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Master of Horror to Sign New Book in Bridgton

December 07, 2009 - BRIDGTON -- Bridgton Books doesn't show up much in "Under the Dome", Stephen King's newest horror novel set in Bridgton.


But the independent bookstore holds a special place, nonetheless, in King's heart. He stops in with his wife Tabitha in the summer time to shop and sign copies of his books. Owners Justin and Pam Ward appreciate their visits, which are always unannounced, and so do a lucky few patrons who get the books King signs.


But that low-key approach is being blown out of the water by King's decision to make Bridgton Books the beneficiary of his only Maine book signing for "Under the Dome" since its release on November 10. The signing will be held on Wednesday, December 16, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Magic LTheatre on Main Street.


"I'm just ecstatic about it. It's really exciting," said Bridgton Books owner Justin Ward, who got the invitation a week ago from King's publicist. "I think he wanted to support the bookstore," said Ward - and to support Bridgton as the setting for Chester's Mill, the western Maine town imprisoned by an invisible force field in "Under the Dome".


400 tickets will be sold at $36.75 each, and Ward wants to get the word out early to give local residents first dibs before the announcement is made Monday on King's official website, www.StephenKing.com.


"I plan to set aside 75 to 100 tickets for just the local residents," Ward said. "Once they're posted on the website, it should sell out in a day or two. He has lots of fans."


Ward said the legions of King's "faithful readers", as King calls them, easily will drive several hours to see him and get a signed copy of his book.


"His book is doing really well," said Ward. "He sold 2 million copies so far, and it's already into its second printing."


The ticket price represents the full $35 retail price, plus tax of the 1100 page tome, which has gotten great reviews and is being compared to "The Stand". Those who buy a ticket in Bridgton Books, by phone or in person, will earn the right to enter one of the Magic Lantern's three theaters, where the storyteller will sit with a stack of books at the ready.


Ward's wife Pamela will pass him the book, which King will sign and present to each person, in an assembly line fashion that has worked well in other King book signings.


"Steve's pretty good at keeping the line moving along," said King assistant Julie Eugley. "He signs the books, says a few words, and people are pretty happy." The world-famous author held booksignings Tuesday in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Wednesday in Manchester, Vermont.


Eugley said the storyteller has been keeping to a grueling booksigning schedule since the release of "Under the Dome", described as a sprawling tale of good versus evil rained down on a small stage. At a recent signing at Borders Books in Atlanta, what was supposed to take two hours, took four hours, so large was the crowd of well-wishers.


Ward quickly realized bookstore was too small to handle the event, so he turned to the Magic Lantern's owners, who were happy to rent out the theater.


Those with tickets won't be permitted to bring any of the books in for King to sign; they'll get their copy of "Under the Dome" when he signs it. Ward said he knows that will disappoint some readers who've already bought the book, but those are the rules he was given, he said.


"We like to keep it running smoothly, otherwise it defeats the purpose of supporting the bookstore," Eugley said. She said King will take some time off from the tour after Bridgton, spend Christmas at his Bangor home, then head off the Tabitha to his winter home near Sarasota, Florida.


Ward, who was 100 pages from finishing "Under the Dome" on Monday, said the Kings have a fondness for Bridgton. They lived here for some time the 1970s off the Kansas Road, two of their children were born at Bridgton Hospital, and they still visit often when staying at their summer home in Lovell.


"He's just an awesome guy. He's nice. He's considerate, just the fact that he'll come in here and will sign books from time to time, and he's a good customer too." Ward said he's also very loyal to the locally owned common independent bookstore in downtown Bangor, Bookmarks Bookstore and Café, where signed copies of King books can also frequently be found.


The Bridgton News, December 3, 2009


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