Recommended reading - Danse Macabre (2012):

Danse Macabre

By Stephen King.

Published by Hachette Book Group.

Paperback.

Published 2012.

ISBN-10: 9781444723267

ISBN-13: 978-1444723267

Description:

From the author of dozens of #1 New York Times bestsellers and the creator of many unforgettable movies comes a vivid, intelligent, and nostalgic journey through three decades of horror as experienced through the eyes of the most popular writer in the genre. In 1981, years before he sat down to tackle On Writing, Stephen King decided to address the topic of what makes horror horrifying and what makes terror terrifying. Here, in ten brilliantly written chapters, King delivers one colorful observation after another about the great stories, books, and films that comprise the horror genre—from Frankenstein and Dracula to The Exorcist, The Twilight Zone, and Earth vs. The Flying Saucers.

With the insight and good humor his fans appreciated in On Writing, Danse Macabre is an enjoyably entertaining tour through Stephen King’s beloved world of horror.

The author whose boundless imagination and storytelling powers have redefined the horror genre, from 1974’s Carrie to his new epic Under the Dome, reflects on the very nature of terror – what scares us and why – in films (both cheesy and choice), television and radio, and, of course, the horror novel, past and present.

Informal, engaging, tremendous fun, and tremendously informative, Danse Macabre is an essential tour with the master of horror as your guide; much like his spellbinding works of fiction, you won’t be able to put it down.

Recommended reading - On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (2000):

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

By Stephen King.

Published by Scribner.

Published 2000.

This edition published in 2020.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1982159375

ISBN-13: 978-1982159375

Description:

"A one-of-a-kind classic." – The Wall Street Journal.

"On Writing had more useful and observant things to say about the craft than any book since Strunk and White's The Elements of Style." – Roger Ebert.

"This is a special book, animated by a unique intelligence, and filled with useful truth." – Michael Chabon.

“The best book on writing. Ever.” – The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

“Long live the King” hailed Entertainment Weekly upon publication of Stephen King’s On Writing. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer’s craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have. King’s advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported, near-fatal accident in 1999 – and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it – fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told.

Stephen King, on writing:

In both writing and sleeping, we learn to be physically still at the same time we are encouraging our minds to unlock from the humdrum rational thinking of our daytime lives.

- Stephen King.

Stephen King, on writing:

Writing is magic, as much the water of life as any other creative art.

The water is free.

So drink.

Drink and be filled up.

- Stephen King.

Stephen King, on reading:

Few things are as lovely as having an uninterrupted hour with a good book.

- Stephen King.

Recommended reading - The Shining, by Stephen King (1977):

The Shining

By Stephen King.

Filmed as:

The Shining (1980), movie directed by Stanley Kubrick.

The Shining (1997), TV miniseries directed by Mick Garris.

Published by Hodder.

First published 1977.

ISBN 13: 9780340920930

ISBN 10: 0340920939

ASIN: 0340920939

Paperback.

Description:

Danny is only five years old, but he is a 'shiner', aglow with psychic voltage. When his father becomes caretaker of an old hotel, his visions grow out of control. Cut off by blizzards, the hotel seems to develop an evil force, and who are the mysterious guests in the supposedly empty hotel?

Somewhere, somehow there is an evil force in the hotel and that too has begun to shine...

Stephen King, on writing:

If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others; read a lot and write a lot.

There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut.

- Stephen King.

On this day in movie history - The Dark Half (1993):

The Dark Half

directed and written by George A. Romero,

based on the novel by Stephen King,

was released in the United States on April 23, 1993.
Music by Christopher Young.

Cast:

Timothy Hutton, Amy Madigan, Michael Rooker, Julie Harris, Robert Joy, Chelsea Field, Royal Dano, Rutanya Alda, Beth Grant, Kent Broadhurst, Tom Mardirosian, Glenn Colerider, Larry John Meyers, Patrick Brannan, Sarah Parker, Elizabeth Parker, John Ponzio, William Cameron, Rohn Thomas, Molly Renfroe, Judy Grafe, John Machione, Erik Jensen, Christine Forrest, Nardi Novak, Zachary Mott, David W. Butler, Curt DeBor, Drinda Lalumia, Lamont Arnold, Lee Hayes, Jack Skelly, Marc Field, Rik Billock, Bruce Kirkpatrick, David Early, Jeff Monahan, Jeff Howell, Melissa Papp, J. Michael Hunter, Therese Courtney, Marty Roppelt, John Amplas, Donna Lynne Champlin, George C. Romero.

On this day in movie history - Dolan’s Cadillac (2009):

Dolan’s Cadillac

directed by Jeff Beesley,

written by Richard Dooling,

based on the novella by Stephen King,

was released in the United States on April 6, 2010.
Music by James Mark Stewart.

Cast:

Christian Slater, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Wes Bentley, Greg Bryk, Aidan Devine, Al Sapienza, Karen LeBlanc, Cory Generoux, Vivian Ng, Patrick Bird, Eugene Clark, Max Keene, Robert Benz, Tim Allen, Amy Matysio, Tony Munch, Darla Biccum, Simon Chin, Sharmaine Yeoh, Amy Martin, Steven P. Park, Jonathan Lim, Melany Burant, Kevin Deon, Rob Hoskins.

Recommended reading - Nightmares & Dreamscapes, by Stephen King (1993):

Nightmares & Dreamscapes

By Stephen King.

Published by Scribner.

First published 1993.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1501192035

ISBN-13: 978-1501192036

Description:

Includes the story “It Grows on You” – set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine.

The classic short story collection from #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephen King.

A wrong turn on a lonely road lands a wayward couple in Rock and Roll Heaven, Oregon, where there’s no escaping the free nightly concert…. A novelty toy becomes an unexpected and terrifying instrument of self-defense…. An ex-con pieces together a map to unearth a stolen million dollars – but at what price?... A private investigator in Depression-era Los Angeles is finding his life unraveling as he discovers the shocking truth of who he really is…. A third-grade teacher is willing to dig deep in order to exact revenge for his murdered wife.... These are just some of the haunting scenarios to be found in this classic collection – spellbinding tales from the darkest places and the unparalleled imagination of fiction’s master storyteller. Stories include: Dolan's Cadillac; The End of the Whole Mess; Suffer the Little Children; The Night Flier; Popsy; It Grows on You; Chattery Teeth; Dedication; The Moving Finger; Sneakers; You Know They Got a Hell of a Band; Home Delivery; Rainy Season; My Pretty Pony; Sorry, Right Number; The Ten O'Clock People; Crouch End; The House on Maple Street; The Fifth Quarter; The Doctor's Case; Umney's Last Case; Head Down; Brooklyn August.