Backup books.

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Aericanwizard

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2011
218
306
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
*Warning* Some minor spoilers for "Bag of Bones" and "Finders Keepers".

In "Bag of Bones", Mike has a backlog of manuscripts that he wrote when he was younger, but couldn't publish, due to publisher restrictions. He then slowly releases these books as his writer's block continues. Recently, in "Finders Keepers", an author also keeps unpublished work in a locked safe.

Anyone think that Mr. King was hinting at something when he included these passages (particularly the one in "Bag of Bones")?
We all know that Mr. King writes quite quickly, and resorted to publishing under a pseudonym in the past, to get around publisher restrictions. Does anyone think that there is a safe-deposit box somewhere with a stack of old King manuscripts?

Long days and pleasant nights.
 

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Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
157,324
Maine
*Warning* Some minor spoilers for "Bag of Bones" and "Finders Keepers".

In "Bag of Bones", Mike has a backlog of manuscripts that he wrote when he was younger, but couldn't publish, due to publisher restrictions. He then slowly releases these books as his writer's block continues. Recently, in "Finders Keepers", an author also keeps unpublished work in a locked safe.

Anyone think that Mr. King was hinting at something when he included these passages (particularly the one in "Bag of Bones")?
We all know that Mr. King writes quite quickly, and resorted to publishing under a pseudonym in the past, to get around publisher restrictions. Does anyone think that there is a safe-deposit box somewhere with a stack of old King manuscripts?

Long days and pleasant nights.
There are a lot of unpublished items but nothing like what's described in either of those books.
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
To me, 1/22/63 felt like a trunk novel :) The style was overall very similar to how he was writing around the time he wrote IT. Not making accusations (lol), especially since there was good dose of an older man's life wisdom in there, too, but it felt very fresh and young.
 

Spideyman

Uber Member
Jul 10, 2006
46,336
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Just north of Duma Key
To me, 1/22/63 felt like a trunk novel :) The style was overall very similar to how he was writing around the time he wrote IT. Not making accusations (lol), especially since there was good dose of an older man's life wisdom in there, too, but it felt very fresh and young.
Could it be because this was an era that SK lived. A period in time when reality was embedded into his mind. Thus, he came across as being very fresh and young since he was just that during that time period. Add to it the wisdom he has gained over the years.
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
Could it be because this was an era that SK lived. A period in time when reality was embedded into his mind. Thus, he came across as being very fresh and young since he was just that during that time period. Add to it the wisdom he has gained over the years.
Very likely! I thoroughly enjoyed that book, in a way that I remember being delighted as a young CR. Not that I haven't had a good time with most everything, but the feeling has changed as we've both aged (lol). 11/22/63 was like jumping back in time (fittingly), and I read like a teenager. I don't know if that makes sense--lol. My brain is everywhere today.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
...Here's a trunk novel!.....
SaratogaTrunk.jpg
 

ALOT

Banned
Jun 10, 2011
130
278
Canada
*Warning* Some minor spoilers for "Bag of Bones" and "Finders Keepers".

In "Bag of Bones", Mike has a backlog of manuscripts that he wrote when he was younger, but couldn't publish, due to publisher restrictions. He then slowly releases these books as his writer's block continues. Recently, in "Finders Keepers", an author also keeps unpublished work in a locked safe.

Anyone think that Mr. King was hinting at something when he included these passages (particularly the one in "Bag of Bones")?
We all know that Mr. King writes quite quickly, and resorted to publishing under a pseudonym in the past, to get around publisher restrictions. Does anyone think that there is a safe-deposit box somewhere with a stack of old King manuscripts?

Long days and pleasant nights.
No. But in the past he has started stories only to abandon them to a filing cabinet somewhere in his offices (then they get brought out, finished and published at a later date). Steve writes what he knows, and the more stories you read, you will notice common threads or themes throughout. This, to me, is one of those common threads I just described to you, but tweaked in the two stories you've read (there will be more). Then again, Steve might say, nope, she's completely wrong. But I think yes, even if its unconsciously written that way.
 
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raperm

Active Member
Aug 22, 2016
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I was just coming here to post this very thought! It's been awhile, I admit, but I remember thinking that it was around this time that King's writing started to suffer a bit, at least to me. The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon, From a Buick 8, this one, etc. Not his strongest work. So when the character mentions that he's put by drafts to pull out later if he can't write, it made me think that's exactly what was going on. Never know, I don't guess, but I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought it.
 

