‘Finders Keepers’ — Locals have first dibs on Stephen King book signing

A BLOODY GOOD READ — This blood-soaked open book illustration for Stephen King’s Finders Keepers evokes a plot that revisits the horror a homicidally-obsessed fan of a best-selling author can cause, a la King’s Misery.   Finders Keepers — Locals have first dibs on Stephen King book signing

A BLOODY GOOD READ — This blood-soaked open book illustration for Stephen King’s Finders Keepers evokes a plot that revisits the horror a homicidally-obsessed fan of a best-selling author can cause, a la King’s Misery.
Finders Keepers — Locals have first dibs on Stephen King book signing

By Gail Geraghty

Staff Writer

Author Stephen King will once again demonstrate generosity at its best by offering greater Bridgton readers signed copies of his new novel, Finders Keepers, which explores obsession at its worst.

King, a summer resident of Lovell, has arranged with Bridgton Books to hold the book signing at the Magic Lantern Theatre on Sunday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to noon. Advance tickets are available now at the Main Street bookstore, which is one of King’s favorite haunts when he’s in town.

Bridgton Books co-owner Justin Ward said King is waiting to announce the event on his website in the hope that more local people will get a chance to attend the book signing before the 500 spots sell out. The first time a similar event was held at the Magic Lantern for his 2009 science fiction novel Under the Dome, based on the town of Bridgton, the tickets sold out in a day and a half, said Ward.

“Mr. King has strong ties to our area,” Ward said. “He came into the store recently and just offered to do it.” King has held several book signings since Finders Keepers hit bookstores June 2, but the July 12 event will be his only book signing in Maine, said Ward.

As a sequel to the Edgar Award-winning Mr. Mercedes, voted best mystery novel of 2014, Finders Keepers features the return of three ex-policemen returning to do battle against an overzealous reader. Reviews have been calling the book an intensely suspenseful, heart-pounding read that is also King writing about how literature shapes a life for both good and bad, and forever. It ends with a cliffhanger, leaving readers “obsessed” with reading the third and final book in the planned trilogy.

Those wishing to attend the signing for Finders Keepers will buy a ticket at the bookstore representing the price of the novel, and then wait in line to receive their signed copy from King, who will be sitting on the stage inside one of the theaters, pen in hand. Because of the large amount of people who will attend the two-hour signing, King will not be able to sign any of his other older books, nor will he be able to personalize the ones he signs, Ward said. No backpacks will be allowed.

Having done so many book signings over the years, King has the logistics down to a science. Because of his fondness for western Maine and familiarity with many of its residents, King can be expected to take a little extra time to chat, as he did at the last Magic Lantern book signing in 2010.

“This is his hometown bookstore, and these are his people,” Ward said. He asked that any questions about the event be directed to the bookstore and not to the Magic Lantern, which is not directly involved in the organizing but will be serving some refreshments. The phone number of the bookstore is 647-2122.