Serial Publishing and The Green Mile

Abstract

King’s reputation as a prolific and best-selling author has been cemented for several decades, with his dozens of novels and collections establishing him as a clear publishing phenomenon. However, in recent years King has moved beyond traditional publishing to experiment with both old and new approaches, including serial publication, ebooks, and graphic novels. This type of experimentation can be a risky move for authors and publishers alike. As Neil Shoebridge argues in “New Chapter for an Old Publishing Idea,” “Book publishers are not noted for their marketing skills … Examples of innovative marketing strategies in the book business are rare” (72). However, King has long embraced new approaches to storytelling and publishing, with great success. One of the earliest—and highest-profile—of these forays into experimental publishing was King’s decision to publish The Green Mile serially in 1996. Set in a Depression-era Southern prison’s death row, the first installment, titled The Two Dead Girls was released in March of 1996, with one installment a month published through the final installment, Coffey on the Mile, which was released in August of the same year.