London, Aug 16 (ANI): His horror novels have sent chills down readers' spines, but when he popped in for a surprise book-signing session in an Australian bookshop, people in the store thought he was a vandal.

King decided to visit the Alice Springs store called Dymocks unannounced and once there started signing copies of his new book 'Lisey's Story' before leaving.

However, according to the Northern Territory News, customers thinking that he was a vandal, reported him to staff.

Thankfully, store manager Bev Ellis managed to recognise King, who followed him to a nearby supermarket, where he was buying fruit and veg, and thanked him for autographing seven copies of the book.

"Lots of authors do it. They'll come into the shop and check if their works are on the shelves," Ananova.com quoted Ellis, as saying.

"If they are, they'll often sign a few copies. If they're not, they'll ask about them. It's embarrassing if we haven't got their work on the shelves.

"His Australian distributor rang me and he didn't even know King was in the country," she said.

On realising that the book had been signed by none other than King himself, a customer snapped up one copy. The shop plans to donate the rest six to be auctioned for charity. (ANI)