Little Known Facts About Stephen King

You have read his books, you have seen his movies. But best-selling author Stephen King is every bit as interesting as his works. Here are some little known facts about Stephen King.

Stephen King is nearly as passionate about music as he is about writing. In fact, Stephen King is even a member of a band. The Rock Bottom Remainders are a group of authors that include Dave Barry, Amy Tan, and many others. Are they any good? Well, who am I to criticize the King?

Stephen King's first best-selling novel was Carrie. The main character in the novel, Carrieta White, was based on two young girls King met during his school years. He received a mere $2,500 initial advance for Carrie, but the paperback rights eventually sold for $400,000. The world almost never got to meet Carrie. Stephen King threw the original manuscript in the garbage because he was unhappy with it. His wife, the novelist Tabitha King, who loved the novel, retrieved it and convinced him to reconsider.

Derry and Castle Rock, Maine, do not really exist, only in Stephen King's stories. Derry, if it did exist, would be located a few miles west of Bangor, Maine, and Castle Rock would be located just south of the city of Mexico in the Oxford District of Maine.

Stephen King admits to having a seriously addictive personality, and he has overcome many of his own personal demons. Many of his earlier books were written while he was drinking and doing hard drugs, such as cocaine, and he hardly remembers writing many of them. Stephen King is a recovering coke addict, alcoholic and smoker. He credits his wife, the novelist Tabitha King, for helping him quit his dangerous vices.

Stephen King suffers from an eye disease known as Macular Degeneration. The light-sensitive cells in the back of his eyes malfunction and could eventually lead to blindness.

In 1999, Stephen King was nearly killed when he was struck by a Dodge van while walking near his home in Bangor, Maine. Thrown fourteen feet off the road, Stephen King suffered severe injuries, including a broken hip, a split knee, and four broken ribs. His leg was broken in at least nine places and his spine was badly chipped.