Stephen King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author best known for his hugely influential horror, suspense, and supernatural fiction. His breakthrough novel, Carrie, was published in 1974, followed by classics including ’Salem’s Lot, The Shining, The Stand, It, and Misery, as well as the epic Dark Tower series. King has also published works under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, and numerous stories and novels have become acclaimed films and television adaptations, including The Shawshank Redemption, Stand by Me, and Carrie. A longtime Maine resident and University of Maine graduate, he is married to novelist Tabitha King and has received honors including the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters and the National Medal of Arts.