We the Kings - All Again for You
Stephen Rex is one of the about well-known horror authors on the planet. He'due south thrilled and terrified readers with his stories for years, making their own worst nightmares come to life. Many of his works have had major film and tv adaptations.
Only, what virtually Stephen King himself? Where does his inspiration come up from? We've gathered the most tantalizing facts about Stephen Male monarch and his writing, and some of them are exactly what you'd await from the master of horror!
King's Debut
Later sending out query after query just to receive rejection letters time and over again, Male monarch had his first novel, Carrie, finally accepted by publishers. It tells the story of a bullied teen who has telekinetic abilities who uses her powers to get revenge.
King received an accelerate of merely $2,500 simply later went on to earn upward of $400,000 for the paperback rights. Since then, there have been two film 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's 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 i volume by a given author per year, but also considering he wanted to run into if he could duplicate his publishing success.
A bookstore possessor from Washington actually ousted the writer as King. He didn't seem to heed, though, as he connected to experiment with different writing styles using the proper noun. There's speculation that he'due south used other names in the by likewise, only it'southward unclear if anybody positively identified them or non.
Lots of Cameos
Stephen Rex is known for making small cameos in many of his flick adaptations. He actually has 22 different picture show appearances on his resume. One classic example is in the original Pet Semetary, when Male monarch played the role of a minister.
More recently, we King appeared on the big screen once more in It: Chapter 2. He was the owner of the shop where a main graphic symbol's childhood bike ended up. Information technology would seem that King has no plans to settle down when it comes to existence actively involved in the amusement industry, and we're all glad for it!
Not a Nicholson Fan
Stephen Male monarch may have approved of most of the flick adaptations of his piece of work, but that was certainly non the instance when it came to The Shining. In item, he did not like the casting choices fabricated. While fans adored Stanley Kubrick's piece of work on the film, King was less than impressed.
He stated that he didn't understand the hype surrounding the movie. He besides said that he wasn't a fan of the manner Jack Nicholson portrayed Jack Torrance. He wanted the character to show a "ho-hum descent into madness" instead of being and so "maniacal."
His Favorite Piece of work
Everybody has a favorite when it comes to the works of Stephen Male monarch. His favorite, however, is 1 of his bestsellers: Salem'south Lot. The story is centered on a character who returns home to find that the residents of a modest boondocks are becoming vampires.
Salem's Lot was fabricated into a television mini-series in 1979 and again in 2004, and in that location are rumors that a pic adaptation of the novel is currently in the works. Should they prove true, fans will certainly exist excited!
Pennywise Was Originally a Troll
One of Stephen King's well-nigh 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, King decided that Pennywise as a clown was much scarier. Fans are certainly glad that the classic horror grapheme was changed, every bit a troll just doesn't have the same power as the horrific Pennywise. However, King did leave some references to the troll idea in the final piece.
He Doesn't Call back Writing Cujo
Most fans of Stephen King are aware of his past struggles with drugs and alcohol. His substance abuse issues were so bad that he has no retention of writing the hitting novel Cujo. King was on an alcohol- and coke-fueled rampage and doesn't call up a single word of the popular story.
He's expressed regret that he doesn't remember the procedure of writing the slice. However, it does go to show that even at his worst, King can still produce pretty amazing stories. That'south quite impressive!
A Existent Haunted Prison
Castle Stone is another adaptation of Male monarch's work. The boondocks in the series is the site of the Shawshank State Prison. Many of the scenes were filmed in the West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville, and the real penitentiary is said to exist 1 of the most haunted places in America.
Earlier information technology was airtight downwards, the prison housed some truly horrendous prisoners. 85 executions took place there amid other horrors like rape, murder and many suicides. People travel from all over to walk through the alleged haunted site, making it a perfect filming location.
Advice to Writers
Stephen King wrote a book called On Writing that has been used in creative writing classes around the state. In the book, he discussed his writing process and how he developed his craft over fourth dimension. He admitted that the journey wasn't an like shooting fish in a barrel one.
Some of his best advice for writers is to constantly read and write. Practice does make perfect, and given the number of books he's written, information technology's certainly how King himself found success. There's certainly nobody better to requite writing communication.
Too Graphic for the Film
If you've never read the novel, Information technology, you're likely unaware of a scene so graphic and controversial that information technology didn't make it into the movie. It took identify afterward the famous Loser's Club defeated Pennywise, at which point they all engaged in grouping sex. Information technology's understandable that this scene would be cut from a movie featuring immature kids!
