StephenKing.com Getting Major Overhaul

Here is an excerpt from an email I got from stephenking.com:

Big things are coming...

What to expect in 2008 on StephenKing.com

A fully redesigned and reengineered Official Web Site featuring:

- The Library - A brand new searchable database of Stephen King books, audio books, short stories, movies and more.

- Multimedia Section - Offering audio book samples, movie previews, exclusive video clips, fan art, downloads and more.

- Community Features - Tell the world what you think of Stephen's works with our new "my thoughts on this" comment system.

- Updated Message Board - Offering new themes and style guides.

- New Dark Tower Web Site coming in April - Combining the classic seven part epic with Marvel's Dark Tower series, the redesign is just what the doctor ordered for the constant Dark Tower reader.

- "Wally World" - Codename for a Dark Tower Interactive Flash Experience coming Summer 2008.

- The Office - Step inside Stephen's eclectic office and browse hundreds of artifacts and memorabilia in this Interactive Flash Experience coming Fall 2008.

Click here to see the new home page

I like the changes they've done, how about you?

Rock Bottom Remainders - You Tube Clip

Stephen King on vocals. Nothing more to say.

Stephen's Top 25 Best Rock n' Roll Songs of All Time

You must follow the link to get Stephen's video about the subject, as I can't put it up here.

But I can list the songs:

25. "Psychotic Reaction" - Count 5

24. "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" - Iron Butterfly (long version only)

23. "Dead Flowers" - Rolling Stones

22. "Needles and Pins" - The Searchers

21. "I Get Around" - The Beach Boys

20. "On The Dark Side" - John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band

19. "You Never Can Tell " - Chuck Berry

18. "I Want To Help You Ann" - The Lyres

17. "Long Cool Woman In a Black Dress" - The Hollies

16. "Don't Be Cruel" - Elvis

15. "Ain't No Fun (Waiting Around To Be a Millionaire)" - AC/DC

14. "Sixty Minute Man" - The Dominoes

13. "Mass. Ave" - Willie Alexander

12. "The Girl Can't Help It" - Little Richard

11. "She Loves You" - The Beatles

10. "Big Hunk of Love" - Elvis

9. "Bip Bop Boom" - Mickey Hawks

8. "Let's Have a Party" - Wanda Jackson

7. "New Orleans" - Gary U.S. Bonds

6. "Ramrod" - Bruce Springsteen

5. "C'mon Everybody" - Eddie Cochran

4. "Stupid Cupid" - Connie Francis

3. "Mystery Dance" - Elvis Costello

2. "Burning Love" - Elvis

1. "Anarchy In the U.K." - The Sex Pistols

The Dark Tower

OK, I'm finished - finally!

I'll be back to write about it in a day or so, I have to collect my thoughts.

Take Care.

"Duma Key" Now In Book Stores

Stephen's newest book, "Duma Key", was released on Tues. Jan 22, 2008. If you go to stephenking.com you will be able to listen to Stephen's latest interview about the book (among other things) on The Today Show, as well as listen to an audio excerpt from "Duma Key". I'm getting my copy today!

Update:

Just got it today (Sunday) and will start reading it as soon as I'm done the Dark Tower Series. I have less than 70 pages left in book 7, so look for my review of the series sometime this week.

The Stand - The Book

Wow, what a book! Definitely in my top 5 of Stephen King books. The original published version came out in 1978, but it was a much thinner version than the one Stephen had written - about 150,000 words thinner.

In the early 1990's Stephen was able to get his "Complete and Uncut" edition of 'The Stand' released. It was 500 pages more than the original publication, and it was the version that I happened to read first.

One day I was in the university bookstore looking for this one textbook that was supposed to be on reserve at the library but had somehow 'gone missing' when I stumbled upon the Complete and Uncut version of The Stand. I thought, "Awesome, I haven't gotten around to reading the first one so I'll just get this and read it instead."

The problem about this was I just couldn't put the bloody thing down - at all - and I was headed into my final exams and essays. I read it more than I studied. Fortunately for me I did fine on my exams and essays, the book allowed me to be more calm because it took my mind of everything but the story before me.

