11-8-06
This is never the busiest of news pages but here's a couple nice pieces to keep us up-to-date. In a poll by the British Heart Foundation, The Green Mile movie was voted best tear-jerker of a film, soundly beating the more traditionally held Ghost and Titanic.
Mr. King was honored by the Mystery Writers of America endowment of the Grand Master award, the highest award bestowed on an individual by the organization.
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"I'm delighted to be getting the Grand Master Award and to be joining the company of some of my greatest idols and teachers - people like John D. MacDonald, Ed McBain, and Donald E. Westlake," says King. "The award means a great deal to me personally, because it's an award from people who understand two things: the importance of good writing and the importance of telling stories."
King will officially receive the award at the 61st Annual Edgar Banquet to be held on April 26, 2007, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York.
Originally a three-day wonder on Broadway, a new version of Mr. King's first novel will debut off-Broadway at P.S. 122 on December 6th and run through December 30th. Titled Carrie: A Period Piece, it was described as a "very black comedy" according to Theatre Couture leader Eric Jackson. "But that's inherent in the novel. It's a very serious take on the pressures and pain of adolescence... Everybody feels it's their story... There will be comedy and camp, and some horror, and maybe a little blood." Drag performer legend Sherry Vine will star and Basil Twist (Symphonie Fantastique) will create special puppets for the show.
And if you're looking for a real oddity of King-related collectibles, how about an autographed wooden bench? It's up for the highest bid here with four days left on the clock. Get that checkbook ready, though, the bidding is already over $1000.
2-18-06
[Co-posted on Movie and Book News as well] A quick update on a previous post: Mr. King will be signing books after his Sunday appearance at the Seven Days of Opening Nights arts festival at Florida State University, Ruby Diamond Auditorium. And on to the next item. How would you like to have Stephen King in your living room for an hour? Well, okay, since he's not really big on house-calls, here's the next best thing: radio. If you missed the hour program with Stephen King on Voice of America's program Talk to America, it's still not too late to listen in. The show originally aired on February 17th and is available for free download, just follow the link below. As part of the show, Mr. King answered questions posed by listeners, including those relating to future projects (a third Talisman and Dark Tower mention, among others). Downloads are available in RealAudio or mp3.
Click here
2-14-06
Another update today: Mr. King will be appearing at Florida State University as part of their Seven Days of Opening Nights festival celebrating the arts. The original guest, author Richard Russo, cancelled his scheduled visit set for February 21st. King agreed to help bridge the gap with a special lecture on Sunday, February 26, at 8 pm in the Ruby Diamond Auditorium of FSU. The Seven Days website states that, "tickets for King's appearance ($15 adults; $8 students) will go on sale online and by phone (644-6500) at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 14. All seats are general admission. Tickets for the cancelled Russo appearance will be honored for the King performance." If you are interested in attending, tickets are still available; follow the link below, King is the second listing on the page.
Click here
2-9-06
A bit off topic, perhaps, but a set of new webpages on the site, grouped under the title King's Favorites, are now up and running. Gleaned from interviews, articles, and other commentary, the new pages reflect Mr. King's top choices for movies, books, and music in the last year. As more information becomes available the pages will be updated so check back in periodically for new additions. To visit, follow the link below.
Click here for King's Favorites
1-5-06
The New York Times ran a letter from Mr. King on Christmas day. Titled Man in Love, it answered an editorial on a D. H. Lawrence biography with a strong opinion: reading works about an author tells less of that person than reading works by the author. For more, follow the link below. If you are not a subscriber to the New York Times, you can still sign in free and read the letter.
Click here
The Bangor Daily News report from Stacyville, Maine - "A prominent Maine couple who have written more than 75 novels separately put pupils at the Katahdin Elementary School on track recently to have a library of their very own. Principal Christine Cunningham said Wednesday that officials have secured a $25,000 grant from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation." The school, which has never had a library, can finally afford one. For details, follow the link below.
Click here
Another $25,000 recently went to the Wiscasset Public Library to update its computer system, both for cataloging and public use. For more information, follow the link below.
Click here
King and his wife, Tabitha, recently purchased the more than 100-year-old mansion next door to their Bangor home and are in the process of restoring it. No concrete plans for the house have been mentioned, they are currently focused on restoration.
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And will King retire or not?
When asked, Mr. King replied, "I was deeply sad to finish with these [Dark Tower] books, and I had a period of real creative depression, to the point where I told people I was going to quit...[but] I can't be held responsible for anything I said in the course of the last two years."
That, Constant Readers, sounds like a no. Let's hope.
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