King explained in interviews that he wrote the scene with a theme of "coming of age" in heed. That makes a sure kind of sense, merely the scene even so causes controversy fifty-fifty amongst fans, and it'due south understandable that it didn't brand it onto the silvery screen.
He Was Hit by a Van in 1999
While taking a walk in June of 1999, Stephen King was hit by a van after the driver became distracted past a domestic dog moving around in the back seat. The accident left Rex with broken bones in his ribs, legs and hip. He also suffered a punctured lung and lacerations.
Subsequently the accident, King really bought the van to allegedly "smash information technology 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
Information technology seems that some actors actually enjoy being in King'south 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 have appeared in multiple Stephen Rex works, and many say they would love to practise and so again.
Stephen King writes deep and complex characters, so it'south no wonder that many actors are eager to take on those roles. They provide actors with a chance to bear witness their acting range in stories that audiences are probable to enjoy.
Book Signings Only
Stephen King is not a fan of beingness a celebrity. If you approach him on the street, it'southward highly unlikely that you will get yourself an autograph. He merely gives out autographs to fans when on official tours.
And then, if you spot Mr. King at a local cafe in Maine, it would be best to wait until a book signing to go your easily on an autograph. For existence such a household name, he doesn't necessarily adore the limelight that comes along with the gig. And hey, nosotros can all respect that!
Writing Runs in the Family
Stephen isn't the only author in his family. Ane of his sons, Joseph King, has published successful novels and brusque stories under the pen proper name Joe Colina. His novel Horns was adapted into a film starring Daniel Radcliffe, while the comic book serial Locke and Primal was made into a Netflix series.
Stephen'due south wife Tabitha is an acclaimed writer of mystery novels. His other son, Owen King, has published various short stories, a standalone novel and Sleeping Beauties, which he wrote alongside his father.
Childhood Trauma
As a kid, Stephen King witnessed his friend existence killed by a train. He has no memory of the incident, but many speculate that the experience was inspiration for some of his darker piece of work. King has never verified that theory.
After the incident, King walked back home where his mother said he was silent and appeared to be in shock. Information technology wasn't until afterward that she learned of the death of his friend and that Stephen had probable witnessed the entire tragedy. He was only iv at the time of the incident.
He Makes Bank
Many writers may be starving artists, but Stephen King doesn't exactly autumn into that category. With then many hit novels and Tv set and movie adaptations, King has an estimated net worth of $400 million. Even though he's had some flops, it's washed nothing to dull his internet worth.
King owns multiple properties and vehicles and is one of the highest-paid authors in the earth. Since he'south been able to produce hit afterwards hitting, it isn't also surprising that he has made a proficient amount of bank over the years.
H.P Lovecraft Inspired Him
Equally a child, King discovered a paperback copy of one of H.P. Lovecraft's short story collections in the cranium of his babyhood home. "Now that time has given u.s. some perspective on his work," said King years later, "I remember it is beyond uncertainty that H. P. Lovecraft has yet to be surpassed equally the twentieth century'southward greatest practitioner of the archetype horror tale."
Nearly of H.P. Lovecraft'southward stories fall under the larger umbrella of the Cthulhu Mythos, a shared universe where unfathomable monsters and deities lurk but beyond the perception of humankind. Information technology'south no wonder that King is a fan.
Lots of Rejection
When Stephen King was first starting out, he used his rejection letters equally a "fuel" of sorts. Instead of becoming angry and tossing them out, King nailed the letters to the wall. He received and so many rejection letters early that he had to replace the smash with a camping ground pale.
Male monarch shared this anecdote in On Writing has inspired many other would-be authors to do the aforementioned. Mustering that kind of determination is no easy feat, just it certainly paid off for King. His success in the writing earth is virtually unmatched.
He Writes to Stone 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 style of writing and the type of content he writes, it makes sense that he would observe the almost inspiration in classic rock.
Some of his favorites include AC/DC and The Ramones. Stephen King'due south son, writer Joe Hill, also wrote a book about an aging rock star who purchases a haunted suite. Information technology seems they have more in common than only writing.
He Owns a Radio Station
Along with his wife, King owns a radio station. It's a mainstream rock radio station (of course) 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 as being owned by the master of horror himself, likely drawing in more than fans. It's as well one of the few remaining locally-owned radio stations in the land.