Anyway, about the story, - in a nutshell - it was awesome! The character development again was phenomenal. Stephen's ability to create believable characters facing unbelievable circumstances/situations is what makes him a great story teller, and what sells the reader on his story lines. I mean who ever has seen the hand of God? No one, yet when it appears in the story it is that much more believable because the characters we believe in, and have come to like, see it and are reacting to it.

Set in a post-apocalyptic America Stephen King weaves a classic tale of good vs evil where the apocalypse is not caused by a nuclear war but by a lab developed virus. The story is divided into 3 sections; the first section is really about the outbreak of the virus and the immediate aftermath, the second section deals with the gathering of forces (good and evil), while the last section is the final confrontation.

I know I have not gone into great detail about the story here, but there is a reason: I want you to read the book and discover it for yourself.

If you read only a few Stephen King books ever, then this one is a must for your list.

Shameless Self-Promotion

It is that time of year again where the Canadian Blog Awards are being determined. This little old blog is up for "The Best New Blog" in Canada and as far as I know it is the only Stephen King based blog nominated.

What I am asking you for is your vote. You need only to vote once per round, and your votes do count - I lost second place in the Best Post category last year by 3 votes and ended up finishing 3rd.

I also ask another favour of you, my faithful readers, (do I know how to suck up or what?), my other blog "NASCAR Ranting and Raving" has also been nominated in the "Best Sports Blog" category, so could you vote for that one too? Thanks! Again you need only to vote once for each round.

Tickets Available For A Stephen King Reading

Stephen King, along with his wife Tabitha and son Owen, are going to be in Washington D.C. for a book reading. The event is being billed as "The Three Kings" and each of the authors are going to be reading selections from their own works. Autographs are scheduled to follow the readings.

For more info go to The Folger Shakespeare Library site. Tickets are just $30.00!

Photo Credits: Folger Shakespeare Library.

Different Seasons Part 4: The Breathing Method

The fourth story in Different Seasons is "The Breathing Method".

This is a story told at a Private Club in New York City one Christmas about a young pregnant woman determined to deliver her baby, regardless of what has happened to her.

Character Dr Emlyn McCarron tells about a patient of his, Sandra Stansfield, who paid for his help in delivering her baby in the pre-WWII era. He introduced her to what he called the Breathing Method to help control the pain and help her concentrate on the birth - what we now call Lamaze.

Sarah was beheaded in a terrible accident outside the hospital as she was arriving by taxi to deliver the baby. As Dr McCarron arrived at the hospital to deliver the baby he bears witness to Sarah's headless body continuing to perform the Breathing Method and aids it in delivering the baby. Once the baby is safely delivered Sarah's body finally dies just as the eyes on her severed head close.

When I first read this story it really made me pause and think about a parent's dedication to their child. You know, there have been a lot of strange, and sometimes unexplainable, things that have happen in the world and this story isn't too far out of the realm of probability - in my opinion anyway.

As horrible this story is in it's description of the birth it is equally pleasing to the reader because the baby lives due to it's mother's dedication to it. Stephen King has given the reader the feeling of feeling sadness and satisfaction at the same time, kind of a reader's version of speed.

This has not yet been made into a movie, but I have heard that there is a screen play out htere that is being shopped around. We'll just have to wait and see if this is indeed the case.

For you teachers out there this story is available as a level 4 intermediate reader from Penguin Publishers. There are fact sheets/teacher notes available on line as well.

A Winter's Tale

Different Seasons - Part 3: The Body

The third story in 'Different Seasons' is 'The Body'.

This story takes place during the summer of 1960 in the Stephen King created town of Castle Rock, Maine. A kid named Ray Brower from a nearby town had gone out to pick berries and never returned. Twelve year-olds Gordon Lachance, Chris Chambers, Teddy Duchamp, and Vern Tessio, discover the location of the corpse of Ray Brower through an eavesdropped conversation and decide to go find it.

The rest of the story is about their adventures, and misadventures, in their journey to discover the body and unknowingly, themselves.

Along the way the boys are faced to not only faced with certain perils and dangers ( ie. on coming train while on a bridge), but they also realize that they are getting older and once school starts they may never be the same again.

It is a classic coming of age tale as only Stephen King can tell it.

The movie adaptation was called 'Stand By Me' and was directed by Rob Reiner. I find the movie adaptation of this novella to be very good and it stuck very close to the original story.

Another awesome story.

Fall From Innocence