Stephen King Biography

Fast Facts

• In addition to contributions to a number of local and national charities, he provides scholarships to local high school students
• Received the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters
• Was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2014
• Attended the University of Maine at Orono, where he earned a degree in English and wrote for the school newspaper
• Started out selling short stories to men's magazines
• Worked as a laborer at an industrial laundry until he was able to find a job teaching high school English, but with the sale of his first novel, he became a writer full time
• Well known for creating horror stories