Thanks to Maine’s most famous horror author, a group of young writers will become published authors as well.
Stephen King is donating thousands of dollars to Farwell Elementary school, located in Lewiston, Maine, so that the students in its Author Studies Program can publish two books that they’ve written. The manuscript is about 290 pages, with the end result being an original and a sequel novel that are based on the kids’ own experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Originally there was a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for the books’ publication, but King heard about the initiative and decided to cover the cost through his foundation.
The book is titled Fletcher McKenzie and the Passage to Whole, and is — fittingly — a story about a boy from Maine
Hailey LaBrecque, a fifth-grade student, said in an interview with WMTW 8 ABC News, “I’ve been in [the program] for the last four years, and only the people in my school have ever gotten to read what I’ve written, and it’s really cool to think that now pretty much anyone can read anything you write.”
Farwell Principal Amanda Winslow said she’s proud of the students for their accomplishments, as well as the dedication of librarian Kathy Martin and author Gary Savage, who advised the students. “It’s really wonderful to see this much effort and support put behind their writing,” she said.
The books are ready for publication. They will first be sent to a publishing company, and soon after will be available for purchase. In addition to King’s donation, the school has received other donations from a number of local groups that will be used for the Author Studies Program.
