Having written so many different works, some of his most popular are: The Odd Thomas series, which as spawned graphic novels that serve as prequels.ĭean wrote a new adaptation of the Mary Shelly classic Frankenstein, which is also now a series. In the year 2008, Dean was ranked as the sixth highest paid author, at an approximated 25 million dollars each year. Dean Koontz’s popularity has helped him rank next to authors such as Stephen King.

Dean is married to his wife Gerda, and lives in Southern California with their golden retriever. Trixie, who Dean received as a gift from a charity he contributed to, passed in the year 2007 and served as a major inspiration for the canine characters through many of his works. He has a love for his golden retrievers, which have led to dogs playing major roles in his works. Dean has also written under nine different pen names such as Brian Coffey, Aaron Wolfe, and David Axton to name a few. His books incorporate other genres, adding variety to each release. Dean has published over a hundred pieces of work to date, mostly of the suspense-thriller genre that heavily involve science fiction. It was the first of over a dozen science fiction novels that followed. In the year 1968 Dean Koontz released his first novel titled: Star Quest. Dean’s experiences with the program provided him with a new outlook on government, and politics in general. His predecessor was in the hospital as a result of a beating by the very kids Dean was helping. During the 60s Dean also worked for a government-funded program that sought to help violent and troubled youth. After graduation in the 1960s, Dean went to work as a teacher at Mechanicsburg High School. He attended Shippensburg State College in Pennsylvania where he won an Atlantic Monthly competition for his writing, which further encouraged him to continue. His mother’s courage in standing up to her husband also served as an inspiration in Dean’s writing. Dean’s father, Raymond Koontz, was extremely abusive to him and his mother. His childhood had a strong influence on his writing as he grew older. Dean Koontz was born in July of 1945, a month before World War II ended in the Pacific. Many who have never even read his works, and have simply seen his books on the shelves recognize his name. He is considered one of the most successful authors alive today.

His novels have sold over 450 million copies worldwide and have been translated in to 38 different languages. The Servants of Twilight (As: Leigh Nichols)ĭean Koontz is a popular author of novels, short stories, and poetry in the United States, and has had fourteen of his novels reach the number one position on the New York Times Bestseller List, with several others reaching other positions. The Fall of the Dream Machine / The Star Venturesĭark of the Woods / Soft Come the Dragons

Red Rain by Dean Koontz