King The Second
Actors seem to produce actors. Writers appear to produce writers. Some examples: Anne Rice’s son Christopher Rice has published three novels and has more on the way; Elizabeth Lowell’s daughter Heather Lowell is following in mom’s footsteps; and, Jesse Kellerman’s carrer choice may have been set by biology since both mom and dad are successful authors (Jonathan and Faye Kellerman).
Now Joe Hill, aka Joseph Hillstrom King, award-winning short story writer and son of authors Tabitha and Stephen King, is making some noise. Hill’s first novel Heart-Shaped Box comes out in February 2007. According to USA Today, Publisher William Morrow calls it the “Publishing Event of the Year” on advance review copies sent to reviewers recently. Warner Brothers bought the movie rights apparently without knowing Hill’s parentage.
Not bad for a first novel.
In case you care, the back cover blurb goes like this:
Rock star Judas Coyne is a collector of the bizarre and the grotesque. He has a used hangman’s noose, a cookbook for cannibals, a snuff movie. So naturally when he learns there’s a ghost for sale on the internet, Jude doesn’t think twice. Some impulses require no consideration.
But this ghost is different from the spirits that have haunted Jude most of his life: the abusive father he fled as a boy, the bandmates he betrayed, the lover he abandoned and who killed herself. This ghost isn’t just in his head; it’s real. Delivered to his doorstep in a black heart-shaped box, the latest addition to Jude’s collection means to chase him to the limits of sanity — and beyond.
If ever there was a case of caveat emptor, this is it. . . .
In light of all of this, I’ve decided to blame my parents if I don’t become a NYT bestselling author at some point. If I work this right I’ll never have to take any personal responsibility if my career stalls. Blame mom and dad. It was their job to be award-winning authors and pass that talent on to me, so I could pass it on to my kids and so on…
October 24th, 2006 at 11:36 am
That sounds like a great first book for Joe Hill
October 24th, 2006 at 12:00 pm
That sounds like a good book…definitely an interesting storyline.
October 24th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
The relationships you mentioned are interesting. I never knew that!
October 24th, 2006 at 2:19 pm
LOL! Let me know how that works out for you. *ggg* I think most of us would be doomed if we had to rely on what our parents did for a living. (wg) The book does sound good. I’ll pick it up if it’s not in hardback.
October 24th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
The book sounds like a real chiller.
October 24th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
It works for some families but not others. Some are lucky. My 2 sisters, an ‘at the time’
sister-in-law and I all have been/are secretaries BUT Mom never was- go figure!
October 24th, 2006 at 10:43 pm
I dont think you have anything to BLAME your parents for. LOL.You are an attorney which makes them proud I am sure and now a successful author, which makes us readers very happy.
October 25th, 2006 at 6:03 am
This sounds like a good book. I’ll have to check it out.
October 26th, 2006 at 10:15 am
The book sounds like something I would like. Sometimes it’s who you know that helps you get ahead! lol Also you get a lot of free advice and help.
October 29th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
Very interesting concept. Does that go for doctors, lawyers and Indian chiefs as well?