Interview with Robert K. Wiener, Stephen King's publisher

Robert K. Wiener published The Dark Tower Series

Robert K. Wiener is a publisher for Donald M. Grant Inc. He published Stephen King's The Dark Tower Series, Talisman and Black House (in collaboration with Peter Straub).

Q. "Here There Be Dragons” is one of the most recent books published by Donald M. Grant, Publisher Inc. Why do you choose often fantasy genres?

A. We have traditional published Fantasy, Horror or Science Fiction or related themes. We publish things we like and I was friends with both Roger Zelazny and Vaughn Bode and loved the story and the art.

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Stephen King

Q. "Goblin Market" is an illustrated book.

A. Almost all our books are illustrated. Goblin Market was first published in 1862. The text is easily available. We like Omar Rayyan's art very much and asked him what project he would like to do. He chose Goblin Market.

Q. The first publication of Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" was distributed in a few copies. What is the story behind the publication of the book?

A. Stephen King was a collector of books published by Donald M. Grant and was having dinner with him in Rhode Island one time. He said that he would love to have a well produced, illustrated book like the ones Donald Grant published. Donald replied that he would love to publish one of Stephen's books if he had something that Stephen felt was suitable for such a treatment. A few months later Mr. King send him a letter suggesting Donald look at the the series of connected stories published in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. The rest is history.

Q. What kind of writer is Stephen King? Does he accept publisher's advice or does he always have clear ideas on the plot?

A. Mr. King's plots are his own. His publisher or agent does do copy editing but that is pretty much it. It's my understanding that Mr. King's family often read books he is working on and give their feedback.

Q. Many books you published have become films. What is your favourite?

A. "One Who Walked Alone", which was made into the movie "The Whole Wide World" and was about writer Robert E. Howard.

Q. How do you choose the stories to be published?

A. We publish things we like. At this point most of our projects come to us from people we know, who either approach us with an idea, or we approach them.

Q. Can you give us some anticipation about the next projects?

A. There are a few art books in the works. I don't want to announce them until they are closer to being finished.