WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Writer Stephen King says the daughter of the BTK serial killer does not have to worry about her father being flattered by his portrayal in an upcoming movie inspired by the Wichita case.

King said in an emailed statement Friday that the character depicting Dennis Rader in his film “A Good Marriage” is a banal little man. King says the story isn’t about the killer husband, but about a brave and determined woman.

King was responding to criticism from Kerri Rawson that he was exploiting her father’s victims. Rawson says that King’s upcoming movie inspired her to break a self-imposed nine-year silence.

But the author says the drive to understand is the basis of art, and that is what he strove for in the novella and movie.

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ORIGINAL   –WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The daughter of the BTK serial killer is criticizing writer Stephen King for making a movie partly inspired by the Wichita case.

In the first public comments from a member of the killer’s family, Kerri Rawson says King is exploiting Dennis Rader’s 10 victims and their families.

Rawson told the Wichita Eagle she had been one of her favorite writers, but says she won’t read another of his novels now.

Rawson said her father was also a huge King fan, and she fears his books might have influenced some of the things Rader did in his later murders.

King has said in media interviews that the upcoming movie, “A Good Marriage,” was inspired by Rader and his family.

King’s publicist did not immediately respond to an email Friday seeking comment.