Marvel has announced that N. - The Comic Book Series will begin release in March of 2010 with #1. This new tale will be told over four issues by the same team that produced the revolutionary N. - Motion Comic. We'll post more info and artwork in the near future. For now, be sure to check out the press release from Marvel as well as the first exclusive artwork at the link below.

View the Press Release

Stephen appeared on The Colbert Report on Wednesday, December 16th as the first "Better Know a Stephen." You can watch the video on ComedyCentral.com. (Stephen appears in the first 1/2 of the episode.)

Launch External Web Site
(Contains 3rd Party Commercials)

Stephen appeared on the Colbert Report on Wednesday, December 16th as the first "Better Know a Stephen." You can watch the video on ComedyCentral.com. (Stephen appears in the first 1/2 of the episode.)

Launch External Web Site
(Contains 3rd Party Commercials)

John Mellencamp has virtually completed recording and “assembling” the “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County” musical theater collaboration with Stephen King.

John and King have edited the initial three-hour program down to two hours and 10 minutes—with a bit more editing still to come before producer T-Bone Burnett completes the tracks. When finished, the recording will be available in a novel book package containing the full text, two discs featuring the entire production of the spoken word script and songs performed by the cast, and a third CD of the songs only.

The story involves domestic turmoil, and is played by a stellar cast led by Kris Kristofferson, in the role of Joe, the father, and Elvis Costello, as the satanic character The Shape. Rosanne Cash plays Monique, the mother, with the sons enacted by Will Daily (Frank), Dave Alvin (Jack), Alvin’s real-life brother Phil Alvin (Andy) and John (Drake).

Sheryl Crow stars as Jenna and Neko Case is Anna, with boxing legend Joe Frazier playing caretaker Dan Coker and Stephen King himself in the role of Uncle Steve. The narrator is “24” star Glenn Morshower.

John stressed that the three-disc package is not a traditional audio book, but offers an experience more akin to listening to an old radio show with music; he further emphasized the challenge inherent in making such a project work.

Earlier this week, StephenKing.com soft-launched the first chapter of Discordia on The Dark Tower Official Web Site. After several days of truly outstanding feedback and technological stability, we are now ready to release Discordia to the much wider audience here on StephenKing.com.

Discordia is a simple flash-based experience that immerses the users in the conflict between Tet Corporation and Sombra. With wonderfully detailed 3D artwork by Brian Stark, masterwork illustrations by Dark Tower veteran Michael Whelan and retrospective text by Robin Furth, Discordia is a groundbreaking experience that is sure to please both the diehard DT fans as well as the uninitiated.

Be sure to check out chapter one of Discordia now live on StephenKing.com. And please make sure to drop us a line on the Official Message Board with feedback and suggestions. Cheers! And happy holidays from StephenKing.com.

Launch Discordia

More Information

Official Discordia Thread (StephenKing.com)

Unofficial Discordia Thread (The DarkTower.com)

In anticipation of next Monday's release, we have leaked a short video from Discordia that can be viewed at the link below. 

Launch the Video

More Information

Stephen and several other Simon & Schuster authors discuss their favorite holiday movies.

Launch External Web Site

Stephen appeared on CNN Morning Express to discuss Under the Dome.  How news personalities play a role in UTD is discussed as well a Stephen's retirement.

Launch External Web Site
(Contains 3rd Party Commercials)

Stephen will be on the Canadian television news magazine, The Hour on Thursday, November 19th to talk about Under the Dome.  We will post this video to the multimedia section as soon as it becomes available.

More Information

Stephen appered on The View last Friday to talk about Under the Dome. You can watch the video at the link below.

Launch External Web Site
(Contains 3rd Party Commercials)

Stephen has announced that he has an idea for a new Dark Tower book, the working title of which will be THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE.  He has not yet started this book and anticipates that it will be a minimum of eight months before he is able to begin writing it.

Scribner has announced their Under the Dome sweepstakes available to US residents, 18 years of age and older (please be sure to read the Official Rules).  Prizes include one grand prize of a signed Collector's set, 5 first place winners of a Collector's set (unsigned), and 10 winners of Under the Dome.  Contest ends November 24, 2009. Click here for more information.

Stephen appeared on Good Morning America to be interviewed about Under The Dome and its overall themes. You can watch the video on the ABC News web site using the link below.

Launch External Web Site

Time Magazine has posted a series of Podcasts related to Stephen's ten longest books.

Launch External Web Site

We have updated the Multimedia section of StephenKing.com. This new page and media system will bring you the lastest Stephen King related multimedia and downloads in one central location.

