It all started with The Mist

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CarraroeClare

Member
Apr 19, 2016
12
58
Hi everyone!! I am new and excited to be here. It all started with The Mist……

I was in care and at a permanent foster home finally. My (foster) Dad had said he would take me to the library to get some decent books. I was an extremely advanced reader at 8 years old, and worked my way through every book in our Primary School, and then grown bored of kiddie books soon after. This was in 1981, in a small town near Bristol, England.

One long School summer holiday Dad drove me up the the library and took me into the Grown Up section. He said I could choose whatever I wanted. So I walked up and down the aisles until I got to Horror. There I pulled out an anthology of horror stories. Got it stamped and ‘Bob’s your Uncle’, Dad let me take it home.

The book was cool, but one story in particular stood out to me. The Mist. It was by a writer called Stephen King. I was amazed, especially by THAT ending….. That story opened up a door in me, much like the portal that had opened up in Bridgton and let all the monsters through. I read it in a day, then reread it. That summer holiday I pulled everything off the shelf that Stephen King had written that I could get my little 8 year old hands on. I was hooked.

At the end of the Summer I turned 9 and was a Stephen King constant reader and have been for 33 years now! I am so glad my (foster) Dad had so much faith in me even when criticised by other people for allowing me a girl, to read such stuff. He was a pretty cool guy and ended up my permanent Dad (until I lost him to cancer in 2002). I guess you could say I had two great Male influences in my young life. My Dad Graham, and Mr Stephen King.

I know it would sound weird anywhere but on this forum. Which is why I am telling this short story of my connection to SK.. And I know I don’t have to tell you all that one of the main reasons he is so popular with kids, is because he writes like he really understands them.

Anyway that was a really long introduction but just wanted to get that out there. So Hello!!
 

Mr Nobody

Well-Known Member
Jul 9, 2008
3,306
9,050
Walsall, England
1: Hi. Excellent introduction. And welcome.
2: Stick around. There are a number of Brits on the board (me, for one), so you're not Alone Among the Philistines. :biggrin2: (Joke. They're a great bunch on here.)
3: 'The Mist' is just about my all-time favourite short story/novella.
4: Your Dad sounded like a great guy.
5: (And something of an aside) I was a very advanced reader too, though no one ever let me near SK's stuff (crime fiction and true crime, yeah sure fine whatever, 'cause there's nothing potentially damaging there, right?). I'm fairly jealous.;)
 

CarraroeClare

Member
Apr 19, 2016
12
58
Thank You so much everyone! My Dad was amazing. I think he figured that any TRUE horror was stuff I had already experienced in real life. Nothing sinister just the usual foster child stuff. So horror fiction was just..well stories...So he wasn't that bothered. Dad was quite proud really. As to losing him in 2002 to cancer? It was sad but I was honoured to have him as my Dad for the little time that I did. But yeah cancer is total b*tch. But thank you for your lovely welcome..glad there's loads of Brits here! And all you lovely Mr King fans too
 
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CarraroeClare

Member
Apr 19, 2016
12
58
Haha yes I know what you mean...those kids in IT and Stand by Me were my mates too. And I had mates when I was growing up who were as loopy and reckless as them in real life. We even had our own version of the Barrens. No clowns tho...Actually come to think of it I think EVERY bunch of friends have their version of a Barrens somewhere...
 

not_nadine

Comfortably Roont
Nov 19, 2011
29,655
139,785
Behind you
Anyone able to tell me how to add a pic on my avatar thingy?

Click on your avatar that you have now. Go to your profile page and click on the avatar thingy that you have now. It will open a window to give you an option to browse for files that you have or had downloaded onto your computer.

That's the way it works for me, anyhows. Good luck.
 

danie

I am whatever you say I am.
Feb 26, 2008
9,760
60,662
60
Kentucky
Can someone assist CarraroeClare?
Click on your avatar that you have now. Go to your profile page and click on the avatar thingy that you have now. It will open a window to give you an option to browse for files that you have or had downloaded onto your computer.

That's the way it works for me, anyhows. Good luck.
Oops! NN beat me to it!