(Italiano) STEPHEN KING:ODDS & ENDS – review and interview with Hans-Ake Lilja

Stephen King has changed the literary world and film world for over 5 decades. From his first novel, Carrie to his latest novel, Never Flinch – King has brought us nightmares and unforgettable stories that has scared us and touched our every emotion. So, with this much reading material and just as many TV and film adaptations, how does one keep track? Informed? Or help new readers to King’s works understand it all a little better? Well, that’s when Stephen King scholars step in. One of those scholars is Hans-Ake Lilja.

He is the creator and head writer of the famed website, Lilja’s Library, a very popular website that informs fans about the latest Stephen King news and releases. It has been around for a few decades now and is a highly respected source of information about Stephen King. Hans has written a handful of books about Stephen King and he has a new book just released by Bear Manor Media Publishing called, STEPHEN KING: ODDS & ENDS.

This new release (and possible the last book Hans will write about Stephen King), is a very interesting, entertaining, full-filling, and enjoyable collection of “odds and ends” about Stephen King, his works, his life, interesting facts, behind-the-scenes stories, and interviews with those who have written about King, adapted his films, and are connected to King in some form. This book covers interesting topics and behind-the-scenes stories such as, Stephen giving out Christmas cards, Audio books, Michael Jackson, the King family, Molly his dog, social media, dedications, The X Files, Props, history of The Shop, and, of course, The Dark Tower. Not to mention there are exclusive interviews with Mick Garris, Frank Darabont, and many others who have worked with King from page to screen. There is a whole lot more in this book to enjoy! I personally found the backstories to subjects like The Shop, Michael Jackson’s music video written by King, the ups and downs to The Dark Tower, and the interviews all very interesting and informative. I also found the front & back cover to the book a true nod to the King fans as it is designed with nice props and “easter eggs” to Stephen King’s works (see if you can spot them all).

Hans is a true Stephen King fan and it shows in his writing. He tells the stories and history of King with professionalism and relaxing, as if you’re sitting with a friend discussing your favorite author. Hans relates to the fans and gives them what any reader would want: information. If this is Hans final book about Stephen King, then he has done a wonderful job doing it. I like to call this the “leftover pizza the next morning” version of books about Stephen King (because pizza seems to always taste best the next morning after a party). So, if you want a new book that will inform you and bring you closer to knowing more about Stephen King than ever before, grab a copy of STEPHEN KING: ODDS & ENDS by Hans-Ake Lilja today at Bear Manor Media Publishing website. You’ll be glad you did!

I had the honor and pleasure of speaking with Hans about his latest book. Here is that exclusive interview. Enjoy!

AN – You have written a handful of books about Stephen King. What do you enjoy most about writing about him?

HL – About the writing I enjoy finding out new things as you do when you start looking into things. But to be honest, the most fun is when the book is out and I get to talk about it too and with other fans. To hear what they think about it and if they have their own experiences.

AN – Tell us about the writing process. When did you first decide to write a new SK book and when did you finish?

HL – I’m not sure when exactly when I started writing the book but it usually takes a few months. I work pretty focused when I’m writing and spend a lot of time with it. Then it’s proofreading and all the other stuff that should happen before you have a finished book. Then you need to sell it and get a publisher to release it. So, there is one phase where I’m writing, one where others read what I write and then one where the finished package is put together.

AN – Were there any challenges writing this book? If so, what were they?

HL – There are always challengers. You always question if you are writing chapters that people will enjoy, do you have all the facts straight, is this a chapter that you want to include or maybe not for some reason? And then you always have the phase when you question yourself and if you are good enough to do what you do.

AN – After writing books about King already, how did you decide what would or wouldn’t be in this book?

HL – Well, I did one with stuff that wasn’t horror and I did one that focused on his 50 years as a writer and the stuff that was left and still interesting was the more odd stuff so I decided to go for that. Then it grows as you write. You do one chapter and when you write that you get another idea for a chapter or when you take a break and scroll on your phone you see a photo or read something that gives you another chapter. I wasn’t as strict with what I could put in this book as I was with the non-horror book for obvious reasons and I hope that was a good thing.

AN – What do you want readers to take away from this book the most?

HL – That King is so much more than just books. His presence is in everything almost and I find it very interesting to know what those things are. It’s like when a movie is released and everyone is interviewing the lead cast. I’m more like, let me interview the prop master or the location scout. Those people will tell you totally different stories than the cast. Stories that will go untold if no one listens.

AN – I love the front & back cover. Tell us about the design, how you were inspired for it, and who created it?

HL – It’s created by my friend Anders Jakobson and I agree, it’s a great cover. I was trying to come up with an idea for the cover and I got as far as the folder and that it could contain documents about stuff that not everyone knows. Like in a detective novel. I then talked to Anders about it and he ran with the idea and since he is a lot better than me on creating good looking things he managed expand my idea and place it in a better perspective and also included all the easter eggs. I really love the cover and he really did a great job with it. And from what I hear most people seem to agree with me.

AN – There are some great interviews in this book. Which did you enjoy most doing and why?

HL – I enjoyed the all but in different way and as I mentioned earlier I do like to interview the people that no one else talk to so I think that my talk with Jim Murray, prop master on 11.22.63 and the one with Platinum who did the cover for Under the Dome are extra interesting.

AN – What was your favorite chapter to write in this book and why?

HL – That is a hard one. The one about the X-Files episode was fun, I learned a lot about that one. The Dark Tower was also fun, and depressing depending on how you see it. So much time and action but still no good adaptation of the books. And the one about Black Ribbon, the rock opera. And the…I think they are all favorites in their own way