Everybody comes to the Qwikpick — even Stephen King

You’re not going to believe this one!

Stephen King has a short story in the New Yorker this week called “Premium Harmony.” http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/features/2009/11/09/091109fi_fiction_king

It features a store called the Quik-Pik. There’s even a drawing of the Quik-Pik in the magazine.

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You’ll note that King’s store is spelled differently than mine, but what’s a couple letters between friends?

While it’s rather unlikely that I inspired King, you may recall that HE inspired Lyle and his friends a bit. They mentioned “Stand By Me” in their Official Report.

In fact, you might easily see a number of similarities between The Qwikpick Adventure Society and Stand by Me/The Body. I imagine it did influence me as I wrote it, but also both stories are in the Pickwick mode of local adventuring. (I chose the name Qwikpick to play off of Pickwick, of coure.)

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Lastly, one more coincidence. Another major influence on me is the show The Adventures of Pete and Pete, which also featured the Pickwick Mode in a few episodes.

Yes, it had a Qwikpick, too — a drive-thru photo processor where Ellen had a summer job.