Stephen King (Full name: Stephen Edwin King) is best-selling American author best known for his horror and supernatural fiction books. He is famous for books such as The Shining (1977), It (1986) and The Stand (1978).
Stephen King was born on 21 September 21, 1947 in Portland, Maine, US. His parents Donald and Ruth King) separated when he was two and he and his older brother were raised by his mother.
When he was 6 or 7, he would copy panels out of comic books and then make up his own stories. His first published work was published in 1965 (when he was 18). It appeared in a fan magazine called Comics Review.
King graduated from the University of Maine in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. The following year, he married a fellow novelist, Tabitha Spruce. To support his family, he began teaching English at a high school in Maine. He would supplement his teaching income by washing motel linens at a laundry and occasionally selling short stories.
He continued writing in the evenings and on the weekends. In 1973, his first novel, Carrie, became a huge success and it enabled him to quit his job and devote his time to writing. Salem’s Lot (1975), The Shinning (1977), Rage (1977) and The Stand (1978) followed soon after and cemented his success.
So far, King has published 63 novels, five non-fiction books and around 200 short stories (including those published under the pen name Richard Bachman). His latest book, Billy Summers, came out in 2021.
His books have sold an estimated 350 million copies, making him one of the wealthiest authors. He is estimated to have a net worth of $500 million.
At least 46 of his books have been made into successful films and many more are in the works. Popular films from his books include The Shining, The Shawshank Redemption, Carrie, and The Deadzone.
King has received numerous awards including the National Medal of Arts in 2014 and The National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters in 2003.
In 1999, he was hit by a minivan while walking near his home. He survived the accident but suffered severe injuries and had to undergo five major operations. As he recovered from his injuries, he worked on his memoir On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.
In On Writing, Stephen King shares his experiences as a writer and provides valuable insights on how to become a better writer.
Further Reading
Check out the articles below for quotes by Stephen King and other accomplished writers.
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