Stephen King

Author:
Stephen King

Date of birth: 21-Sep-1947
Place of birth: Portland, Maine, USA

About the author:
Stephen King is a legendary American author whose name is synonymous with horror, suspense, and supernatural fiction. Born on September 21, 1947, in Portland, Maine, King grew up under modest circumstances. After graduating from the University of Maine at Orono in 1970 with a degree in English, he worked as a teacher and took odd jobs while writing in his spare time.

King’s breakout came in 1974 with the publication of Carrie, a chilling tale of a telekinetic teenage girl. The novel’s commercial success and subsequent film adaptation launched a career that would reshape the landscape of genre fiction. Over the following decades, King became one of the most prolific and best-selling authors in history, with over 60 novels and 200 short stories to his name, many of which have become classics of horror and popular fiction.

His notable works include The Shining, Salem’s Lot, Pet Sematary, It, Misery, The Stand, and Doctor Sleep, among many others. King's stories often blend the supernatural with the psychological, exploring fear, human frailty, and the thin veil between reality and the unknown. He has also ventured beyond horror into fantasy (The Dark Tower series), science fiction (Under the Dome), crime (Mr. Mercedes trilogy), and deeply personal drama (The Green Mile, 11/22/63).

King’s writing is distinguished by its compelling characters, rich settings (often based in his home state of Maine), and deep emotional resonance. He has an extraordinary ability to tap into primal fears and elevate genre fiction into the realm of literary art. His books have sold over 400 million copies worldwide and have been adapted into numerous successful films and television series.

In 1999, King survived a near-fatal car accident, which deeply affected his life and work, inspiring some of his later writing, including On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (2000), a blend of autobiography and writing guide that has become essential reading for aspiring writers.

In recognition of his contributions to literature, King has received numerous awards, including the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, the Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award, and the PEN America Literary Service Award.

Stephen King lives in Maine and Florida with his wife, fellow novelist Tabitha King. He continues to write prolifically, maintaining a strong presence in both literary and pop culture spheres. With a career spanning over five decades, King remains a towering figure in American fiction, a master storyteller whose work continues to thrill, terrify, and inspire readers around the world.