Special Guest Blog ~ Nicole Ireland

Welcome to ye olde blog, we have a special guest! That's right fellow wanderers, so be on your best behavior for this post. I'd like to introduce you to Nicole Ireland, fellow member of TCA and all around cool cat. You'll see a link over there in the blog roll to her site, but you can click here too.

Nicole is a writer, from Maine, and does some pretty cool stuff. She also happens to be an Examiner and does a neato column on American Idol and Lee DeWyze. Good stuff!

We were chatting the other night at The Creative Alliance and thought it would be cool to do guest blogs on each others site. With that in mind, Nicole and I chatted a bit about what we could write about, and we came up with Stephen King. This is a topic we could write all day on, so we are giving you our two perspectives. Here is her post on Stephen King...

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Growing up in Maine, I was inundated with stories about Stephen King. To my young mind, he was the ultimate celebrity and Mainer. I was in complete awe of him and what he did for a living.

I can't remember exactly how old I was when I read my first Stephen King novel, but it was around ten or eleven. While his novels may seem like heavy reading for a young child, I was advanced when it came to reading, and I was easily bored by books that catered to my own age group, so I picked up The Stand, much to the consternation of my parents. And to say my life was changed forever would be an understatement.

There were many times throughout my teenage years that King's writing helped me to escape from the things in my life that I had little control over. His writing allowed me to meet new people and explore new places that I would never have been able to experience otherwise. The Shining, Salem's Lot, Pet Cemetery and Christine were favorites.

As I've grown into adulthood, my fascination with Stephen King has not diminished. If anything it has only grown because I'm an author trying to find my way in the literary world and if there is a shining example of success, it is Mr. King.

To me, Stephen King is more than just an author. He's someone that other Maine residents can look up to. He gives us hope that we can accomplish anything as long as we're willing to work hard and not give up.

King also sets an example for other Mainers hoping to make a name for themselves. He shows that you can be a famous without being pretentious like so many celebrities are. King lives his life just like so many other Maine residents. I know people who have gone shopping at Bangor Mall and bumped into him, and he acts like is a normal, everyday Joe.

The greatest quality that I feel that not only Stephen King but his wife Tabitha possess is their kind hearts. They help out fellow Mainers through the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, and the town that I live in, Lebanon, was the lucky recipient of a $30,000 check that helped purchase a new 2009 Ford Expedition that, equipped with several live-saving devices, is currently helping our volunteer rescue squad save lives and make a difference in our community.

To say I was touched by their generosity would be an understatement. As a small town girl who idolizes those who truly aim to help and make a difference, Stephen and Tabitha are role models that I look up to and aspire to be like.

Comments

[Jenny Beans]

I like reading you talk about the things that inspire you, Nicole.

[Nicole]

Thanks for posting this, Patrick. I had a great time writing about my fascination with Stephen King.

We'll definitely have to do this again.

[Patrick]

We should do it again, it was fun! Thanks for letting me hang out. Next time I'll pick up the socks!

[Nicole]

You're welcome, Patrick. Anytime!

[Drew Beatty]

I had the pleasure of seeing King interviewed by David Cronenberg when he went on tour to support Under The Dome. He was exactly how I expected his to be. Great man, thanks for sharing this other side of his life.

[Veronica]

It's one thing to do creative things that earn praise, but it's even more amazing to do those creative things and then be able to give back to the community. The man is a genius.

Great post, and great guestblog idea!

[Nicole]

It's not the first time that I've benefited in some way from their generosity. I admit, when money was tight, I received WIC benefits for the kids, and we received many books because of money that Stephen and Tabitha's foundation gave to the program to buy books.

I truly feel that all celebrities should give back. I think it sends an important message to younger generations that they need to see. So many of the kids these days are self-centered, and they need all the positive messages they can get.

I vow right now, if I ever see my children's stories published, I will make sure that my daughter's school district benefits from it in someway.