How I spent my summer vacation

In junior high school, Stephen King read his report to the class.

LOL! Thoughtful teachers liked Stephen King -- not for his literary style nor for its content -- because it encouraged young men to read.

I read Stephen King's 'IT' once, and it gave me nightmares for like 10 years. (I am actually not sure how long the nightmares lasted, but it seemed like ten years.)  I will never look at clowns the same.

In my teens, I made the mistake of reading The Shining, while staying by myself, in the boathouse at the cottage, at night.
Needless to say, I did not get any sleep that night and only drifted off for a bit after dawn. Good book, terrible memory of the reading experience.

The one of his I recommend the most is On Writing. It is great for writers but I found it helpful for anyone looking for insights on artistic development. It's really stuck with me and made me a better artist and craftsperson.