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Stephen King is one of the most well-known horror authors on the planet. He's thrilled and terrified readers with his stories for years, making their ain worst nightmares come up to life. Many of his works have had major film and goggle box adaptations.
Simply, what nigh Stephen King himself? Where does his inspiration come from? We've gathered the most tantalizing facts most Stephen King and his writing, and some of them are exactly what y'all'd expect from the main of horror!
Rex's Debut
After sending out query after query only to receive rejection letters time and again, King had his showtime novel, Carrie, finally accepted past publishers. Information technology tells the story of a bullied teen who has telekinetic abilities who uses her powers to get revenge.
Rex received an advance of simply $2,500 but after went on to earn upwards of $400,000 for the paperback rights. Since then, there have been two movie adaptations of the debut novel. The first starred Sissy Spacek, while the newer release featured Chloe Grace Mortez in the leading role of Carrie.
He'due south Used Pen Names
King used a pseudonym, Richard Bachmann, to publish some of his work. He did this in part because publishers were reluctant to release more than 1 book past a given author per year, only too because he wanted to encounter if he could indistinguishable his publishing success.
A bookstore owner from Washington actually ousted the author as Male monarch. He didn't seem to mind, though, equally he continued to experiment with different writing styles using the name. There's speculation that he's used other names in the past as well, but it's unclear if anybody positively identified them or not.
Lots of Cameos
Stephen King is known for making small cameos in many of his picture show adaptations. He actually has 22 dissimilar flick appearances on his resume. One classic example is in the original Pet Semetary, when King played the office of a minister.
More than recently, nosotros King appeared on the big screen again in It: Chapter 2. He was the owner of the shop where a main grapheme's babyhood bike ended upward. It would seem that King has no plans to settle downwards when information technology comes to being actively involved in the amusement industry, and we're all glad for it!
Non a Nicholson Fan
Stephen Male monarch may have approved of most of the film adaptations of his work, simply that was certainly not the case when it came to The Shining. In detail, he did not like the casting choices made. While fans adored Stanley Kubrick's work on the picture, King was less than impressed.
He stated that he didn't understand the hype surrounding the moving-picture show. He also said that he wasn't a fan of the way Jack Nicholson portrayed Jack Torrance. He wanted the character to evidence a "tiresome descent into madness" instead of existence then "maniacal."
His Favorite Piece of work
Everybody has a favorite when it comes to the works of Stephen Rex. His favorite, however, is one of his bestsellers: Salem's Lot. The story is centered on a graphic symbol who returns dwelling to notice that the residents of a small town are becoming vampires.
Salem'south Lot was made into a idiot box mini-series in 1979 and once more in 2004, and there are rumors that a motion-picture show adaptation of the novel is currently in the works. Should they show true, fans will certainly be excited!
Pennywise Was Originally a Troll
One of Stephen King's most well-known novels is the hit It. When he originally came up with the concept, Pennywise was a troll living under a span who preyed on unsuspecting children.
After some consideration, Male monarch decided that Pennywise as a clown was much scarier. Fans are certainly glad that the classic horror character was inverse, as a troll simply doesn't have the same ability as the horrific Pennywise. Yet, King did leave some references to the troll idea in the final piece.
He Doesn't Recollect Writing Cujo
Most fans of Stephen Male monarch are aware of his past struggles with drugs and alcohol. His substance abuse issues were so bad that he has no memory of writing the hit novel Cujo. Male monarch was on an alcohol- and coke-fueled binge and doesn't call back a single word of the pop story.
He's expressed regret that he doesn't remember the process of writing the slice. Withal, information technology does become to show that even at his worst, King can nonetheless produce pretty amazing stories. That's quite impressive!
A Real Haunted Prison
Castle Stone is another adaptation of Rex's piece of work. The town in the series is the site of the Shawshank Country Prison. Many of the scenes were filmed in the West Virginia Land Penitentiary in Moundsville, and the real penitentiary is said to be one of the most haunted places in America.
Before it was closed downward, the prison housed some truly horrendous prisoners. 85 executions took place at that place amid other horrors similar rape, murder and many suicides. People travel from all over to walk through the alleged haunted site, making information technology a perfect filming location.
Advice to Writers
Stephen King wrote a book chosen On Writing that has been used in creative writing classes effectually the land. In the volume, he discussed his writing process and how he adult his craft over time. He admitted that the journey wasn't an like shooting fish in a barrel i.
Some of his best advice for writers is to constantly read and write. Exercise does make perfect, and given the number of books he'south written, it's certainly how King himself found success. There's certainly nobody meliorate to requite writing advice.
Also Graphic for the Film
If you've never read the novel, It, you're probable unaware of a scene then graphic and controversial that information technology didn't brand information technology into the moving picture. It took place after the famous Loser'south Order defeated Pennywise, at which point they all engaged in grouping sexual activity. It's understandable that this scene would exist cut from a movie featuring young kids!
Rex explained in interviews that he wrote the scene with a theme of "coming of age" in mind. That makes a certain kind of sense, but the scene still causes controversy even among fans, and it'south understandable that it didn't brand it onto the silver screen.
He Was Hit by a Van in 1999
While taking a walk in June of 1999, Stephen King was hit past a van after the commuter became distracted by a dog moving around in the back seat. The accident left King with broken bones in his ribs, legs and hip. He too suffered a punctured lung and lacerations.
Later on the accident, Male monarch really bought the van to allegedly "smash it with a sledgehammer." In truth, it was his lawyers that purchased it so that nobody could profit from the accident by selling the vehicle. The van was crushed at a scrapyard.
Familiar Faces
It seems that some actors really relish being in Rex's piece of work, every bit many have appeared in multiple adaptations. Thomas Jane, for example, has appeared in The Mist, Dreamcatcher and 1922. Other actors such every bit John Cusack, Kathy Bates and other famous actors take appeared in multiple Stephen King works, and many say they would love to do so again.
Stephen King writes deep and complex characters, then it'due south no wonder that many actors are eager to take on those roles. They provide actors with a gamble to show their interim range in stories that audiences are likely to enjoy.
Book Signings Only
Stephen King is not a fan of being a celebrity. If you approach him on the street, it's highly unlikely that you will become yourself an autograph. He only gives out autographs to fans when on official tours.
So, if yous spot Mr. King at a local cafe in Maine, it would be best to look until a volume signing to get your easily on an autograph. For being such a household proper noun, he doesn't necessarily adore the limelight that comes forth with the gig. And hey, nosotros can all respect that!
Writing Runs in the Family
Stephen isn't the simply writer in his family unit. One of his sons, Joseph King, has published successful novels and curt stories under the pen proper name Joe Hill. His novel Horns was adapted into a film starring Daniel Radcliffe, while the comic book series Locke and Cardinal was made into a Netflix serial.
Stephen's wife Tabitha is an acclaimed author of mystery novels. His other son, Owen King, has published various short stories, a standalone novel and Sleeping Beauties, which he wrote alongside his male parent.
Babyhood Trauma
As a child, Stephen King witnessed his friend being killed by a train. He has no memory of the incident, just many speculate that the experience was inspiration for some of his darker work. Male monarch has never verified that theory.
Later on the incident, King walked dorsum domicile where his mother said he was silent and appeared to be in shock. It wasn't until afterward that she learned of the death of his friend and that Stephen had likely witnessed the entire tragedy. He was only 4 at the time of the incident.
He Makes Bank
Many writers may be starving artists, but Stephen King doesn't exactly fall into that category. With so many hit novels and Television receiver and moving-picture show adaptations, King has an estimated net worth of $400 million. Even though he's had some flops, it'southward done nothing to dull his internet worth.
King owns multiple properties and vehicles and is ane of the highest-paid authors in the earth. Since he'due south been able to produce hitting after hitting, information technology isn't too surprising that he has made a good corporeality of bank over the years.
H.P Lovecraft Inspired Him
As a child, King discovered a paperback re-create of i of H.P. Lovecraft'southward short story collections in the cranium of his childhood domicile. "Now that time has given us some perspective on his work," said King years later, "I recall it is beyond uncertainty that H. P. Lovecraft has even so to exist surpassed equally the twentieth century'south greatest practitioner of the classic horror tale."
Most of H.P. Lovecraft's stories fall under the larger umbrella of the Cthulhu Mythos, a shared universe where unfathomable monsters and deities lurk just beyond the perception of humankind. It'due south no wonder that King is a fan.
Lots of Rejection
When Stephen King was outset starting out, he used his rejection letters equally a "fuel" of sorts. Instead of condign angry and tossing them out, King nailed the letters to the wall. He received so many rejection letters early on that he had to replace the nail with a camping ground stake.
Rex shared this chestnut in On Writing has inspired many other would-be authors to exercise the same. Mustering that kind of determination is no piece of cake feat, but it certainly paid off for King. His success in the writing world is nigh unmatched.
He Writes to Rock Music
Many writers listen to music while they write, and each one has their own preferences. Stephen King's is for stone music. Given his way of writing and the type of content he writes, it makes sense that he would observe the near inspiration in classic stone.
Some of his favorites include AC/DC and The Ramones. Stephen Rex's son, author Joe Hill, likewise wrote a book virtually an aging stone star who purchases a haunted suite. It seems they have more in common than only writing.
He Owns a Radio Station
Forth with his wife, Male monarch owns a radio station. It's a mainstream rock radio station (of grade) located in Brewer, Maine. WKIT is part of the Zone Corporation, which is also owned by Tabitha and Stephen.
The station is quite popular in the area and is advertised every bit being endemic by the master of horror himself, likely drawing in more fans. Information technology's also one of the few remaining locally-owned radio stations in the country.
