King of the Backlist

November 10, 2012

This month’s search into the backlist led me to one of the most successful authors of all time, Stephen King. Mr. King is king of horror. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.) We all remember the books and movies - Carrie, Cujo, The Stand, Stand by Me, The Green Mile...The list goes on and on. I could have chosen any one of those instant classics, but instead, in honor of National Novel Writing Month, I’ll attempt to inspire you to read one of his lesser known works, On Writing.

Part memoir and part master class on fiction writing, King takes us through his vivid childhood memories as a horror movie lover to his first forays into writing. It’s interesting but hard to believe that he struggled early in his career, and that falling in love was all that kept him going back to his typewriter. We know more about him after his first wildly successful novel, Carrie; but his revelations in On Writing about the near fatal accident he suffered in 1999 and how writing propelled his recovery were fascinating.

Wonderfully, readable and surprisingly friendly and funny, I recommend On Writing to any Stephen King fan and to anyone serious about the art and craft of writing.

Laura M.
Kearney Branch