NEWS -

The Pop of King: Cool and the Gang

Posted: November 8, 2007, 16:59
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King has a new column (Cool and the Gang) out (probably in the November 9 issue) of Entertainment Weekly. Read it here.

Thanks to Paul Poroshin

Premier!

Posted: November 7, 2007, 13:53
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Here is a first look at the UK cover of Duma Key.

My review of Mute

Posted: November 7, 2007, 11:51
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Mute is now out and here is my review of it. Please make sure you have read it before you check out my review though since it contains spoilers.

Mrs Todd's Shortcut to air in 2009?

Posted: November 7, 2007, 00:56
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I recently spoke to Michael Marshall Smith about his upcoming adaptation of King's Mrs Todd's Shortcut. He told me he¹d just finished the first draft of the script and that it will be part of a TV series tentatively called Night Shapes.

The show probably won't air until some time in 2009.

3rd Mist trailer

Posted: November 6, 2007, 13:42
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Here is a third trailer for The Mist.

Thanks to Louis Sytsma

A plea for help

Posted: November 6, 2007, 13:28
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While I have never charged anything for all the news on Lilja's Library since I started the site back in 1996, and never will in the future, it’s once again time to ask for your help. As all of you that own a domain know, the ownership costs as well as maintaining and keeping the site up to date. There is also a cost for sending out prizes in contests (most sponsors send out the prizes themselves but far from all).

Read the complete text

From a Buick 8

Posted: November 5, 2007, 09:07
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Dread Central reported some good news about the upcoming movie version of From a Buick 8:

The first is From a Buick 8, which you see some early art for on your right. Kasch talked to producer Etchie Stroh of Moonstone Entertainment, who said the script for Buick is in the hands of director Tobe Hooper as we speak, who’s giving it a once-over to tighten it up. It will go to Stephen King, who wrote the novel the film is based on, before cameras roll for final approval.

They’re hoping to have everything ready to go for a shoot date in early 2008 and though no casting’s been done, they will be filming in Pennsylvania which only makes sense, as that’s where the book is set.

King to visit Conan

Posted: November 4, 2007, 19:48
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King will be guest at Late Night with Conan O'Brien on November 12.

Thanks to Matteo Zampini

Mist review

Posted: November 4, 2007, 01:05
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Here is an early review of The Mist from Latino Review. Read it on your own risk though, is contains spoilers.

Thanks to Lou Sytsma

Ayana is out!

Posted: November 1, 2007, 11:10
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Now you can order your copy of The Paris Review from their site. You can also read the beginning of King’s story here or my review of it here

The Stephen King Collector's Guide announced

Posted: November 1, 2007, 10:12
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Today a new book by King experts Rocky Wood and Justin Brooks was announced. It’s called The Stephen King Collector's Guide and contains everything known that King has written up till today.

Order your copy here

King reviews Clapton

Posted: October 31, 2007, 23:49
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Here is King’s review of Eric Clapton’s book Clapton: The Autobiography.

Thanks to Rocky Wood & Miss X

The Secretary of Dreams vol. 2 announced

Posted: October 31, 2007, 23:42
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Cemetery Dance announced volume 2 of The Secretary of Dreams today and it looks even better then the first one. Just look at the illustration to the right…

The stories included in this volume is The Monkey, Strawberry Spring, In the Deathroom (all with spot artwork), Gray Matter, One for the Road and Nona (all in full graphic format).

To pre-order and see more illustrations; head over to Cemetery Dance.

Mist interviews

Posted: October 31, 2007, 23:41
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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
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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
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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

More about Mute

Posted: October 23, 2007, 23:13
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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
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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!

A third short story this year?

Posted: October 19, 2007, 09:04
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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
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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
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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

Darabont comments on the rating

Posted: October 15, 2007, 07:57
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Here is a plot description of Duma Key.

Click for a larger image

Mist trailer

Posted: October 10, 2007, 13:36
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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
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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

Morning Deliveries (Milkman 1)

Posted: October 8, 2007, 00:39
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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
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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
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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
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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

Marvel talks King

Posted: October 3, 2007, 08:19
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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
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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
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Here is my review of the DVD editions of 1408.

Gunslinger Born hardcover

Posted: October 1, 2007, 23:46
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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

King on turning 60

Posted: September 25, 2007, 21:52
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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