No good reason, I guess. I just think of the "Doubleday books" as the first five books he published before he left for Viking. Pet Sematary was a few years later. As you know King never really intended to publish Pet Sematary. It was in a trunk gathering dust. Doubleday was holding on to years of profits from the sales of those books and King was desperate to find a way to break the contract he signed when Carrie was published. He finally offered them "one more book" which turned out to be Pet Sematary. Doubleday released the funds (millions of dollars) to King according to a payment schedule and he was finally free.
didn't know that , thanks for sharing!
i also felt that PS is some kind of not a real DD , but could not say why. now i can!
Thanks!
Founder and publisher of Lividian Publications. My other website is BrianJamesFreeman.com. Please always feel free to email me or send me a PM if you have any questions about either!
The only other trunk novel I can think of from around that time would be Blaze. I think that would have probably been the second book to end the contract, especially considering that Blaze was originally planned to be Stephen King's second novel with Doubleday instead of Salem's Lot.
Funny, I always thought King's second book was going to be Getting It On (Rage).
John
He submitted Roadwork to Bill Thompson at the same time as 'Salem's Lot. In the afterword to Different Seasons, he claims it was Blaze, but he couldn't very well say it was Roadwork because the Bachman pseudonym was still a secret at that time.
Author of The Road to the Dark Tower, Stephen King: A Complete Exploration of His Work, Life, and Influences and The Dark Tower Companion. Co-editor with Stephen King of the anthology Flight or Fright.
Thanks, Bev. I was confused (again!)
John
No idea if there is interest, but starts at $42.95:
1992 GRAVEN IMAGES Unrevised Proof 1st Grove Paperback Oct. 31 VF+ Stephen King
FYI Its not only a King Proof.
(I have nothing to do with this auction.)
I cannot imagine how this fetched that much. In fact.. I call bullshit. I do not think that sold for that.... no way. Someone bid it up... not sure why... but no way that sold for over $3k! My mind will not allow it. lol
HELP ME FIND
Insomnia #459
ANY S/L #459
Hi Mark, I hope my post didn't offend you. Everyone has their own collecting goals and gets to decide for themselves what to spend their money on, and how much they're willing to pay for something. To me, the CD 'reprint' proofs will never be worth anywhere near as much as proofs for the regular trade editions (i.e., Doubleday, Viking, Scribner), hence my reaction. But if this is your current 'needful thing', I hope you get it!
Congratulations, Mark! May I ask why this became a "Needful Thing" to you?
John
Congratulations Mark! I'm happy you got it. I think the final selling price surprised some of us here, but I certainly know where you're coming from. I'm sure most of us can understand what it's like to really desire an item and how we might be willing to pay pretty much whatever it takes to get it. Heck, I just did the same thing on another proof I have really wanted for some time. Congratulations again and enjoy it!
Sorry Brother, that was just my attempt at humor. A joke of sorts, just like that CD auction. There will definitely be a 2nd Chance Offer given very shortly, and it will be to a bidder much further down the list, at around $801.11, which by all accounts was the last genuine bidder.
Perhaps the high bidder, that is bidding on a $12 black mini-skirt, just decided that today was the day to start collecting Stephen King, and they are prepared to go to $4000 to get a 2015 proof from CD, and if so, I have a bridge for sale in Brooklyn that has their name on it. I will keep my opinions on Chizmar to myself, but if there is any members here that wrote to CD to inquire about the legitimacy of this proof, that prompted an email blast from them to promote this auction, I would love to hear from you.
Mark
Are you saying that ebay bidders n***u, x***t, and d***n were all shill bidders?
You're a funny man, Mark