Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine, in 1947. He is an
American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, and fantasy novels. His books have sold more than 350 million copies, many of which have been adapted into feature films, miniseries, television series, and comic books. King has published 61 novels and six non-fiction book. He has written approximately 200 short stories. When King was two years old, his father left the family. King's mother raised Stephen and his older brother, David, by herself, sometimes under great financial strain. He had a difficult childhood, marked by repeated moves from one city to another. As a child, King apparently witnessed one of his friends being struck and killed by a train, though he has no memory of the event. His family told him that after leaving home to play with the boy, King returned, speechless and seemingly in shock. Only later did the family learn of the friend's death. Some commentators have suggested that this event may have psychologically inspired some of King's darker works. He attended Lisbon Falls High School, then he attended courses at the University of Maine in Orono. In June 1970 he obtained a degree in literature, a certificate from a high school teacher and a diploma for elocution and dramatic art. In 1971, he married Tabitha Jane Spruce, with whom he had three children. He lived in a caravan for a while and worked in an industrial laundry, then became an English teacher at Hampden Academy, Maine. At that time, Stephen King led a hard life, full of shortcomings, which would lead him to alcoholism. He started writing Carrie, but because the novel didn't advance at all, he threw it in the trash. However, his wife, who did not doubt his talent, recovered the manuscript and convinced him to complete it. Stephen King broke all sales records and received numerous awards, including the prestigious Medal for Outstanding Contribution to American Literature by the National Book Foundation. In 2006, his annual income was estimated at $ 40 million.