Stephen King
The King of Horror
Stephen King was born September 21, 1947 in Portland, Maine, to Donald Edwin King, a merchant seaman, and Nellie Ruth (née Pillsbury), a later caregiver in a local residential facility for the mentally challenged. King's father left the family when he was only two years-old, implying he would "only be going out for a pack of cigarettes." King's mother was left to raise him and his adopted brother, David, alone as a single mother even through financial strain.
King focused primary on horror, suspense, supernatural fiction, science fiction, and fantasy. As a child, King apparently witnessed one of his friends being struck and killed by a train, though he has no memory of the event. His family told him that after leaving home to play with the boy, King returned, speechless and seemingly in shock. Only later did the family learn of the friend's death. Some commentators have suggested that this event may have psychologically inspired some of King's darker works, but King makes no mention of it in his memoir On Writing (2000). He is the author of many titles and short stories including but not ending at the Dark Tower series, Dreamcatcher, Four Past Midnight, Skeleton Crew, and Nightmares and Dreamscapes. He has also written a memoir, On Writing published in 2000 recounting his experience as a writer.
King has several influences in his writing, among them is Richard Matheson who he states is "the author who influenced me most as a writer." Another influential writer is the famous Ray Bradbury, King of Sci-fi. King has stated "without Ray Bradbury, there is no Stephen King."
The King of Horror
Stephen King was born September 21, 1947 in Portland, Maine, to Donald Edwin King, a merchant seaman, and Nellie Ruth (née Pillsbury), a later caregiver in a local residential facility for the mentally challenged. King's father left the family when he was only two years-old, implying he would "only be going out for a pack of cigarettes." King's mother was left to raise him and his adopted brother, David, alone as a single mother even through financial strain.
King focused primary on horror, suspense, supernatural fiction, science fiction, and fantasy. As a child, King apparently witnessed one of his friends being struck and killed by a train, though he has no memory of the event. His family told him that after leaving home to play with the boy, King returned, speechless and seemingly in shock. Only later did the family learn of the friend's death. Some commentators have suggested that this event may have psychologically inspired some of King's darker works, but King makes no mention of it in his memoir On Writing (2000). He is the author of many titles and short stories including but not ending at the Dark Tower series, Dreamcatcher, Four Past Midnight, Skeleton Crew, and Nightmares and Dreamscapes. He has also written a memoir, On Writing published in 2000 recounting his experience as a writer.
King has several influences in his writing, among them is Richard Matheson who he states is "the author who influenced me most as a writer." Another influential writer is the famous Ray Bradbury, King of Sci-fi. King has stated "without Ray Bradbury, there is no Stephen King."