Rare Stephen King book up for auction

Rare Stephen King book up for auction

ELLSWORTH, MAINE

A signed copy of a rare Stephen King book is up for auction at a Maine bookstore, with proceeds going to a homeless shelter’s emergency home heating fund.

The copy of “The Regulators,” written by horror writer and Maine native King under the pen name Richard Bachman, was donated by a customer of Scottie’s Bookhouse in Hancock. Owner Michael Riggs says there are only 550 copies of the book in a special collector’s box.

Auction proceeds will go to the Emmaus Homeless Shelter’sSFlbemergency fuel fund in Ellsworth.

Bids are being taken by email, phone and in person until Jan. 31.

Costa Book Awards

LONDON

British writer and two-time Booker Prize winner Hilary Mantel has been named novelist of the year at Britain’s Costa Book Awards for “Bring Up the Bodies.”

Mantel’s achievement last week for her blood-soaked Tudor saga makes her the first author to win both the Costa novel award and Booker Prize in the same year.

The Costa Book Awards carry a $8,125 prize and are given in five categories: novel, first novel, biography, poetry and children’s book.

Other winners included Scottish poet Kathleen Jamie for “The Overhaul,” and Francesca Segal for her first novel “The Innocents.”

“Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes,” written by Mary Talbot and drawn by her husband, Bryan, won the biography category.

Severely dyslexic writer and illustrator Sally Gardner won the children’s book prize for her fifth novel, “Maggot Moon.”

The five winners are shortlisted for the grand prize of 2012 Costa Book of the Year, which will be announced Jan. 29.

Vindicator wire reports