9 Facts About Stephen King ”“ Master of Horror
Stephen King is a master of horror, and has carved out a rather successful career writing stories that send you to bed with nightmares. His plots and characters are so well loved that many of his novels, books, and short stories have been transformed into successful movies, such as ‘Carrie,’ ‘Cujo,’ and ‘The Running Man.’ In this article, you will encounter a handful of interesting facts and trivia about the author.
1. Birthdate
Stephen King was born on September 21, 1947 in Portland, Maine.
2. Stephen King the Musician
Stephen King has shown a passion for music and was even a member of a band called the Rock Bottom Remainders, which was comprised of other authors, such as Dave Barry, Amy Tan, and Matt Groening.
3. The Backstory of ‘Carrie’
The first best-selling novel of Stephen King was ‘Carrie’ which chronicled the life of high schooler Carrie White. King used two young girls that he encountered during his school years as inspiration for the main character. The initial advance for the story was just $2,500, but when he sold the paperback rights, he made $400,000. Unhappy with his original manuscript, King actually tossed it in the trash, but his wife loved the novel and convinced him to reconsider pursuing it farther.
4. Fictional Towns
King often writes about Derry and Castle Rock, Maine, but these locations do not exist. Most of the stories that he writes about take place in Maine, where he was born. The author was raised in Maine and attended college in the state.
5. An Addictive Personality
Many of King’s early works was penned while he was drinking and doing heavy drugs, such as cocaine. He admits that he barely remembers writing many of his earlier books. King revealed that he was drink the entire time he wrote ‘Cujo’ ”“ his masterpiece centered on a rabid dog that terrorizes a mother and son.
6. A Sober Novel
After his family staged an intervention, King realized that he needed to quit his addictions. The first novel that he wrote after leaving behind the drugs and alcohol was ‘Needful Things.’
7. An Eye Disease
Stephen King battles an eye disease known as macular degeneration, which means that the light-sensitive cells located in the back of his eyes do not work properly and in the future, he could become blind.
8. Who is Richard Bachman?
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, King decided to conduct his own experiment to see if he could enjoy the same success under a different name. He chose the pseudonym Richard Bachman and published Rage (1977), The Long Walk (1979), Roadwork (1981), The Running Man (1982) and Thinner (1984).
9. A Near-Death Experience
There’s nothing like a near-death experience to hone your skills for writing thrillers and horror stories. Stephen King almost lost his life when he was hit by a van while walking close to his home in Bangor, Maine. The accident took place in 1999 and left him with severe injuries, such as a broken hip, split knee, chipped spine, broken leg, and broken ribs as he was tossed 14 feet off the road.