Stephen King with Peter Straub, Emma Straub & Owen King - A Roundtable Discussion

St. Francis College and BookCourt welcomed Master of Horror Stephen King for a roundtable discussion in the College’s Founders Hall on April 21, 2015.
Joining the author was his son Owen King as well as Peter Straub and Peter’s daughter Emma Straub.
The event was co-sponsored by BookCourt (163 Court Street, Brooklyn).
About the Authors
Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947, the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. He made his first professional short story sale in 1967 to Startling Mystery Stories. In the fall of 1973, he began teaching high school English classes at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels. In the spring of 1973, Doubleday & Co., accepted the novel Carrie for publication, providing him the means to leave teaching and write full-time. He has since published over 50 books and has become one of the world's most successful writers.
Stephen lives in Maine and Florida with his wife, novelist Tabitha King. They are regular contributors to a number of charities including many libraries and have been honored locally for their philanthropic activities.
Peter Straub is the author of seventeen novels, which have been translated into more than twenty languages. They include Ghost Story, Koko, Mr. X, In the Night Room, and two collaborations with Stephen King, The Talisman and Black House. He has written two volumes of poetry and two collections of short fiction, and he edited the Library of America's edition of H. P. Lovecraft's Tales and the forthcoming Library of America's 2-volume anthology, American Fantastic Tales. He has won the British Fantasy Award, eight Bram Stoker Awards, two International Horror Guild Awards, and three World Fantasy Awards. In 1998, he was named Grand Master at the World Horror Convention. In 2006, he was given the HWA's Life Achievement Award. In 2008, he was given the Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award by Poets & Writers. At the World Fantasy Convention in 2010, he was given the WFC's Life Achievement Award.
Owen King is the author of We’re All in This Together: A Novella and Stories, and co-editor (with John McNally) of the fiction anthology Who Can Save Us Now? His fiction has appeared in One Story and Prairie Schooner, among other publications. He has been nominated for a National Magazine Award and recognized in the Pen/O. Henry Prize Stories series. Double Feature, his first novel, was published by Scribner in 2013.
Emma Straub is from New York City. She is the author of the novels The Vacationers and Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. Her fiction and nonfiction have been published in Vogue, New York Magazine, Tin House, The New York Times, Good Housekeeping, and the The Paris Review Daily. She is a staff writer for Rookie. Straub lives with her husband and son in Brooklyn.

[@christopherhamel5234]

Watching Peter and Steve is like watching 2 best buds sitting together in the back of the classroom.

[@jmommy881]

I thought the same😊

[@KimsLantern]

Stephen has an amazing ability for going off on super long tangents of exposition and then bringing us back to the main plot.

[@dominicwyartt3598]

Stephen Kings books read like an uncle telling you all sorts of interesting stories. A lot of people would like pass out if they met A celebrity. That is how I would be if I met Steven

[@jmommy881]

Same!!!

[@True-trini]

So this is the guy co-wrote The Talisman. I read that story countless times. Enjoyed spending time with Jack in the Territories.

[@turtleanton6539]

Yup and blackhouse too

[@cherylkelloggherman1303]

I know this will sound weird to some people and to some they will sadly know where I'm coming from. Stephen King saved my sanity as a teenager. When i read his books i could leave my horrible home life for a few chapters at a time. If I'm honest more than a few chapters at a time. But i digress. When people talk about his drug/alcohol abuse. He's human. Shit happens. Mr. King is the one who told us He had a problem. He's overcome His addictions and is a better man for it. Also from what i see and hear His kids are well adjusted human beings. Be like Stephen King!

[@ericg1100]

I think i saw your comment on another king video! Im glad youre doing well

[@wildwoodrich6745]

RIP Peter Straub ✨🖋🙏

[@valerieschoettmer9736]

"Some people fall into books." That just resonates! That's the best way to describe the passion behind the need to write. You just fall into it and some days it's just so much drudgery and others you're so high by the plot, the research, the act of creating something that wouldn't have existed unless you had put life into it. But to have passion for not just the process but all the work behind it, no it can't be taught but it can be felt by your readers. Ugh I love that quote!

