Stephen King – American 20th–21st century writer, author of Carrie and The Shining, the “King of Horror,” and recipient of the National Book Award. Born in 1947 in Portland, he grew up poor and began writing young. His novels combine psychological terror, social commentary, and pop culture. King built a “Maine universe” of horror that shaped modern literature and film.
📖 His debut Carrie was rescued from the trash by his wife – it launched his career. 🎥 Most of his works have been adapted for screen, from The Shawshank Redemption to It. 🚂 In 1999 he survived being hit by a van, later weaving the trauma into his fiction. 📚 Has written over 60 novels and 200 short stories. 🖋 Writes every single day, even on holidays. 👑 Sees himself as a “storyteller” rather than just a horror master. 🎸 Plays guitar in the band Rock Bottom Remainders. 🌍 His books are translated into 50+ languages and sold in hundreds of millions. 🏠 His Gothic Bangor mansion with bat-and-spider gates is a tourist landmark. 😅 Funny note: he jokes that his greatest fears are airplanes and tax collectors.