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I was just coming here to post this very thought! It's been awhile, I admit, but I remember thinking that it was around this time that King's writing started to suffer a bit, at least to me. The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon, From a Buick 8, this one, etc. Not his strongest work. So when the character mentions that he's put by drafts to pull out later if he can't write, it made me think that's exactly what was going on. Never know, I don't guess, but I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought it.
I can say for sure that it's not what was going on. :smile2: There are some unfinished works but no completed manuscripts that are being saved for publication later.
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
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USA
I can say for sure that it's not what was going on. :smile2: There are some unfinished works but no completed manuscripts that are being saved for publication later.
I read Neil Gaiman's latest not long ago, and in it is an interview he did with Mr. King. In that interview, Mr. King tells Mr. Gaiman that if he died right then, Doctor Sleep was in process of publication and Mr. Hill could finish Joyland, but that was it. No more cookies in the jar (works ready to go). Can't imagine he changed his MO in the last few years :)
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
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Jul 10, 2006
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I read Neil Gaiman's latest not long ago, and in it is an interview he did with Mr. King. In that interview, Mr. King tells Mr. Gaiman that if he died right then, Doctor Sleep was in process of publication and Mr. Hill could finish Joyland, but that was it. No more cookies in the jar (works ready to go). Can't imagine he changed his MO in the last few years :)
You would be correct. :smile2:
 

RichardX

Well-Known Member
Sep 26, 2006
1,737
4,434
I'm not exactly sure where I remember it from but I do recall King saying a while back he had a number of books he had started but never completed or published. They were abandoned for various reasons. It could have been at the DC/George Washington U. during his Revival tour or maybe just before the release of 11.22.63 when he spoke at George Mason in VA. For some reason, I think he mentioned there were as many as 40.
 
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Moderator

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I'm not exactly sure where I remember it from but I do recall King saying a while back he had a number of books he had started but never completed or published. They were abandoned for various reasons. It could have been at the DC/George Washington U. during his Revival tour or maybe just before the release of 11.22.63 when he spoke at George Mason in VA. For some reason, I think he mentioned there were as many as 40.
We may have at least that many that I'm aware of and that doesn't even include the ones he has at his house but the majority of them are only a few pages, so he stopped very early on in the process.
 

Kingunlucky

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Aug 20, 2016
368
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We may have at least that many that I'm aware of and that doesn't even include the ones he has at his house but the majority of them are only a few pages, so he stopped very early on in the process.

I remember a few he's mentioned in interviews :D

The short story about the women's restroom and one called Hammerhead or something about a serial killer (I could totally be wrong about that title lol) But yeah I remember him talking about those on the panel. Its kinda neat ya know? Like a What could of been or what might be be if he decides to revive one! Probably one of the main things about Stephen King that inspires me is how much work he put out and how most of it is either unique and bizzare, good or really great!

So awesome how he does that lol
 

roseannebarr

Well-Known Member
Aug 17, 2011
164
802
There are a lot of unpublished items but nothing like what's described in either of those books.


I loved the idea of trunk novels in both Bag of Bones and Finders Keepers. Please don't ruin my illusion that someday I will find a trunk of unpublished novels from Stephen King! I loved both those stories and Lisey's Story. Finders Keepers was my favorite of the triology.

Feel free to send a draft or two my way for my collection. Like most people, I have a large collection of SK novels. Signed and Unsigned. 1st Edition and all the paperbacks. I just don't have one unique item in my collection to make it special.

Something like that would be treasured at my house!
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
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I loved the idea of trunk novels in both Bag of Bones and Finders Keepers. Please don't ruin my illusion that someday I will find a trunk of unpublished novels from Stephen King! I loved both those stories and Lisey's Story. Finders Keepers was my favorite of the triology.

Feel free to send a draft or two my way for my collection. Like most people, I have a large collection of SK novels. Signed and Unsigned. 1st Edition and all the paperbacks. I just don't have one unique item in my collection to make it special.

Something like that would be treasured at my house!
If I were you, I wouldn't spend a lot of time waiting by the mailbox. :wink: