Stephen King has written dire endings for dozens of characters. His next one, however, is rooted in a grim reality. The verbose author is closing the three Maine radio stations he co-owns with his wife Tabitha at the end of the year,

Stephen King, the horror author whose books have sold hundreds of millions of copies, inspired classic films and disturbed untold nights of sleep, has long played another role closer to his home in Maine: local media magnate.

After 40 years, his Maine-based radio stations, WZON, WZLO, and WKIT, are signing off the air. Stephen King Announces Closure of His Maine Radio Stations Jo Vito