Russian publishing house AST has received a notification from American author Stephen King's agent about the temporary suspension of cooperation on new contracts, as revealed by AST to TASS on Wednesday.

"Stephen King's agent has officially notified the publishing house that the author is temporarily suspending cooperation on all new contracts. Thus, the rights to all previously purchased works remain with AST for the entire duration of the contracts," the publishing house said. 

King, who once described himself as the "literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries,” has joined the wave of boycotts against Moscow.

Billy Summers, King's latest novel set to be released on April 6, 2022, will be the last novel in the Russian market for the time being, the published said. 

"But there will really be no new novels and renewals of expired rights for some time to come. AST Publishing House pays special attention of Russian readers: the rights to most of the author's works have been prolonged for 3-4 years, and Stephen King's books, as before, will be available to domestic of the writer," AST said.

Linwood Barclay, a Canadian author, said in a Twitter post that they will also not be renewing contracts for publication in Russia.

I acknowledge this is not a great sacrifice, and will have no more effect than a fart in a windstorm, but I am not renewing my Russian book contracts.

— Linwood Barclay (@linwood_barclay) March 5, 2022

Russian artists and literary figures have been in the crosshairs of the media war, writers cutting off contracts with Western pressure and European universities banning Dostoevsky for "political reasons."