You can either continue to go on, or say 'I left when I was still on top of my game'

Stephen King

King, 54, is one of the most popular thriller writers ever, with many books - such as The Shining, Misery and It - turned into successful films and TV series.

His final projects will be the last three books in the Dark Tower series and a TV story about a haunted asylum.

"Then that's it. I'm done," he told the newspaper. "Done writing books."

He has not ruled out writing books in private, however.

He will also publish a collection of short stories and the novel Buick Eight - delayed because it is about a car accident and the subject did not seem appropriate before.

King was almost killed when he was hit by a camper van in 1999.

New and fresh

Some fans may see similarities between Buick Eight and a previous novel, Christine, but he did not want readers to think he was recycling ideas, he said.

"You say 'I've said the things that I have to say, that are new and fresh and interesting to people'.

"Then you have a choice. You can either continue to go on, or say 'I left when I was still on top of my game.

"'I left when I was still holding the ball, instead of it holding me'."

Nightmare

He said he is afraid of ending up like Harold Robbins, the best-selling pulp novelist whose sales and reputation diminished as he kept writing into his old age, even after he suffered a stroke.

"That's my nightmare," King said.

His latest TV miniseries, Rose Red, has is currently winning healthy ratings on United States television.