that delve into the life and times of the young Roland, revealing the trials and conflicts that lead to the burden of destiny he must assume as a man, the last Gunslinger from a world that has moved on. The graphic novel works in conjunction with the actual novels, further supplementing and defining the saga's mythology.

In addition to presenting the complete initial story arc, "Dark Tower: Gunslinger Born" will also present fans with exciting bonus material. Leading the way is a series of all-new illustrations from Lee.

"As a lifelong fan of Marvel comic books, and as an adult reader who’s seen comics 'come of age' and take their rightful place in the world of fantasy and science fiction, I'm excited to be a part of Roland's new incarnation," said Stephen King earlier this year when announcing the actual comic book series.

Thanks to Bev Vincent

And the winner is...

Posted: September 8, 2007, 01:30

Here are the correct answers in the latest contest:

Question 1: Title where illustration #1 has appeared
Answer: Bag of bones

Question 2: Title where illustration #2 has appeared
Answer: Rose Madder

Question 3: Name one other King book (besides the two in question 1 and 2) that Mark Geyer’s illustrations has appeared in?
Answer: Green Mile

And here are the winners:

Subterranean's Tenth Anniversary Green Mile: Ariel Bosi in Argentina

Scribner editions of The Green Mile: James Stuart and Tom Twinem from the US.

Viking editions of Rose Madder: Ron Breznay and Paul Thomas from the US.

Thanks to Gordon and Lou

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