[@joelswenson92]

Ok this is how dumb I am, my mother got me a book from the thrift store cause she knows how much I love collecting books especially Stephen King, but she didn't bring me a king book, she got me modern lovers by Emma Straub. I thought nothing of it, I thought it was a sweet gesture and put it on my book shelf with my collection, I had NO IDEA who Emma Straub was until watching this! pretty cool that Peters daughter grew to be a successful writer. I will find the time to read her work!

[@joerivera6334]

I'm not all that into Stephen King's writing (and I've read like ten of his books), but he's a super interesting guy. Peter's fantastic, loved Ghost Story. It's nice to get a friends-and-family perspective on what it takes to be a writer. Owen and Emma seem cool too, I didn't even know they exist. Will be checking them out!

[@turtleanton6539]

Try Joe Hills books

[@joerivera6334]

@@turtleanton6539 I read Fireman? Firesomething? and Locke and Key. He takes after his dad and every chapter is punctuated with a cliffhanger, which gets tired, but stylistically it's okay. I was more engaged with it than I was with Cell, for instance.

[@Adam-im3uz]

@@joerivera6334 You've only read 10 Stephen King books ? I know you posted that 3 years ago, but hopefully you've read at least twice that by now ?

[@jchinckley]

@@Adam-im3uz If that flabergasts you, then what if I tell you I've only read 2. One in Spanish and that was years ago. I like the idea of his stories, but I find him too slow most of the time. I have to focus more rather than being drawn through the story. Perhaps that will change once I've read a few more of his books, particularly the Dark Tower stuff and some of his more recent stuff.

[@skmusic2944]

You read 10 Stephen King books and you didn't like, is it a joke?? Which books you read??

[@cherchcherch5084]

When are King & Straub going to publish the final book in the Talisman/Black House trilogy. I've been waiting years! The Talisman was very good and Black House was terrific. I'm hoping the final book will be even better, if that's even possible. I wish they'd get a move on.

[@MrTofy1974]

I heard it was supposed to be released in 2020... but again they've moved the date up since 2016

[@jbro8934]

@@MrTofy1974 where did you here that? I've been waiting for the third and final chapter for years. I loved The Talisman!! Black House was okay but not as good. I hope the third book has more of a quest type plot like the first one did.

[@geraldfahey2681]

Speedy Parker!

[@lucygray6162]

Is it even necessary to list Stephen King's credentials?

[@valpergalit]

Yes, of course.

[@KKTCrawford]

at this point I think the only credential necessary is "The king of horror and ultimate authority on true horror! "

[@StopFear]

Lucy Gray I thought the same thing. It is ridiculous and awkward. Those of us who like his books, or movies based on his books, could care less about awards Stephen King has gotten.

[@michellerever3564]

I think if they didn't list his, or said his record is well-known, it implies everyone else is lesser. Might not be a big deal for Emma or Owen, but a bit of a slap in the face to Straub.

[@Chad01234]

Love the panel. great interview.

[@rifftipton7709]

Straub's, Floating Dragon gave me nightmares.

[@doktor_ghul]

This is the kind of chat up with Peter Straub I'll be digging up for the next little while, since he's gotten his visit from Prince Sirki and left us behind. Interviews are nice, but chatting up with friends is the kind of talk I prefer, because the person isn't wearing his public face so much.

[@ilspeth99]

He was such a nice man. I was super lucky to spend a whole evening with him at the hotel bar in Nashville where we were all staying at a writer's conference. He was a guest speaker that day. His wife joined us after a while. He was funny. Had an amazing laugh. He was Insightful. And he was extremely generous with his time. She told me that those evenings with other wirters and fans were his favorite part of any conference. And I don't think any of it was a put-on. After the conference, he sent me a friend request on Facebook. We interacted here and there. A few years later I commented on something that he posted and said I wasn't sure if he remembered me. He replied, "Of course I remember you!" And he was just like that, in the little bit that I knew him. Just a lovely person.

[@dominicwyartt3598]

Double feature by Owen is a book I look forward to reading and Straub is someone who I will venture into soon with ghost story and floating dragon

[@_Peremalfait]

Hey it's the baggy t-shirt guy.

