Joseph Hillstrom King, better known by Joe Hill, is the American author of many popular novels and the comic book series, Locke & Key. It is no surprise that Hill became a writer, as both of his parents are authors. His father, Stephen King, is the quintessential horror author. His mother, Tabitha, has penned a many novels and non-fiction book as wells. Growing up in the limelight of his famous father, Joe tried to make a name for himself at an early age. After being born in Hermon, Maine in 1972 the King family moved to Bangor, ME where Joe and his younger brother Owen were raised.
Joseph Hillstrom King was named after the famed Swedish-American labor activist Joe Hill. Ultimately, Hill’s fight for the rights of common men was rewarded with an execution in November, 1915. Ever since he was a child, author Joseph King asked to be called Joe Hill because of a desire to succeed based not on his father’s name, but because of his own merits. It was not until 2007 that Hill publicly acknowledged that he was Stephen King’s son and he only did so after achieving a fair share of international success. In addition to his writing career, Hill had a short lived acting career when he appeared in the film Creepshow. The movie was directed by George A. Romero and starred Hill’s father in a leading role. Hill went on to graduate from Vassar College before embarking on his writing career full time.
Joe Hill published his first book in 2005 by PS Publishing. Entitled 20th Century Ghosts this novel is a collection of fourteen of Hill’s short stories. Hill received instant success with this novel as it won multiple awards in the United Kingdom for Best Short Story and a British Fantasy Award. Due to the instant success that Hill received with the novel in Europe, 20th Century Ghosts was republished in 2007 and released in the United States. The reprinted book included an additional new story written by Hill. After publishing his collection of short stories, Hill finished writing his first novel in 2007. Entitled Heart-Shaped Box the novel was published by William Morrow/HarperCollins in the US and Victor Gollancz Ltd in the United Kingdom. The novel was an instant success and was ranked as high as number 8 on the New York Times bestseller list. Hill’s second novel entitled Horns was published on February 16, 2010. In April of this year, Hill released his third novel, NOS4A2, on April 30th 2013. The novel became a mainstay on the New York Times bestseller list and is easily the most popular and widely read novel thus far in Hill’s short career.
In addition to his novels and short story book, Hill is also the author of a popular comic book series entitled Locke & Key. Structured in three acts, the comic book tells the story of the three Locke children. Set in the aftermath of the murder of the children’s father, the kid’s move in with their mother in the longstanding family home. The enchanted house is full of secrets that have the power to unleash superpowers on people. After the comic book was released in 2008 it sold out in one day.
As stated above, Hill’s first novel, Heart Shaped Box, was released to critical acclaim in 2007. A stunning crime thriller, the novel tells the story of an aging rock star named Judas Coyne. Now in his retirement from the stage, Coyne spends his time collecting morbid paraphernalia. While shopping online, Coyne is drawn to purchase a dead man’s suit that the deceased person’s spirit will be contained within the suit. As such, purchasing the suit is the equivalent of purchasing a ghost. Unfortunately, the ghost is not happy to be in his new home and does various things that alert Coyne that the spirit is trying to kill him. The only question is will Coyne be able to outlive the deadly intentions of the dead man’s suit. The success and popularity of Hill’s first novel led all the way to Hollywood where the film rights to the book were purchased by Warner Bros Studio. Currently, the film remains in limbo; however, it is expected to be directed by Irishman Neil Jordan and produced by Akiva Goldsman.
Hill’s most recent and successful novel to date was released in 2013 and is titled NOS4A2 (NOS4R2 in the United Kingdom). Published by the William Morrow and Company this book tells the story of a mother trying to save her son from a brutal murderer. Set in several time periods, the book opens in 2008 before shifting to 1986. Like many of his other novels, this book utilizes character’s that have superhuman and scientific powers. In the novel, character Victoria McQueen has the power of finding any item no matter where it is hidden. Despite her charmed life, she has a dark past and is known for being the only person to escape from child abductor and murderer, Charles Talent Manx. Using his 1938 Rolls Royce with the license plate NOS4A2, Manx likes to pick up and take unsuspecting children to his amusement park like house called “Christmasland.” Now, angry that McQueen escaped from his clutches Manx has set his eye’s on new pray: Victoria McQueen’s son. As the novel winds its way through time, Hill takes the reader along a riveting ride of suspense, fear and excitement. With the reader on the age of their seats, Hill leaves the reader wondering whether or not Vic’s son can survive the killer.
Being the son of the world’s most famous author is sure to be a challenge for Joe Hill. Ever since he was a child, Hill sought to differentiate himself from his father before embracing the relationship in 2007. Despite writing in a similar genre as Stephen King, Joe Hill is his own author who is forging his own success in the literary world. For the next generation of crime-writing, thrill loving and page turning suspense try picking up one of Joe Hill’s novels.
Just finished King Sorrow and it was amazing! A real page turner. One of those books that keep you up all night wondering what is going to happen next. He has his own unique style of writing. Loved the twist at the end (not going to spoil it for others) an up to date faustian tale. Will look out for his other books now, enjoyed the Black phone I and II films which got me searching out who the author was. Haven’t seen Horns yet that is on my to watch list.
Stephen King’s work encompasses all forms of speculative fiction – horror, fantasy, and, yes, science fiction – sometimes all three at the same time. Just look at the Dark Tower series. Since I’ve always loved any kind of speculative fiction, I’m okay with Stephen producing science fiction in addition to his traditional horror stories.
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Just finished King Sorrow and it was amazing! A real page turner. One of those books that keep you up all night wondering what is going to happen next. He has his own unique style of writing. Loved the twist at the end (not going to spoil it for others) an up to date faustian tale. Will look out for his other books now, enjoyed the Black phone I and II films which got me searching out who the author was. Haven’t seen Horns yet that is on my to watch list.
I loved the heart shape box. Parts of it were difficult for me to read because I cherish my dog.
Stephen King’s work encompasses all forms of speculative fiction – horror, fantasy, and, yes, science fiction – sometimes all three at the same time. Just look at the Dark Tower series. Since I’ve always loved any kind of speculative fiction, I’m okay with Stephen producing science fiction in addition to his traditional horror stories.
Joe Hill is Stephen King’s son. Some of his stories are different from his fathers.
Since when is Stephen King a Scifi writer?