Stephen King holds author Sharon Kitchens’ book, which he calls “really interesting.”
Photo Credit: Twitter/X
By Brian Boisvert
For fans of horror master Stephen King, the Springvale Public Library has a fun Halloween treat in store. Attendees will have a unique opportunity to explore the real-life Maine locations that inspired some of his most famous – and most frightening – fictional towns and stories at an upcoming author event at the library (443 Main St., Springvale).
On Wednesday, October 16 at 5:30 pm, the library will host author Sharon Kitchens to discuss her new book “Stephen King’s Maine: A History & Guide.” Her book is not a biography of King himself, but rather an exploration of the locations and environments that inspired his work. The book takes readers on a journey through the Pine Tree State to uncover the real places that served as the basis for King’s iconic fictional settings like Castle Rock, Jerusalem’s Lot, Derry and Haven.
“It’s about the small towns and big characters which shaped his work,” Kitchens told the Bangor Daily News “King nails small towns and the intense personalities you find in them — kind of like Mayberry meets Twin Peaks.”
Through extensive research and interviews with locals who knew King, Kitchens pieced together the connections between actual Maine locations and their fictional counterparts. The book explores how everyday life in small Maine towns provided inspiration for settings in classics like “Carrie,” “Salem’s Lot,” “The Dead Zone,” “Cujo,” “IT” and “11/22/63.”
At the October 16 event, Kitchens will discuss her research process and highlight some of the key real-life inspirations she uncovered for King’s fictional towns. Attendees will learn about locations in southern and central Maine that King drew upon, from his childhood hometown of Durham to the city of Bangor where he has lived for decades.
The author will also share stories from her conversations with Maine residents who knew King growing up or interacted with him over the years. Their recollections help paint a picture of the people and places that left an impression on the young writer who would go on to become one of the world’s bestselling authors.
The event continues the library’s popular series of author talks and book discussions. Recent programs have featured local historians, novelists and nonfiction writers discussing their latest works.
This must-attend event for King enthusiasts will be followed by a Q&A session where attendees can ask questions about Kitchens’ research and discoveries. Copies of “Stephen King’s Maine: A History & Guide” will also be available for purchase and signing after the talk.
Due to expected high interest, the library is requiring advance registration for the free event. Those interested in attending can register on the Springvale Public Library website www.springvalelibrary.org or by calling the library (207-324-4624).
The Stephen King-focused event is expected to draw fans from across southern Maine eager to learn more about the local roots of the author’s imaginative worlds. Register today to secure a spot for what promises to be an enlightening look at how Maine’s people and places shaped some of horror fiction’s most memorable settings.
