Who is Stephen King? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Nick Name: The King of horror, Richard Bachman, The King

Also Known As: Stephen Edwin King

Age: 77 Years, 77 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Tabitha King (m. 1971)

father: Donald Edwin King

mother: Nellie Ruth

siblings: David

children: Joe King, Naomi King, Owen King

Born Country: United States

Poets Novelists

Height: 6'4" (193 cm), 6'4" Males

U.S. State: Maine

Notable Alumni: University Of Maine

City: Portland, Maine

More Facts

education: University Of Maine

awards: 2005 - Horror Award for Best Adaptation
2002 - Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award
1981 - British Fantasy Society Special Award

2004 - Deutscher Phantastik Preis for International Author of the Year
2004 - World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement
1995 - USC Scripter Award
1992 – Fantafestival Award for Best Screenplay

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What is Stephen King's best-selling novel?

Stephen King's best-selling novel is "It."
2

In which state is Stephen King's fictional town of Castle Rock located?

Stephen King's fictional town of Castle Rock is located in Maine.
3

What is the significance of the number 19 in Stephen King's works?

The number 19 is a recurring motif in Stephen King's works, often associated with the Dark Tower series.
4

Which Stephen King novel features a shape-shifting monster that primarily takes the form of a clown?

The novel featuring a shape-shifting monster that primarily takes the form of a clown is "It."

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Childhood & Early Life

He was born on September 21, 1947 to Donald Edwin King, a merchant seaman and his wife, Nellie Ruth. His father abandoned the family when Stephen was two years old leaving his wife to provide for herself and her two sons.

He loved to read horror novels and once read a collection of short stories called ‘The Lurker in the Shadows’ by H. P. Lovecraft and realized his life’s calling.

He graduated from Lisbon Falls High School. While at school he used to write for fun and even sold his stories to his friends. One of his stories was published in the fanzine, ‘Comics Review’ in 1965.

He enrolled at the University of Maine in 1966 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1970. He used to do part time jobs to support his education. He earned a certificate to teach high school after leaving the university.

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Career

He found a job as an English teacher at a public high school, Hampden Academy, in 1971. He continued writing in his free time. He was working on a novel called ‘Carrie’ but was frustrated that it seemed to go nowhere.

The novel ‘Carrie’ was finally published in 1974. It told the story of a teenage girl who uses her telekinetic power to exact revenge on the people who had humiliated her. The novel was a hit.

In 1977, he released the novel ‘The Shining’ which revolves around a young boy who possesses psychic abilities that allow him to witness the past horrors that had happened in the hotel he is staying in with his parents. This novel established King as a popular horror writer.

His 1983 novel, ‘Pet Sematary’, which was nominated for a World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, was about a cemetery which has special powers to resurrect the dead that have been buried there. This novel was later made into a popular movie of the same name.

King published a psychological horror novel ‘Misery’ in 1987 which is about a writer who is abducted by a crazy fan who is upset with the ending of one of his books and forces him to rewrite the story, torturing him in the process.

In 1996, his serial novel, ‘The Green Mile’, telling the story of a death row supervisor’s experiences with an unusual inmate, was published. Set in the 1930s, the book is a great example of magical realism.

Published in 2001, his novel ‘Black House’ was written in collaboration with another writer, Peter Straub. The story is a chilling tale of a serial killer who targets children and eats their dead bodies.

His novel, ‘Duma Key’, published in 2008, is about a contractor, Edgar Freemantle, who suffers a terrible accident and experiences severe personality changes and eventually acquires the power to paint events that will occur in future.

Some of his more recent novels include ‘The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole’ (2012), ‘Joyland’ (2013), and ‘Mr. Mercedes’ (2014).

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Major Works

’The Shining’ is the novel which played a major role in making him a famous writer of horror thrillers. It was his first bestseller which was later made into a movie of the same name by director Stanley Kubrick.

His novel ‘It’, which is about a mysterious being that terrorizes children was his first novel in which he explored the themes like childhood trauma, memory power, and phobias, which would recur in his future novels. The novel had been adapted into several plays and films.

The novella ‘Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption’ was undoubtedly one of his best known works, popularized by the 1994 movie ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ which was nominated for several Academy Awards.

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Awards & Achievements

In 2002, King along with J. N. Williamson was honored with The Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement for their significant contribution to the genre of horror writing. He is also the recipient of several Bram Stoker Awards.

In 2003, he was awarded the Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters by the National Book Awards which were established in 1936 by the American Booksellers Association.

Personal Life & Legacy

King married Tabitha Spruce, a fellow student at the University of Maine, in 1971. The couple have three children—two sons and one daughter. Both his sons are published authors themselves.

Facts About Stephen King

Stephen King once held a teaching position at the University of Maine, where he taught creative writing.

He is an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox and often incorporates references to the team in his novels.

Despite being known for his horror stories, King is also a talented writer in other genres, including fantasy and science fiction.

King has a passion for music and has even played in a band called The Rock Bottom Remainders with other famous authors like Amy Tan and Dave Barry.

In addition to writing, King is a philanthropist who has donated millions of dollars to various charitable causes, including libraries and literacy programs.

Stephen King Biography

You wanted to know

What is Stephen King's best-selling novel?

In which state is Stephen King's fictional town of Castle Rock located?

What is the significance of the number 19 in Stephen King's works?

Which Stephen King novel features a shape-shifting monster that primarily takes the form of a clown?