A bond can be secured by any dependable stream of revenue—corporate earnings, tax receipts, mortgage payments, Bag of Bones royalties. Bag of Bones? Well, yes, not to mention Carrie, The Shining and The Green Mile. You see, Wall Street financier David Pullman, who in 1997 rocked investors with "Bowie bonds," backed by royalties on the songs of David Bowie, is planning to create securities based on the earnings of authors. And while Pullman won't name the writers he has approached, may we suggest that a Stephen King bond would be an excellent investment opportunity?

Here's how it would work if, for example, Pullman issued $100 million worth of King bonds. The money raised, minus commissions, would go directly to the fright master himself in the form of a loan. That means, Mr. King, that it won't be taxable income. Investors who buy the bonds would get the principal back over about 10 years, plus perhaps 8% annual interest, from King's royalties. Need references, Mr. King? In the past three years, Pullman Inc. has announced deals involving more than $200 million worth of bonds secured by the works of not only that Ziggy Stardust guy but also James Brown, Marvin Gaye, the Isley Brothers and Motown songwriter trio Edward and Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier.