Blockade Billy
Encyclopedia
Blockade Billy is a 2010 novella
by Stephen King
. It tells the story of William "Blockade Billy" Blakely, a fictional catcher
who briefly played for the New Jersey Titans during the 1957 season. It took King two weeks to write it. Stephen King had the following to say about the novella:
on April 20, 2010 as a trade hardcover, timed to coincide with the opening of the 2010 MLB season
. It has cover art
by Glen Orbik
and interior artwork
by Alex McVey
. First copies of the book will include William Blakely's baseball card
. Brian Freeman
's Lonely Road Books
will be releasing a deluxe signed edition
of Blockade Billy in the summer of 2010. On May 25, 2010, Simon & Schuster
released the novella as an audiobook, as well as a trade edition hardcover, featuring a bonus short story, "Morality" (originally published in the July 2009 issue of Esquire
).
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
by Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
. It tells the story of William "Blockade Billy" Blakely, a fictional catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
who briefly played for the New Jersey Titans during the 1957 season. It took King two weeks to write it. Stephen King had the following to say about the novella:
Synopsis
The publisher's description on the book's front inside cover reads:Release
The book was published by Cemetery DanceCemetery Dance Publications
Cemetery Dance Publications is a specialty press publisher of horror and dark suspense. Cemetery Dance was founded by Richard Chizmar, a horror author, while he was in college. It is associated with Cemetery Dance magazine, which was founded in 1988. They began to publish books in 1992.Cemetery...
on April 20, 2010 as a trade hardcover, timed to coincide with the opening of the 2010 MLB season
2010 Major League Baseball season
The 2010 Major League Baseball season began Sunday, April 4, when the Boston Red Sox defeated their long-time rivals, the 2009 World Series champion New York Yankees at Fenway Park, 9–7; the regular season ended on October 3. The 2010 All-Star Game was played on July 13 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim...
. It has cover art
Cover art
Cover art is the illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book , magazine, comic book, video game , DVD, CD, videotape, or music album. The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e...
by Glen Orbik
Glen Orbik
Glen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's...
and interior artwork
Illustration
An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...
by Alex McVey
Alex McVey
Alex McVey is an American fine artist and illustrator from Texas, mostly known for his work on high-end limited edition books and album art. He has illustrated the works of Stephen King, William Peter Blatty, Brian Keene, Joe R...
. First copies of the book will include William Blakely's baseball card
Baseball card
A baseball card is a type of trading card relating to baseball, usually printed on some type of paper stock or card stock. A card will usually feature one or more baseball players or other baseball-related sports figures...
. Brian Freeman
Brian Freeman
Brian James Freeman is an author whose fiction has been published in magazines and anthologies including Borderlands 5, Corpse Blossoms, and all four volumes of the Shivers series. His first novel, Black Fire, was written under the pseudonym James Kidman...
's Lonely Road Books
Lonely Road Books
Lonely Road Books is a small press publishing company founded in 2007 by Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar and based out of Forest Hill, Maryland. They are a publishing company that specializes in deluxe signed limited edition books...
will be releasing a deluxe signed edition
Limited edition books
A limited edition book is a description of a book which is released in a limited print run quantity, usually much smaller than publishing industry standards, and connotes a level of scarcity or exclusivity...
of Blockade Billy in the summer of 2010. On May 25, 2010, Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
released the novella as an audiobook, as well as a trade edition hardcover, featuring a bonus short story, "Morality" (originally published in the July 2009 issue of Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
).
Editions
- Cemetery Dance PublicationsCemetery Dance PublicationsCemetery Dance Publications is a specialty press publisher of horror and dark suspense. Cemetery Dance was founded by Richard Chizmar, a horror author, while he was in college. It is associated with Cemetery Dance magazine, which was founded in 1988. They began to publish books in 1992.Cemetery...
trade dustjacketed hardcover edition (April 20, 2010)
- 1st edition, 1st printing limited to 10,000 copies and comes shink wrapped with a William "Blockade Billy" Blakely baseball card. Optional slipcases from Cemetery Dance were available for a limited time at an additional fee
- 2nd printing limited to 10,000 copies sent to libraries
- ScribnerScribner-Media:* Charles Scribner's Sons, also known as Scribner, New York City publisher* Scribner's Magazine, pictorial published from 1887–1939 by Charles Scribner's Sons, then merged with the Commentator which continued until 1942...
trade hardcover (May 25, 2010)- Contains the bonus, previously printed, short story "Morality." It is not scheduled to be illustrated or have a dustjacket (to be released as a paper on boards book)
- Simon & SchusterSimon & SchusterSimon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
audiobook and e-bookE-bookAn electronic book is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, and produced on, published through, and readable on computers or other electronic devices. Sometimes the equivalent of a conventional printed book, e-books can also be born digital...
(May 25, 2010)- Also contains the bonus previously printed short story "Morality." Craig WassonCraig Wasson-Career:Wasson's first feature film was the 1977 suspense thriller Rollercoaster. In 1978, he appeared in two films about the Vietnam war: first as a private in The Boys in Company C and then as a corporal in Go Tell the Spartans. In 1982, he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for New Star of...
will be reading the audiobook version
- Also contains the bonus previously printed short story "Morality." Craig Wasson
- Lonely Road BooksLonely Road BooksLonely Road Books is a small press publishing company founded in 2007 by Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar and based out of Forest Hill, Maryland. They are a publishing company that specializes in deluxe signed limited edition books...
(Summer, 2010)
- Signed Limited Edition - comes in a traycase and features new additional artwork from Alex McVeyAlex McVeyAlex McVey is an American fine artist and illustrator from Texas, mostly known for his work on high-end limited edition books and album art. He has illustrated the works of Stephen King, William Peter Blatty, Brian Keene, Joe R...
and Glen OrbikGlen OrbikGlen Orbik is an American illustrator known for his fully painted paperback and comic covers, often executed in a noir style. He studied art at the California Art Institute then located in Encino, later Calabasas, California and currently located in Westlake Village. He studied under the school's...
(the book will be signed by them too), a William "Blockade Billy" Blakely baseball card, and a signed Stephen King baseball card - Signed Lettered Edition - comes in a hand-made custom box with all of the Limited Edition bonuses plus an original piece of artwork and an art portfolio