Multimedia

StephenKing.com is proud to roll out its brand new multimedia section. This new page and media system will bring you the latest Stephen King related multimedia and downloads in one central location.  In the future, we will be posting streaming audio and video content, pdf downloads, widgets, games and other interactive content.  Be sure to check back often, we're always adding new stuff.

With her generator still running - although it wouldn't be for much longer unless she could find some more LP canisters - Brenda Perkins was able to fire up her husband's printer and make a hard copy of everything in the VADER file. The incredible list of offenses Howie had compiled - and which he had apparently been about to act on at the time

As part of the Under the Dome promotional campaign, Barnes & Noble has released an exclusive interview with Stephen.  This video offers great insight into Stephen’s thoughts about the characters of Chester's Mill and the overall conflict within the town. 

The interview also reveals info about Stephen’s thoughts on being considered a "Horror Writer" as well as the relevance in the similarities between The Simpson's Movie and Under the Dome. - Great content!

Launch External Web Site

Scribner has released a promotional video and interview of Stephen regarding Under the Dome. This interview delves into Stephen's thoughts on the characters of Chester's Mill and the secrets that each town member is holding back.  - Cool stuff.

Launch Video

Scriber has released a short promotional video of Stephen reading from Under the Dome.

Launch Video

Scribner has released a very cool thirty-second spot for Under the Dome.  This commercial can be seen on major morning news shows and other cable outlets throughout  November. You can also watch the video using the link below.

Launch Video

Scribner has released a promotional Flash Widget for Under the Dome.  This very cool app delivers tons of UTD content including the official count down timer, cover artwork, audio book excerpt, wallpaper and the brand new interactive cover viewer.

Launch Widget

Scribner has released a promotional web site for Under the Dome.  This site offers even more UTD content as well as links to Chester's Mill Official Township Web Site. - Must see content!

Launch Web Site

EW.com is offering an exclusive look at the first several pages of The Talisman comics. 

Launch External Web Site

Entertainment Weekly will be publishing an excerpt of Under the Dome in their print magazine currently scheduled to be on stands on October 30th.  The excerpt is not expected to be available on-line.

On Friday, October 30th, EW.com and EW's Shelf Life Blog will launch a short video of Stephen reading the first few pages of Under the Dome.  This is also a one-day exclusive.

Dear Constant Readers,

Please don't believe the press reports that the e-book reader price for Under the Dome will be $35. This was the result of confusion from a press release from the publisher, what Big Jim Rennie would call a clustermug. It is true that you cannot order the book as an e-download until December 24th, but the physical book, which is a beautiful thing, you can pre-order for less than $9--so who's better than us?

Steve

AOL and PopEater have just posted an exclusive video interview with Stephen about Under the Dome.  Click here to read the article and view the video.

Stephen King and Scott Snyder to write vampire comic book series for Vertigo.

More Information

Hodder & Stoughton has announced a promotion for their publication of Under the Dome. According to their release, they have created ‘the biggest ever game of literary hide-and-seek’, a digital mystery that requires fans to dig through the internet to find these clues and deliver them back to the site. In return, they will win a weekend for two in a hotel in London, where they can read a limited edition advance copy of the book. They are also hosting a creative writing contest to give aspiring writers a chance to submit their piece of work to be judged by Stephen himself.

The game is open to everyone, but the prize will be given to a UK resident in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the contest.  Click here for more details.

Dear Constant Readers,

Please don't believe the press reports that the e-book reader price for Under the Dome will be $35. This was the result of confusion from a press release from the publisher, what Big Jim Rennie would call a clustermug. It is true that you cannot order the book as an e-download until December 24th, but the physical book, which is a beautiful thing, you can pre-order for less than $9--so who's better than us?

Steve

StephenKing.com and Metro DMA release the opening credits for the upcoming Dark Tower project. The streaming video is now available in three classes of connection speed:

HD - Fiber & High Speed Cable
(Recommended - Users on slower connections can wait for the HD version to download completely before clicking play.)

Medium - DSL and Standard Cable

Low - DSL and 3G Mobile Networks

You can get a sneak peek of The Talisman comic exclusively  this week only at EW.com.

Earlier today at the Comic Book Retailer's Summit, Marvel announced the next thirty issue arc of The Dark Tower series. The new arc, entitled The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger chronicles Roland and his early quest for the Man in Black. The Gunslinger is set to begin in 2010. We'll keep you posted on any developments as we receive them.
 
