Steve King's Legislative Legacy: Laws He Wrote

Stephen King is an American author, widely known for his horror novels, who has published over 50 books and is considered one of the world's most successful writers. While he is best known for his novels, he has also written approximately 200 short stories, most of which have been published in collections.

King's first professional short story sale, The Glass Floor, was published in 1967. His debut novel, Carrie, was published in 1974 and established him in the horror genre. Since then, King has published numerous novels, including Salem's Lot, The Shining, The Stand, The Dead Zone, It, Misery, and The Institute.

In addition to his fiction work, King has also written nonfiction, including Danse Macabre and On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. He has also co-written works with other authors, such as his friend Peter Straub and his sons Joe Hill and Owen King.

King's work has been adapted into numerous films and television series, including Carrie (1976), The Shining (1980), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), It (2017), and Castle Rock (2018).

While King is known for his horror writing, he has also explored other genres such as suspense, crime, science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. His books often blend horror, the macabre, fantasy, and science fiction, and explore themes such as politics, technology, obsession, and the potential for these forces to disrupt individual lives.

King's writing style is characterised by his ability to deploy realistic detail, forceful plotting, and a talent for involving and scaring the reader. He is also known for his use of interwoven narrative perspectives and his creation of flawed yet sympathetic central characters.

The influence of his wife, Tabitha King (née Spruce)

Stephen King's wife, Tabitha King (née Spruce), has had a profound influence on her husband's writing career and success. The pair met at the University of Maine, where they both worked as students in the stacks of the Fogler Library. Tabitha was one of the first people to read Stephen's short stories and loaned him her typewriter while encouraging him to continue writing. She also played a pivotal role in the creation of "Carrie", King's breakthrough novel. After Stephen threw away the initial pages of the manuscript, Tabitha retrieved them from the trash and urged him to continue working on the idea. "Carrie" would go on to be a massive success, establishing King as a prominent author in the horror genre.

Tabitha's support and belief in her husband's talent extended beyond "Carrie". She refused to let him take a higher-paying job that would have left him less time to write and encouraged him to pursue his passion. Tabitha's own writing career and their shared life experiences also influenced King's work. The couple lived in a trailer in Hampden, Maine, and worked additional jobs to make ends meet. These financial struggles and the setting of their early years together in Maine influenced the themes and locations of King's novels.

Tabitha King's impact on her husband's writing career extended beyond his early success with "Carrie". She continued to be a source of encouragement and a sounding board for his ideas. King frequently acknowledges her support and the role she played in his achievements. In addition, Tabitha is a respected author in her own right, and both of their sons, Joe Hill and Owen King, have followed in their parents' footsteps and become established writers. The King family's shared passion for writing and their mutual support have contributed to the enduring influence they have had on the literary world.

King's childhood and early life

Steve King's Childhood and Early Life

Steve King was born on May 28, 1949, in Storm Lake, Iowa, to Mildred Lila and Emmett King. His father was a state police dispatcher, while his mother was a homemaker. He is of mixed ancestry, with his father having Irish and German roots, and his mother having Welsh and American colonial-era ancestry.

King attended Denison Community High School and graduated in 1967. He then went on to study mathematics at the Northwest Missouri State University from 1967 to 1970 but did not graduate, leaving before earning a degree.

King aspired to work in construction and founded King Construction, an earth-moving company, in 1975. He started his business with a single bulldozer and built it up through hard work and tenacity. In the 1980s, he formed the Kiron Business Association, and his involvement with the Iowa Land Improvement Contractors' Association led to regional and national offices in the organization.

King's growing interest in public policy was sparked by his disappointment with government officials he interacted with on business issues. He decided to foray into politics and successfully ran for Iowa's 6th Senate district in 1996, defeating Democrat Eileen Heiden. He went on to win re-election to a second term in 2000, serving as an Iowa State Senator from 1996 to 2002. During his tenure, he helped eliminate the inheritance tax, passed taxation reforms, strengthened parental rights, and made English the official language in Iowa. He also served on various committees, including as Vice Chairman of the Oversight Budget and Chairman of the State Government Committee.

In 2002, King ran for the open Iowa's 5th congressional district and, after a nominating convention, secured the Republican nomination. He won the general election against Council Bluffs City Councilman Paul Shomshor, marking the start of his congressional career.

King's writing process and inspiration

Stephen King's writing process and inspiration are closely linked. He has said that he writes every day, and that he has a target of producing 10 pages per day, even on Christmas. He writes in his office, which he calls his 'playroom', and has a board on the wall where he pins up pages as he completes them.

King's inspiration often comes from 'what if' scenarios. For example, his novel 'Salem's Lot was inspired by the question: 'What if Old World vampires came to a small New England town?' He also draws inspiration from his own life experiences, such as his struggle with addiction, and his childhood. King has said that he has always been fascinated by horror, even as a child. He also cites his absentee father as a source of inspiration for his interest in horror, as he left a stash of pulp horror novels that King discovered as a boy.

King's writing is also inspired by his belief in the inherent goodness of humanity. Despite his work often being classified as horror, King's worldview is essentially hopeful and romantic. He has said:

> There must be a huge store of good will in the human race... It's such a common thing, those feelings of love toward your fellow man, that we hardly ever talk about it; we concentrate on the other things... I believe all those sappy, romantic things: Children are good, good wins out over evil, it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

King's writing is also influenced by his interest in exploring the internal struggles of his characters, rather than just external horror. He argues that the finest form of horror is 'terror', which comes from commanding the audience's imagination and never fully revealing the source of the horror. As such, he spends a lot of time developing his characters' interior lives and ensuring that even minor characters are rich with detail.

