It’s a King Thing and has been for 41 years. A Constant Reader since 1982.

I was just 12. In utter fascination of horror and Blade Runner. My grandfather used to sit and read pulp novels all day and he heard me say while reading one of his Casca novels, “Man, this would be even better with some horror like Stephen King,” since I was all giddy over Salem’s Lot, The Shining and Carrie when they came on t.v.

The next day at the grocery store, my grandfather bought me six of King’s novels right there at a card shop and bookstore. Changed my life forever.

And it can never go unmentioned that my dear, dear friend, Paulette, my very first friend in this world as I came out of the womb, has gifted me every King release since Pet Sematary for Christmas, a tradition she’s now extended with the works of Richard Chizmar.

A most righteous birthday to the Master!

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.