The Most Film Adaptations
Stephen Male monarch holds a globe record for the about film adaptations. Estimates vary, but they number at least in the dozens, and while other stories by king have been made into tv series, comic books, radio dramas and more.
Rex is on his way to 300 author credits for feature-length films on IMDB. He also has a habit of letting new directors accommodate his work for the deal toll of a single dollar. The take hold of is that films made under such deals can't be commercially distributed or made available online.
Fear of Flying
Surprisingly, Stephen King has a powerful fear of flying. Information technology's hard to believe that the chief 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 drove his motorcycle to volume signings no matter how far away they were.
"The difference is," Male monarch explained, "if your automobile breaks down, yous pull over into the breakdown lane. If you're at 40,000 anxiety and your plane has trouble, you die." It's hard to argue with that logic.
Favorite Shows
Similar the residuum of u.s., Stephen Male monarch has his favorite tv set series. Some of them include Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and The Americans. He as well stated that he was a fan of Sons of Chaos. Earlier long, he was given the chance to brand a surprise cameo on the pop series!
He played the role of a "clean-up" guy who arrives at crime scenes to assist characters dispose of a torso. Information technology seemed like a fitting role for everybody'southward favorite master of horror. Many viewers didn't even recognize him initially.
His Books Never Go Out of Impress
Unlike many other authors, the works of Stephen King almost never go out of impress. This is why you tin can notice and then many dissimilar covers on even older works by Stephen King. They are always being printed because they are always selling more than copies. Because of this, early on editions of Rex'south work are coveted by fans and sometimes fifty-fifty worth decent money.
Male monarch as well created his own publishing house, Philtrum press, for piece of work he either didn't call back would find mainstream success or that had special significance. Don't expect to find a copy of anything by Philtrum at your local bookstore, however — all works published under the characterization had extremely pocket-size press runs of only a couple thou or so.
An Intervention
In the '80s, King'southward drinking and cocaine employ became and then bad that his family staged an intervention for him, during which his married woman Tabitha collected 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 get better, and he did. While he'd been agape that his work would suffer while sober, King released some of his well-nigh notable work after breaking the habit, including The Green Mile and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.
An Unabridged Universe
The Night Belfry series includes the novels that Stephen Male monarch says necktie 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 same universe — or at least, series of universes.
Connected works often include references to the main villains of the serial, the Crimson Male monarch and his servant, Randall Flagg. Others mention the hero, the Gunslinger. Books with indisputable connections to King's greater universe include 'Salem's Lot, Hearts in Atlantis, The Stand up and more.
A Fear of 13
On height of a fearfulness of flying, King as well has a more superstitious fear: triskaidekaphobia, or the fright of the number 13. It's certainly odd, merely and so again, considering the importance of the number 19 in The Night Tower, maybe King merely has an intense relationship with numbers.
When writing, King refuses to end when he gets to the 13th page, and he even avoids multiples of the number. Perchance information technology'southward simply a habit, or peradventure information technology actually is a genuine fearfulness. Whatever the case, if it keeps King speeding through his next novel, information technology's non entirely a bad thing.
He Banned His Own Volume
Rage was a book that Stephen Rex wrote fashion back in the '70s nether the proper name Richard Bachman. The story followed a troubled teenager who brought a gun to school and killed his teachers. Actual schoolhouse shootings didn't starting time cropping up until the '80s and '90s, and then publishers allow it become to print.
After several schoolhouse shooters were connected to the book, including a senior in high schoolhouse who took 30 classmates hostage and told government that the volume was one of his sources of inspiration for the act, Male monarch had it pulled from publication. He too wrote an anti-gun violence essay in 2013 titled Guns and has been an outspoken gun control advocate since.
Flopped Musicals
While virtually of King'south work was successful and well-received, it's no underground that he's had a few flops as well. Beyond bad movies like Maximum Overdrive — his ain attempt at directing a motion picture — King also wrote a few musicals that flopped.
Ghosts starred Michael Jackson and came out in 1996. It was not critically well-received. He also 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 Million Copies
King has sold over 350 1000000 copies of his books, making him not just one of the most successful horror writers, but one of the near achieved writers ever, period. His piece of work has been professionally translated into 3,354 languages.
King is too 1 of the fastest writers around, producing almost 2,000 words every solar day. With that kind of output, he no doubt has quite a few more than novels and curt stories in him. Hats off to you lot, Mr. King!
Source: https://www.smarter.com/people/weird-facts-stephen-king?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740011%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex