Stephen King's The Gunslinger

A novel that took Stephen King 12.5 years to write is now a major franchise. But what was it like when fans (and retailers) were rabid for more? Did King have a "responsibility" to them? And why didn't he plot his fantasy world... instead of writing it by the seat of his pants? 

Additional Resources:

• Bev Vincent, The Road To The Dark Tower
• Rereading Stephen King week 13: The Gunslinger
• So, what’s the deal with The Dark Tower?