The Prolific Suspense Writer, Dean Koontz, Author Biographies

y Koontz came into this world on July 9, 1945, inK.R. Dwyer, John Hill, Aaron Wolf, Leigh Nichols,
Bedford, Pennsylvania. He says his family was veryAnthony North, Richard Paige and Owen West. He
poor and his father was a mean drunk andsays he did this because publishers convinced him
womanizer. The home they lived in was a shack withthat because he was writing in different genres, he
four small rooms and a tar paper roof.could wind up alienating his audience.
In 1967, Dean graduated from ShippensburgDean had written several science fiction books
University with a degree in English. He married Gerda,before he tried his hand at suspense thrillers. He says,
his high school sweetheart the same year. They“...even the most beautifully decorated, serene
decided not to have children.welcoming room contains a stunning array of
Dean took a job with the Appalachian Povertyfearsome weapons if one has even the most latent
Program, tutoring and counseling underprivilegedtalent for Homicide.” Dean has also written graphic
children. His love of writing was always with him, sonovels, short stories, non fiction and picture books.
he continued to write after work and the weekends.Some of his books were inspired by his beloved
His first published work, “Star Quest,” was agolden retriever, Trixie.
science fiction novel.Dean has been called ‘a masterful writer and a
Dean had worked for about 18 months as a highquirky character.’ He’s a writer who
school English teacher when his wife, Gerda, madehas the uncanny ability to turn a safe and
him a proposition. She procured a job in a shoecomfortable world into one of pure horror.
factory and offered to support the family for fiveMost of Dean’s novels are set in and around
years so that he could concentrate on his writingLos Angeles. Several of his books have been made
career. After the five years, Gerda quit her job andinto films, and there is talk of the novel, “Odd
tends to the business side of Dean’s writing.Thomas,” being made into a television mini series.
Dean has also written under these pseudonyms: W.Dean, and Gerda, make their home in southern
H. Allan, David Axton, Brian Coffey, Deanna Dwyer,California.