More Information

View the Press Release and Artwork

We are excited to announce you can still purchase a signed limited edition of the UNDER THE DOME COLLECTOR'S SET!  Not all of the original orders were completed, giving you a second chance to order one of the remaining copies.

Orders will be taken on October 15, 2009 at 9 AM EST.  This is a limited time offer only available while supplies last and to Domestic US orders only.

Be sure to check out Simon & Schuster's web site devoted to Under the Dome - StephenKingUndertheDome.com. You can read an excerpt from the book, check out character bios, download wallpaper, and many more features with additional content to be added as the countdown to November 10th continues!

UPDATE: The jacket art for Under the Dome has been fully released by Scribner. You can now view the complete artwork in high resolution at the link below. - And don't miss the Under the Dome Cover Reveal Flash Widget and Count Down Timer that can be added to YOUR web site or social networking site. - Have fun!

Hi-Res UTD Jacket Artwork

UTD Flash Widget and Countdown Timer

A second excerpt from The Cannibals is now available for download in PDF format from The Cannibals page.

Simon & Schuster Canada is pleased to welcome international bestselling author Stephen King to Toronto for an exclusive Canadian in person appearance on November 19th, 2009 at the Canon Theatre. The legendary horror, science fiction, and fantasy author has written more than fifty bestselling books and is the 2007 recipient of The Canadian Booksellers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Stephen King visits Toronto to celebrate the launch of his epic new novel, Under the Dome.

For this exclusive in person event King will be joined in conversation by highly-acclaimed Canadian director, writer, and producer David Cronenberg on stage at the elegant Canon Theatre.

Hosted by Canadian television and radio personality George Stroumboulopoulos, host of CBC television program The Hour, the evening will commence at 8:00pm with introductions followed by an in-depth interview with Stephen King led by David Cronenberg.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, October 2nd for $33 and $28 (Service charges apply to phone and internet orders. All prices are in Canadian dollars and include GST & CIF. Seating is subject to availability) and will be available by phone at TicketKing (416) 872-1212 or 1(800)461-3333, online at www.ticketking.com or in person at these box offices:

The Royal Alexandra Theatre (260 King Street West) or The Princess of Wales Theatre (300 King Street West).

The launch of  TimesTalks LIVE will include a simulcast broadcast of Stephen's appearance at The Times Center to be held on November 10, 2009.  Participating sites currently include 54 Cineplex theaters throughout Canada and 20 independent venues in the U.S.  Audiences at the various locations will have the opportunity to submit questions for consideration by the respective moderator in advance of each event through the TimesTalks Web site.  We hope to be able to post a full list of the participating sites in the near future. 

The full press release can be downloaded at www.nytco.com.

Dear SKMBers,

As most of you know, I have a novel coming out in November called Under the Dome.  My first effort to write it came in 1978, or thereabouts. That seventy-page manuscript (actually titled Under the Dome) was lost, but after reviewing the stuff I said about it in Douglas Winter’s book, The Art of Darkness (1989), I got thinking about my second effort to write that story, which, as you will find out, deals with people trapped in an increasingly lethal environment.

That second try was mostly written in Pittsburgh, during the filming of Creepshow. I spent two months in a depressing suburban apartment complex that became (with the usual fictional tweaks) the setting for the story. It was called The Cannibals, and this time I got a lot further—almost five hundred pages—before hitting a wall. I assumed the manuscript was lost.  Long story short, it turned up—battered, and with some pages missing, but mostly complete—in the summer of 2009.   So, for your amusement, and as an appetizer to Under the Dome, here are the first sixty pages or so of The Cannibals, reproduced, warts and all, from the original manuscript which was dredged up by Ms. Mod from a locked cabinet in a back room of my office.  I’m amused by the antique quality of the typescript; this may have been the last thing I did on my old IBM Selectric before moving on to a computer system.

There’s another reason for publishing this on the website. Several Internet writers have speculated on a perceived similarity between Under the Dome and The Simpsons Movie, where, according to Wikipedia, Homer’s town of Springfield is isolated inside a large glass dome (probably because of that pesky nuclear power plant). I can’t speak personally to this, because I have never seen the movie, and the similarity came as a complete surprise to me…although I know, from personal experience, that the similarity will turn out to be casual. Unless there’s deliberate copying (sometimes known as “plagiarism”), stories can no more be alike than snowflakes. The reason is simple: no two human imaginations are exactly alike. For the doubters, this excerpt should demonstrate that I was thinking dome and isolation long before Homer, Marge, and their amusing brood came on the scene.

