STEPHEN KING

Stephen King was born in Portand, Maine in 1947.  He was raised by his mother after his parents separated.  After spending some of his childhood in Indiana his mother moved the children back to Durham, Maine.  Stephen's mother took care of her parents in their old age and after they passed away she worked in the kitchens of a facility for the mentally disabled in nearby Pineland.

After graduating from high school in 1966 he college at the University of Maine where he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper.  He was active in student politics, served on the Student Senate and was a supporter of the anti war movement.  As with many young men of that period he was drafted but  found 4-F because of high blood pressure, flat feet, and limited vision.  He recieved a B.A. in English from the University with the credentials to teach at the high school level.

Marrying Tabitha Spruce in 1971, whom he met at the University of Maine, he made a living by working at an industrial laundry and by selling short stories to a men's magazine.  His first short story sell was to Startling Mystery Stories for the title "The Glass Floor".

Late in the fall of 1971 he began teaching high school  English. He continued to write short stories and novels when time allowed during evenings and weekends.  His part time efforts turned into a full time profession when Doubleday told him  that his novel "Carrie" would be promoted as a major paperback.

In 1973 the King's moved to Sebago Lake and wrote the novel "Salem's Lot".  At the same time King's mother died and the novel "Carrie" was published.  After this the King's moved to Colorado where the novel "The Shining" was written.  Living in Boulder for less than a year the King's moved back to Maine and he completed "The Stand" and "The Dead Zone". 

With their children grown the Kings now spend their winters in Florida and the remaining time in Maine.