[@Mo_Ketchups]

I’m presently reading “Little Red” by Straub. Holy Moses! 😮‍💨💪

[@pinkpixels8806]

That interviewer is divine.

[@kgbbtheroyalkaoticgreatblu4402]

There used to be a Crimson King Motel in my town. I thought I was dreaming then first time I saw it.

[@sylviadailey1465]

Ramones? AWESOME. I like the song: 'I Wanna be Sedated'.

[@allthingshorrorrelated]

Owen has an Eddie Munster haircut.

[@donarnold8268]

Thank you!

[@Anna_Stetik]

Electric Avenue, Funkytown, The Ramones....fabulous taste in music.

[@Mo_Ketchups]

Oh, Owen’d be published in a heartbeat were he not King’s kid. 👀

[@MikeRoberts1964]

I think Emma has it somewhat easier, as Petere, as accomplished as he is, is not the hugely visable writer that King is....Also, Owen is competing with his brother Joe as well...

[@aerowashburns6004]

King is a fantastic speaker

[@alixmorren2209]

I would like to know that as the only one who is not a writer in her family, what does Stephen King’s daughter, Naomi Rachel King do for a iiving?🤩🤩🤩🧸🧸🧸❤️❤️❤️

[@davidglasspool4921]

Owen sounds a lot like Jim parsons

[@gerrypoulin8020]

Why is Owen King here? Does dad need a lift home? His work is, at best, what you'd expect from someone who's never had to work a day in his life.

[@locnar1]

Owen is boring. he's the only King family member where I can't finish his books. Tabitha is fantastic, her book Pearl is great.

[@dpacc88]

That Isaac Fitzgerald guy is a doppelgänger of Rick from Blind Wave (kzbin.info)

[@jamesherbert2224]

I hope she doesn't write how she talks, like, like, like...

[@sadderthanyou7793]

Sorry to say this, but I find these kids to be watered-down versions of their fathers and it's depressing.

[@jamiegagnon6390]

Give them time.

[@MaineMotman]

Omg Emma is so cute and adorable!

[@rodneylee4026]

Um, that would be cheddar....

[@EricSimpson68]

Editing was annoying.

[@valerieschoettmer9736]

Eric Simpson Along with the easy research and writing, come the tedious parts of editing and rewrites.

[@charlesallen]

I actually lost several girlfriends because "I didn't have time for them". Writing is work.

[@TheBuddyShowWorldwide]

Digging a ditch is work. Writing is fun.

[@charlesallen]

@@TheBuddyShowWorldwide That's the dumbest most ignorant reply I've ever read.

[@CS10847]

5:26 that was one cringy high five 😂

[@2209009pm]

Every time I watch one of these author talks that has Steven King in it he always takes the part as the lead singer and smothers out the other author's.

[@differenttakethanmost]

Paul McCall - true but only by reputation and success- he goes out of his way to make sure the others he’s with get the spotlight. He’s incredibly gracious and humble and down to earth. So awesome

[@differenttakethanmost]

Emma’s a reader and writer- WHY can’t she STOP using “like” & “yeah” every six seconds ?!?🤬🤓📚

[@parapoliticos52]

The college could provide more comfortable chairs

[@TheStarbrazer101]

There is something very off about this, and I'm surprised no one else here saw that. Why do I get the funny feeling Stephen King is Peter Straub?

[@sadderthanyou7793]

The Vacationers IS terrible.

[@frankandstern8803]

Ummmmmm somehow I cant really envision a tremendous amount of talent sliding our way when the aspiring (ahem) writers are talking audiobooks? Somehow I get the feeling this matters. The bad news is this is really a horrible thing for the literary world. The O.K. or not so bad news is that schmucks that are not aware of something they dont have because they never had it in general wont be too upset about it. S##T , who am I fooling ? That in itself is sad and depressing.

[@j.wagner2504]

Who cares what the kids have to say?

[@StopFear]

J. Wagner haha. Nobody

[@cb4038]

lol true

[@wallacelovecraft8942]

ZzZzz...

[@patsloyan9755]

Mort Rainey, “ The Secret Window “ prequel please 🤍