Iconic writer Stephen King made a rare appearance in Dallas, TX, to promote his newest novel, “11/22/63.” It revolves around a man who goes back in time to prevent President John F. Kennedy from being assassinated. King took some time to answer questions about the book and give some background on what sort of research he had to do in the Dallas and Fort Worth, TX, area to write it.
What are your feelings about all the conspiracy theories out there in regards to the assassination?
I have no bone to pick with the conspiracy theorists. They’re going to have a bone to pick with me. They have sort of entrenched views that [Fidel] Castro was involved, the mafia was involved, or the Russians were involved. [Some think] that Lee Harvey Oswald was really not Lee Harvey Oswald. He was somebody who looked like Lee Harvey Oswald.
I was raised that nine times out of ten the simplest explanation is the real one. You know how they used to say, “Follow the money?” In the case of this, it’s follow the gun. The progression is very clear. The kind of gun that Oswald used. Oswald was the one who ordered it from Chicago. Oswald was the one who picked it up when it came at the post office. Oswald was the one who was photographed with it in the backyard. Oswald was the one who used it to shoot Gen. Edwin A. Walker. Oswald was the one who took it to the Texas School Book Depository, said it was curtain rods, and took it up to the Sixth Floor. Oswald was the one who shot J.D. Tippet after leaving the rifle hidden there.
When you follow the gun, you have to say it was probably Oswald. The conspiracy theorists [believe] partially because Oswald was killed and a lot because it’s very difficult for people to believe that one unimportant man who wasn’t a part of anything could just step forward and kill someone and change the course of history.
Did you get a sense of the emotional impact the assassination had on the city of Dallas after spending time here?
No. I haven’t been here enough to know that. I do know that when I came back to Dallas, I had one view of the city that was based on a lot of the material that I saw in the 1960s. I don’t see that now. There’s no sense of Dallas being a hateful city or place. I’ve met nothing but friendly and helpful people here.
It was a little bit like when a friend and I went to many of the places where the civil rights struggles took place in the 1960s. Those seem to be the places where people have put those issues to bed. I feel the same way about Dallas. One of the epigrams of “11/22/63″ is a Japanese proverb: “To the loving eye small pox scars can be as beautiful as dimples.” Scars are scars. That’s all. It’s part of the history of this town. My impression is that Dallas has dealt with that issue and has pretty much put it to bed.
You can see pictures from Stephen King’s tour stop in Dallas, TX right here.
For more articles by Eric Shirey, check out:
John Lithgow Talks About His Career at Dallas Art of Film
Volturi Secretary Ali Faulkner Greets Fans at Dallas ‘Breaking Dawn’ Screenings
Singer Christina Perri Tours with ‘Twilight’ Actors to Promote New Movie, Single
Eric Shirey is the founder and former editor of Rondo Award nominated movie news websites MovieGeekFeed.com and TheSpectralRealm.com. His work has been featured on Yahoo!, DC Comics, StarWars.com, and other entertainment websites. Eric has interviewed and worked with actors like Harrison Ford, Brooke Shields, Gerard Butler, Brendan Fraser, Selena Gomez, and many more.