Dear Mr. King,
Thank you for being such a memorable part of my…
Teens - when I read Salem's Lot and ran around the house closing all of the curtains and turning on EACH and EVERY light. These actions had been preceded by my slamming the book closed and throwing it in the corner as my sympathetic nervous system kicked into high gear. Thank you for Carrie which made not attending the prom feel more like an intelligent decision than an unavoidable outcome. Thank you too for The Shining which has forever made me frightened of long hotel corridors, empty ballrooms, and Jack Nicholson.
Twenties – when I read Night Shift, The Stand, The Dead Zone, Cujo, The Running Man, Creepshow, Christine, Pet Cemetery, Thinner, Misery, The Dark Tower, and more…. I loved collecting Stephen King books but sadly many of them didn’t make the moves during my itinerate phase.
Thirties – I was really, really, busy holding down a corporate job and apologize that I was unable to spend as much time together as I wanted. But I do thank you for Dolores Claiborne, Nightmare & Dreamscapes Insomnia, Rose Madder, and Bag of Bones. After long and mentally and spiritually stifling days at work I couldn’t wait to come home to your worlds.
Forties – Well in truth, you didn’t actually play a big part in this decade. I got married, became a stepmother, moved to a new house in a new city (think Stepford Wives) and sadly for me, my beloved bookshelves and books didn’t make the cut. Part of the loss was the result of a lack of floor space but in truth, I guess I also felt that I had transitioned to a new and more mature phase of life. In many ways this was my best decade but after a few years I found myself floundering without my beloved books and authors. Honestly, I missed you…
Fifties – I thank you from the bottom of my heart for The Stand: The Complete & Uncut Edition. I can’t remember why I decided it would make for good Kindle reading but I downloaded you from my local library and fell in love all over again. As I re-read this wonderful book I was reminded anew of how completely satisfying and fulfilling I find your books. I was a little bit sad when I reached the end…
Life today – I’m still in my fifties but I have left the corporate world and the kids are grown and I have decided to pursue my dream of writing. Although I’ve taken only a few writing courses I have already accumulated a long list of “must have” books for the aspiring author. What a great surprise it was for me to see On Writing on almost every list and now that I have finished your book I can see why it is so highly recommended. It’s been about two hours since I finished reading about this wonderful craft; this time, I softly closed the covers, held your book to my chest and smiled. We’ve traveled quite a way you and I and I just wanted to send you a sincere “thank you!” and let you know how much you mean to me.
With great and sincere respect,
Brenda Perez
Thank you for being such a memorable part of my…
Teens - when I read Salem's Lot and ran around the house closing all of the curtains and turning on EACH and EVERY light. These actions had been preceded by my slamming the book closed and throwing it in the corner as my sympathetic nervous system kicked into high gear. Thank you for Carrie which made not attending the prom feel more like an intelligent decision than an unavoidable outcome. Thank you too for The Shining which has forever made me frightened of long hotel corridors, empty ballrooms, and Jack Nicholson.
Twenties – when I read Night Shift, The Stand, The Dead Zone, Cujo, The Running Man, Creepshow, Christine, Pet Cemetery, Thinner, Misery, The Dark Tower, and more…. I loved collecting Stephen King books but sadly many of them didn’t make the moves during my itinerate phase.
Thirties – I was really, really, busy holding down a corporate job and apologize that I was unable to spend as much time together as I wanted. But I do thank you for Dolores Claiborne, Nightmare & Dreamscapes Insomnia, Rose Madder, and Bag of Bones. After long and mentally and spiritually stifling days at work I couldn’t wait to come home to your worlds.
Forties – Well in truth, you didn’t actually play a big part in this decade. I got married, became a stepmother, moved to a new house in a new city (think Stepford Wives) and sadly for me, my beloved bookshelves and books didn’t make the cut. Part of the loss was the result of a lack of floor space but in truth, I guess I also felt that I had transitioned to a new and more mature phase of life. In many ways this was my best decade but after a few years I found myself floundering without my beloved books and authors. Honestly, I missed you…
Fifties – I thank you from the bottom of my heart for The Stand: The Complete & Uncut Edition. I can’t remember why I decided it would make for good Kindle reading but I downloaded you from my local library and fell in love all over again. As I re-read this wonderful book I was reminded anew of how completely satisfying and fulfilling I find your books. I was a little bit sad when I reached the end…
Life today – I’m still in my fifties but I have left the corporate world and the kids are grown and I have decided to pursue my dream of writing. Although I’ve taken only a few writing courses I have already accumulated a long list of “must have” books for the aspiring author. What a great surprise it was for me to see On Writing on almost every list and now that I have finished your book I can see why it is so highly recommended. It’s been about two hours since I finished reading about this wonderful craft; this time, I softly closed the covers, held your book to my chest and smiled. We’ve traveled quite a way you and I and I just wanted to send you a sincere “thank you!” and let you know how much you mean to me.
With great and sincere respect,
Brenda Perez
