Today is publication day for Stephen King: A Complete Exploration of His Work, Life, and Influences. I’m quite pleased with myself that I’m now able to type out that entire title without looking it up, including the serial comma! The title was selected by my editor at Quarto, so it’s taken me a while to “learn” it! The way I remember the order is that, to me, the work is supreme. I’m only interested in the biographical aspect insofar as it influences what King wrote. All those little snapshots that somehow expanded into full-blown novels.
The reviews and reader reactions so far have been gratifying. People really seem to like this book (said in my best Sally Field voice). I hear from my publicist that the first printing is essentially sold out from the publisher and they’ve ordered a second printing pre-publication. That’s great—definitely the first time that’s ever happened to me.
The review below took me by surprise. It’s from something called “The It List” on Yahoo Entertainment, and it’s written by the Editor-in-Chief. You have to scroll down a bit to find it, but it’s possibly the only time my name will be mentioned in an article that leads off by talking about Jon Hamm!
A lot of friends and people I’ve encountered in person and online over the years have helped spread the word about this book far and wide, for which I am deeply appreciative. Shout out to Brian Keene, who mentioned it a few times this morning on Brian Keene Radio—which you should really check out, by the way. Where else will you hear Johnny Cash leading into Prince or Abba leading into Black Sabbath? It’s quite a musical education!
I still have a handful of podcast interviews to do in the next week and a half, and the signing event at Village Books is slated for October 18. It was supposed to be tonight, but the supply chain messed around with us. If you click the link in the first paragraph, you’ll go to a page that talks about the book, has links to interviews, review excerpts, and a list of places where you can buy the book online, including two where you can order signed copies.
It’s been quite a ride so far. Big shout out to Steve Roth, my publicist, who has been enthusiastically and energetically—not to mention effectively—promoting this book far and wide. It makes a huge difference to have someone in your corner like that.
Stay tuned for news about translations. Four are in the works already and I’m hopeful more will be forthcoming now that the book is out in the world.