The Most Film Adaptations
Stephen Rex holds a globe record for the virtually film adaptations. Estimates vary, but they number at to the lowest degree in the dozens, and while other stories past king have been made into tv set serial, comic books, radio dramas and more.
King is on his way to 300 writer credits for feature-length films on IMDB. He besides has a habit of letting new directors adapt his work for the bargain price of a single dollar. The catch is that films fabricated under such deals tin't exist commercially distributed or made available online.
Fear of Flight
Surprisingly, Stephen King has a powerful fear of flying. It'due south hard to believe that the master of horror would take such an ordinary phobia. While he's willing to wing when he absolutely has to, he doesn't relish the occasion. When King was younger, he collection his motorcycle to volume signings no matter how far away they were.
"The difference is," King explained, "if your car breaks down, you pull over into the breakup lane. If you're at xl,000 anxiety and your airplane has problem, you die." It'southward hard to argue with that logic.
Favorite Shows
Like the rest of united states, Stephen King has his favorite television series. Some of them include Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and The Americans. He besides stated that he was a fan of Sons of Chaos. Earlier long, he was given the risk to make a surprise cameo on the popular series!
He played the role of a "clean-up" guy who arrives at crime scenes to help characters dispose of a trunk. It seemed like a fitting role for everybody'south favorite master of horror. Many viewers didn't even recognize him initially.
His Books Never Go Out of Print
Unlike many other authors, the works of Stephen Rex almost never go out of print. This is why y'all can find and so many different covers on even older works by Stephen King. They are ever beingness printed because they are always selling more copies. Because of this, early editions of Rex'south work are coveted past fans and sometimes fifty-fifty worth decent money.
Rex as well created his ain publishing firm, Philtrum printing, for work he either didn't think would find mainstream success or that had special significance. Don't wait to find a copy of anything by Philtrum at your local bookstore, yet — all works published under the label had extremely pocket-size printing runs of only a couple thousand or then.
An Intervention
In the '80s, King's drinking and cocaine utilise became so bad that his family staged an intervention for him, during which his wife Tabitha nerveless all his drug paraphernalia and dumped it in the living room in front of friends and family. She even threatened to divorce him.
Luckily, King realized he had a problem and needed to go better, and he did. While he'd been agape that his work would suffer while sober, Male monarch released some of his near notable piece of work subsequently breaking the habit, including The Green Mile and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.
An Unabridged Universe
The Dark Tower series includes the novels that Stephen King says tie all his other works together. Similar to other cinematic universes like the Curiosity Cinematic Universe and the Conjuring Universe, all of the stories take place in the aforementioned universe — or at least, series of universes.
Connected works often include references to the main villains of the series, the Cherry-red Rex and his servant, Randall Flagg. Others mention the hero, the Gunslinger. Books with indisputable connections to King'south greater universe include 'Salem'due south Lot, Hearts in Atlantis, The Stand and more than.
A Fear of 13
On peak of a fear of flying, King also has a more superstitious fright: triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number thirteen. It's certainly odd, but so again, because the importance of the number xix in The Dark Tower, mayhap King just has an intense human relationship with numbers.
When writing, Rex refuses to stop when he gets to the 13th page, and he even avoids multiples of the number. Maybe it's just a habit, or perhaps information technology really is a genuine fearfulness. Whatsoever the example, if it keeps Rex speeding through his side by side novel, it'south not entirely a bad matter.
He Banned His Own Book
Rage was a book that Stephen Rex wrote way back in the '70s under the name Richard Bachman. The story followed a troubled teenager who brought a gun to school and killed his teachers. Actual schoolhouse shootings didn't get-go cropping up until the '80s and '90s, and so publishers allow it get to print.
Subsequently several school shooters were connected to the book, including a senior in high schoolhouse who took xxx classmates hostage and told authorities that the book was one of his sources of inspiration for the human action, King had it pulled from publication. He also wrote an anti-gun violence essay in 2013 titled Guns and has been an outspoken gun control advocate since.
Flopped Musicals
While about of King'southward work was successful and well-received, information technology'due south no clandestine that he's had a few flops also. Beyond bad movies like Maximum Overdrive — his own attempt at directing a movie — Male monarch also wrote a few musicals that flopped.
Ghosts starred Michael Jackson and came out in 1996. Information technology was not critically well-received. He besides did a musical with John Mellencamp titled Ghost Brothers of Darkland County in 2013 that faded into obscurity almost as soon as it came out.
350 One thousand thousand Copies
King has sold over 350 million copies of his books, making him not just one of the most successful horror writers, but ane of the well-nigh accomplished writers ever, period. His piece of work has been professionally translated into 3,354 languages.
Male monarch is besides one of the fastest writers effectually, producing almost two,000 words every mean solar day. With that kind of output, he no dubiety has quite a few more novels and brusque stories in him. Hats off to you, Mr. King!
Source: https://www.smarter.com/people/weird-facts-stephen-king?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740011%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex