Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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the king of horror by Claudette Riley KSU During the seventh stop of his 10-city, coast-to-coast tour promoting independent bookstores, King answers questions in Varney ' s Book Store. What I ' m interested in doing is supporting independent bookstores, he said, so they don ' t go the way of the corner grocery stores. (Photo by Cary Conover) the dark mind of fiction roared into a dreary Aggieville at high noon Oct. 15. A handful of enthusiastic fans caught the early arrival of horror writer Stephen Ki ng on his Harley. He stopped at Varney ' s Book Store, the seventh stop on his selfproclaimed low-rent, 10-city, coast-to-coast jaunt, during the Wildcats ' football game against Nebraska. It was like The Stand ' happened here and everyone was dead, King said during a media conference at Varney ' s. Then, all of a sudden, there was a vast bestial roar. It just about knocked me off my bike. We came into town just as K-State had scored. Varney ' s sponsored King ' s reading Oct. 15 in McCain Auditorium. King opened in McCain to a sold-out crowd and a standing ovation. Citing the influence of his mother ' s childhood stories and the tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, King talked about his writing style. I guess I just like to gross people out, King said. I guess I thought if you can write it down, verbalize, the worst thing that can happen, then maybe it won ' t scare you anymore. In addition to promoting his book, King read from Insomnia and discussed the importance of supporting independent bookstores. Independent bookstores and independent-bookstore employees grow writers, he said. My wife (author Tabitha King) is a minimalist writer. If you don ' t stock the minimalist writers, you don ' t give them a chance. Matt Bechtold, sophomore in English and journalism and mass communications, said he gained more from King ' s visit because of the author ' s laid-back approach. I liked the informalness of it and his use of humor, especially in answering questions, Bechtold said. (I liked) the fact that he came here and was so up front with the audience. Throughout his talk, King plugged Varney ' s and shouted take that, chains. He asked the audience not to purchase copies of his book at a chain store. During the audience question session, Kathy Adamczyk, M anhattan resident and Waldenbooks employee, challenged King ' s claim that chain stores lacked the handselling practice he championed as a quality of independent stores. He said that people in the chain stores don ' t care, but they do, Adamczyk said. I don ' t think he is hurting the chain stores. I think he is hurting himself with the chain stores. King, whose books were sold in independent bookstores first, said becoming a successful writer had its drawbacks. He explained his reclusive behavior and why his last book tour was more than a decade ago. I don ' t like being a celebrity. I don ' t like being treated like one. I don ' t know what people want from me, King said. What I have to give I put in my books. Promoting his latest book, Stephen King speaks to a sold-out crowd in McCain Auditorium Oct. 15. King read excerpts from Insomnia and answered audience questions. Above: King cited the influence of his mother ' s childhood stories as he discussed his writing style. I guess I just like to gross people out, he said. (Photos by Todd Feeback) 22 stephen king

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Workers install an elevator in Calvin Hall, causing a traffic congestion. New stairs were built at the north and south ends of the building. (Photo by Cary Conover) Students, faculty and alumni attend the Oct. 14 ceremony for the Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center. At a cost of $27 million, Throckmorton was expanded to 225,000 square feet. (Photo by Steve Hebert) construction 21

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