I hope you enjoy this. As always, Ms. Mod and I welcome your comments.

Steve King

THIS EDITION HAS SOLD OUT

The signed collector's edition of Under the Dome will also be going on sale September 15th at 9:00am EDT and will only be available through Simon & Schuster (limited to U.S. orders only).

Dear SKMBers,

As most of you know, I have a novel coming out in November called Under the Dome. My first effort to write it came in 1978, or thereabouts. That seventy-page manuscript (actually titled Under the Dome) was lost, but after reviewing the stuff I said about it in Douglas Winter’s book, The Art of Darkness (1989), I got thinking about my second effort to write that story, which, as you will find out, deals with people trapped in an increasingly lethal environment.

That second try was mostly written in Pittsburgh, during the filming of Creepshow. I spent two months in a depressing suburban apartment complex that became (with the usual fictional tweaks) the setting for the story. It was called The Cannibals, and this time I got a lot further—almost five hundred pages—before hitting a wall. I assumed the manuscript was lost. Long story short, it turned up—battered, and with some pages missing, but mostly complete—in the summer of 2009. So, for your amusement, and as an appetizer to Under the Dome, here are the first sixty pages or so of The Cannibals, reproduced, warts and all, from the original manuscript which was dredged up by Ms. Mod from a locked cabinet in a back room of my office. I’m amused by the antique quality of the typescript; this may have been the last thing I did on my old IBM Selectric before moving on to a computer system.

There’s another reason for publishing this on the website. Several Internet writers have speculated on a perceived similarity between Under the Dome and The Simpsons Movie, where, according to Wikipedia, Homer’s town of Springfield is isolated inside a large glass dome (probably because of that pesky nuclear power plant). I can’t speak personally to this, because I have never seen the movie, and the similarity came as a complete surprise to me…although I know, from personal experience, that the similarity will turn out to be casual. Unless there’s deliberate copying (sometimes known as “plagiarism”), stories can no more be alike than snowflakes. The reason is simple: no two human imaginations are exactly alike. For the doubters, this excerpt should demonstrate that I was thinking dome and isolation long before Homer, Marge, and their amusing brood came on the scene.

I hope you enjoy this. As always, Ms. Mod and I welcome your comments.

Steve King

---------------

For the first time ever, you can now read an excerpt from The Cannibals. This is the story which originally inspired Under the Dome.

The Cannibals is available for download in PDF format from The Cannibals page.

Stephen's short story, "Home Delivery" (Nightmares & Dreamscapes) has been optioned as a theater release and is in pre-production.  No release date has been set at this time.  John and Paul Buckholts of Our Thing Productions have written the screenplay and Japanese director Ryuhei Kitamura (The Midnight Meat Train) is scheduled to direct.

As part of his Under the Dome publicity tour, Stephen will be making an appearance at the Van Wezel in Sarasota, FL on November 16th.  He will be interviewed on stage by Susan Rife of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and will also entertain questions from the audience.

The first 250 ticket buyers will receive a voucher (one per order) that they may use to purchase a pre-signed copy of Under the Dome, in the lobby, on the night of the show. Unsigned copies will also also be available for purchase.

Tickets will go on sale on September 13th.

CALL THE BOX OFFICE
941.953.3368
TOLL FREE 800.826.9303
WWW.VANWEZEL.org

Tin House has published a new poem by Stephen titled "Mostly Old Men" in Issue 40, their 10th Anniversary issue.  It can be purchased through their web site.

Simon & Schuster has announced they will be taking pre-orders beginning September 15th for the signed Collector's Edition of Under the Dome.

Click here for more information.

As part of his book tour for Under the Dome, Stephen will be appearing in Portsmouth, NH, on December 1, 2009, in the author series Writers on a New England Stage presented by The Music Hall and New Hampshire Public Radio. The one-hour program features an author presentation, interview, and live music.  The evening program will be rebroadcast in days following on the NH Public Radio’s “Word of Mouth” and available on The Music Hall’s website. 

Autographed copies of Stephen King's Under the Dome are $35. Books will be distributed on the evening to audience members who have secured a book voucher. A limited number of book vouchers will be sold, first come, first served; max one book voucher per ticket order, two book vouchers for orders of four or more tickets. Purchase a book voucher in advance at the Music Hall Box Office, 28 Chestnut Street, Portsmouth, or over the phone at 603-436-2400.

Visit the web site for The Music Hall for more information.  Tickets will be available for purchase on July 25th for members of The Music Hall and New Hampshire Public Radio and August 8th for non-members.

On November 10, 2009, Stephen will be appearing in New York at The Times Center to promote his new book, Under the Dome, which will be released in stores on that day.  For more information and to order tickets for the event, please visit their site.

I'm delighted to tell you that I won not one but TWO Stoker Awards at this year's ceremony, one for Duma Key (Best Novel) and one for Just After Sunset (Best Collection). My motto is, You can never be too thin, too rich, or win too many Stoker Awards. (If you've never seen one, the awards are most excellently cool.) My thanks to everyone who voted, and my congratulations to all the other nominees. Most of all, though, thanks to everyone who bought those books and enjoyed them. (And if you bought them and didn't enjoy them, I still thank you.)

Steve

The production of the "Ghost Brothers of Darkland County" CD/book package is slated to commence on June 15, when producer T Bone Burnett begins laying down the tracks in Los Angeles for the 18 new songs John has written for his musical theater collaboration with Stephen King. King's dialog will later be assembled in John's Belmont Studio.

The cast for the production is still not finalized but will definitely be star-studded. Projected release of the completed project is next January and will be in more than one configuration, with a "deluxe" version to include a book containing the show's full text and song lyrics, a CD featuring the show's dialog and songs, and a second CD with only the songs.

The July 2009 issue of Esquire magazine (on newsstands in June) will feature a new short story titled "Morality". 

Chad, an aspiring writer who is teaching school until he lands a publishing contract, and his wife, Nora, who is working as a home nurse for a retired minister are, like most people these days, struggling financially.  Nora is approached by her employer with a proposition that could make their dream of a home in Vermont a reality.  But will it be worth the moral consequences?  

Summer is short and entertainment is vital. Therefore, make sure you take advantage of this June's suggestions. Would I steer you wrong? Hell, no! So here they are:

1. Fangoria's anniversary issue, on sale now.
2. Bruce Springsteen's Seeger Sessions.
3. James McMurtry's Just Us Kids. Real alt-country rock and roll.
4. Apple pies from Checkers. They come rolled in cinnamon. Yum!
5. Waffles and eggs at Waffle House. Hash browns loaded with cheese optional.
6. Monster Truck Jam (as long as you root for The Gravedigger to lose.)
7. Ride the Boulder Dash wooden roller coaster in Bristol, CT.
8. Listen to the entire Metallica catalogue. Then get your ears checked. You know you've been meaning to do it.
9. Go to the beach on a motorcycle with your honey.
10. Read Nobody Move, by Denis Johnson.
11. Read Gone Tomorrow, by Lee Child.
12. Read Look Again, by Lisa Scottoline.
13. Read The Way Home, by George Pelecanos.
14. See Drag Me to Hell, directed by the incomparable Sam Raimi.
15. Play AC/DC in your car with the windows rolled down and the volume all the way up.
16. Root for the Red Sox to bury the Yankees.
17. Pray for Big Papi (David Ortiz).
18. Wear your sunglasses at night.
19. Watch for an excerpt from Under the Dome in Entertainment Weekly.

See them here first -- three new illustrations from The Talisman comics.

We've received permission to release the official copy from Simon & Schuster for the plot synopsis for Under the Dome. Here's your first peek at the story line:

On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester’s Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener’s hand is severed as “the dome” comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when—or if—it will go away.

Dale Barbara, Iraq vet and now a short-order cook, finds himself teamed with a few intrepid citizens—town newspaper owner Julia Shumway, a physician’s assistant at the hospital, a select-woman, and three brave kids. Against them stands Big Jim Rennie, a politician who will stop at nothing—even murder—to hold the reins of power, and his son, who is keeping a horrible secret in a dark pantry. But their main adversary is the Dome itself. Because time isn’t just short. It’s running out.

Marvel has released a five page preview of the next arc in the Stand series, American Nightmares. You can use the link below to download the preview of in PDF form.

Read the Five Page Preview
(10MB Download)

Amazon has decided to release Stephen’s new novella, “Ur”, ahead of schedule. Kindle users can now purchase it for immediate download to their Kindle devices.

More information

Marvel has announced that The Stand: Captain Trips Premiere Hardcover will be available exclusively at comic shops and TalesOfWonder.com. The highly anticipated collection includes all five issues of the first arc.

To celebrate, Marvel is offering visitors of StephenKing.com a complimentary digital version of the complete first issue. This download also includes the Captain Trips Sketch Book. - A must have file for The Stand's constant readers.

More Information

Download Issue #1

Published by arrangement with The Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. This comic series is produced under license from The Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group and Stephen King.

The Stand Release Log