The King's Legacy: 5 Shocking Facts About Stephen King's Sons, Joe Hill And Owen King, And Their Latest 2025 Projects

The shadow of a literary giant is long, but for authors Joe Hill and Owen King, it has served as a launchpad rather than a shroud. As of this current date in December 2025, the sons of the legendary Stephen King are not only carrying on the family's tradition of dark, speculative fiction but are also forging their own distinct, critically acclaimed paths in the publishing world. Their careers are marked by major new releases, high-profile collaborations, and even public stands on ethical issues, proving that the King dynasty is far from finished writing its story.

The success of Joseph Hillstrom King (Joe Hill) and Owen Philip King is a fascinating case study in artistic independence. Both writers initially worked to distance themselves from their famous surname to establish their own voices, a strategy that has paid off handsomely. From Joe Hill’s upcoming 2025 mega-novel to Owen King's recent foray into historical fantasy, here is the comprehensive, up-to-date look at the lives and latest works of Stephen King's literary heirs.

The King Family: A Complete Biographical Profile

The King family is a unique literary powerhouse, consisting of father Stephen King, mother Tabitha King (also an accomplished author), and their three children. While the world knows Stephen King, the careers and lives of his children are a testament to the family's deep-seated creative and artistic drive.

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• Naomi Rachel King
  • Born: June 1, 1970
  • Profession: Unitarian Universalist Minister and Chef
  • Note: Naomi is the most private of the King siblings and is the only one who is not a published author. She has worked in various roles, including as a chef and, notably, as a Unitarian Universalist minister in South Florida, choosing a path of spiritual guidance over fiction writing.
• Joseph Hillstrom King (Joe Hill)
  • Born: June 4, 1972
  • Pen Name: Joe Hill
  • Profession: Author, Comic Book Writer (Co-Creator of Locke & Key)
  • Notable Works: Heart-Shaped Box, NOS4A2, The Fireman, King Sorrow (Upcoming 2025)
  • Note: Hill intentionally used a pen name for the first decade of his career to gain success based on his own merit, a fact that was kept secret until his breakthrough.
• Owen Philip King
  • Born: February 21, 1977
  • Profession: Author, Screenwriter, Producer
  • Notable Works: Double Feature, The Curator, Sleeping Beauties (Co-authored with Stephen King)
  • Note: Owen King's work often leans into satirical, surreal, and historical fiction, showing a distinct voice from his father's and brother's more direct horror. He is married to author Kelly Braffet.

Joe Hill: The Horror Heir's Major 2025 Mega-Novel and Public Stand

Joe Hill has firmly established himself as a master of modern horror and speculative fiction, a reputation built on bestsellers like Heart-Shaped Box and the hit Netflix adaptation of his comic book series, Locke & Key. However, his career is currently defined by two major, fresh updates that highlight his contemporary relevance: a massive new book and a public stance on workers' rights.

The Release of the Epic 'King Sorrow'

After nearly a decade without a new novel, Joe Hill is set to release his next major work, the "mega-novel" King Sorrow, on October 21, 2025. This highly anticipated book is confirmed to be a substantial undertaking, with Hill indicating it will be similar in length to his 700-page novel NOS4A2. Early descriptions position King Sorrow as a chilling tale that blends modern-world dangers with dark academia, focusing on the unexpected consequences of revenge. The sheer scale and subject matter of the book are generating significant buzz, positioning it as one of the most important horror releases of 2025.

The novel marks a return to the full-length format that fans have craved, following a period where Hill focused heavily on short stories, novellas, and graphic novels. His ability to weave intricate, character-driven narratives with genuine supernatural terror is what defines his unique style, often exploring themes of lost innocence, memory, and the insidious nature of evil.

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A Public Stand: Boycotting the British Library

In a move that demonstrates his commitment to ethical issues, Joe Hill recently joined a group of writers in boycotting a British Library event. Hill, along with other authors, withdrew from the "Tales of the Weird" festival in a show of solidarity with striking workers. This action, which garnered significant media attention, underscores Hill's willingness to use his platform for social commentary, an element that often subtly appears in his fiction as well. The decision to withdraw from a major literary event highlights a commitment to principle over publicity, further defining his independent identity outside the King name.

Owen King: From Collaboration to 'The Curator' (2023)

Owen King, the youngest of the King children, has cultivated a career that is distinctively different from his father and brother. While Joe Hill gravitates toward straight horror, Owen King's work is often characterized by a blend of surrealism, dark humor, and a focus on social and historical commentary, as seen in his most recent solo novel.

The Acclaimed Novel 'The Curator'

Owen King’s latest solo novel is The Curator, which was published in March 2023. The book is a work of historical fantasy that tells the story of a young man navigating a labyrinthine, politically charged city in the wake of a popular uprising. It is a sprawling, imaginative work that solidified King's reputation for crafting complex, world-building narratives that defy simple genre classification. Critics praised its ambition and its unique blend of the gothic with a modern sensibility.

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This novel followed his earlier work, *Double Feature*, and the novella collection *We're All in This Together*, demonstrating a steady evolution in his storytelling from contemporary satire to grand, speculative fiction.

The Successful Collaboration 'Sleeping Beauties'

One of Owen King's most well-known projects is his collaboration with his father, Stephen King, on the novel *Sleeping Beauties*. The book, which was released in 2017, tells the story of an apocalyptic event where every woman on Earth falls into a deep, cocoon-like sleep. The collaboration proved to be a critical and commercial success, blending Stephen King’s classic horror elements with Owen King’s penchant for social commentary and imaginative world-building. The novel is currently slated for a television series adaptation, keeping the King family's collaborative work in the public eye and confirming its lasting impact.

The Legacy Continues: Separating the Artist from the Name

The ongoing careers of Joe Hill and Owen King are a testament to the power of finding one's own voice. Both have spoken openly about the challenge of being the son of one of the most famous authors in history, and their decision to initially hide or downplay their lineage was a deliberate, necessary step toward establishing independent credibility.

Joe Hill’s early success with short story collections like 20th Century Ghosts, written under his pen name, proved he could stand on his own merit before the revelation of his parentage. Similarly, Owen King has consistently tackled themes and genres—from literary satire to historical fantasy—that carve out a distinct space from his father's Maine-centric horror. Their shared passion for storytelling, inherited from both Stephen and their mother, Tabitha King, allows them to honor the family legacy while constantly pushing the boundaries of their respective genres. The anticipation for Joe Hill's King Sorrow in 2025 and the continued success of Owen King's *The Curator* ensure that the King name remains synonymous with the freshest, most compelling fiction being published today.