King's writing is also inspired by his love of reading. He has said that he is an 'omnivore' reader and enjoys a wide range of authors, from D.H. Lawrence to Cormac McCarthy. He also re-reads favourite books, such as 'Lord of the Flies', which he has described as a formative influence.

King's legacy and impact on popular culture

Stephen King is one of the most influential writers of the 20th and 21st centuries. He is the only author in history to have had more than 30 books become No. 1 bestsellers. With over 70 published books, King's work has had a profound impact on popular culture.

King's writing has been foundational for the horror genre, with many of his works being adapted into films and TV shows. His books explore almost every terror-producing theme imaginable, from vampires and rabid dogs to deranged killers and ghosts. King's work has also extended beyond horror, with his books covering genres such as suspense, crime, science fiction, fantasy, and mystery.

King's legacy in popular culture is evident in the numerous adaptations of his work, including "Carrie" (1976), "The Shining" (1980), "Stand by Me" (1986), "Misery" (1990), "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994), and "It" (2017). His writing has influenced TV shows such as "Stranger Things," which channels the ensemble of geeky preteen friends from "It."

Beyond his writing, King has also made cameo appearances in adaptations of his work and other films and TV shows. He made his directorial debut with "Maximum Overdrive" (1986) and wrote the screenplay for "Creepshow" (1982).

King's impact on popular culture extends beyond his writing and appearances. He has been open about his struggles with addiction and has actively supported and contributed to charities and scholarships. King and his wife, Tabitha, are regular contributors to libraries and other local and national charities.

In conclusion, Stephen King's legacy and impact on popular culture are far-reaching. His writing has shaped the horror genre and influenced various forms of media. Additionally, his openness about his personal struggles and his charitable endeavours have further contributed to his enduring impact on popular culture.

King's other works and adaptations

Stephen King is a prolific author, having published over 70 books. He is best known for his horror novels, but he has also explored other genres, including suspense, crime, science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. In addition to his novels, he has written around 200 short stories, many of which have been published in collections.

King's works have been adapted for film and television numerous times, with notable examples including "Carrie" (1976), "The Shining" (1980), "Stand by Me" (1986), "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994), "The Green Mile" (1999), and "It" (2017).

King has also written non-fiction, including "Danse Macabre" (1981) and "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" (2000). He has also published several books under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, including "The Running Man" and "Thinner".

King's other works include:

• "Different Seasons" (1982): A collection of four novellas with a more serious dramatic bent than his usual horror fiction. Three of the novellas were adapted into films: "Stand by Me" (based on "The Body)", "The Shawshank Redemption" (based on "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption"), and "Apt Pupil". The fourth novella, "The Breathing Method", won the British Fantasy Award for Best Short Fiction.
• "It" (1986): A novel about a shapeshifting monster that takes the form of its victims' fears and haunts the town of Derry, Maine. It won the August Derleth Award in 1987.
• "Misery" (1987): A novel about a popular writer who is injured in a car wreck and held captive by his self-described "number-one fan". It shared the inaugural Bram Stoker Award with "Swan Song" by Robert R. McCammon.
• "The Dark Tower" series: An eight-volume epic published between 1978 and 2012. It follows a lone gunslinger, Roland, who pursues the "Man in Black" in an alternate universe that blends elements of fantasy and the American Wild West.
• "The Talisman" (1984) and "Black House" (2001): Co-written with Peter Straub. These novels explore a shared fantasy world and feature interdimensional travel.
• "Charlie the Choo-Choo: From the World of The Dark Tower" (2016): Published under the pseudonym Beryl Evans, this picture book is adapted from a fictional book central to "The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands".
• "Throttle" (2009) and "In the Tall Grass" (2012): Collaborations with King's son, Joe Hill.
• "Sleeping Beauties" (2018): A novel set in a West Virginia women's prison, co-written with King's other son, Owen King.
• "Gwendy's Button Box" (2017) and "Gwendy's Magic Feather" (2019): Collaborations with Richard Chizmar.
• "The Colorado Kid" (2005): A mystery novel published by the Hard Case Crime imprint.
• "Cell" (2006): A novel in which a mysterious signal broadcast over cell phones turns users into mindless killers.
• "Lisey's Story" (2006): A novel about the widow of a novelist, which King calls his favourite of his works.
• "Duma Key" (2008): King's first novel set in Florida.
• "Under the Dome" (2009): A novel that debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times Bestseller List.
• "11/22/63" (2011): A novel about a time portal leading to 1958 and an attempt to prevent the Kennedy assassination.
• "Mr. Mercedes" (2014), "Finders Keepers" (2015), and "End of Watch" (2016): A trilogy of hard-boiled crime novels centering on retired detective Bill Hodges.
• "The Outsider" (2018) and "Elevation" (2018): Novels that feature the character Holly Gibney.
• "The Institute" (2019): A novel about a group of children with special powers.
• "Later" (2021): King's third book for Hard Case Crime.
• "Fairy Tale" (2022): A novel about a teenage girl who discovers a box of enchanted strings in her late father's belongings.
• "Holly" (2023): A novel about Holly Gibney, a character who has appeared in several of King's other works.
• "You Like It Darker" (2024): A collection of twelve stories, seven of which were previously published.

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