Dean Koontz
He grew up in desperate poverty under the tyranny of a violent alcoholic father Koontz’s father served time in prison for trying to murder him. Being an only child with a mother who was prone to illness, he developed his own survival strategies to cope with the horrors of his home life. Books became a large part of this, as he found that they could take him into a better and unique world.
As a child Koontz desired to create this same escape for others, to give them a world to step into when their own became too harsh. Most of his novels written later contained characters who were or had been troubled children, as well as the underlying theme that that those who embrace friendship, love, faith and an unwavering commitment to freedom will inevitably win out over those who are motivated by power, envy, and greed.
Despite his traumatic childhood, Koontz put himself through Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania then known as Shippensburg State College, and in 1967 went to work as an English teacher at Mechanicsburg High School.
Koontz currently resides in Southern California where most of his novels are set with his wife Gerda and their dog Trixie Koontz, under whose name he published the book, Life is good: Lessons in Joyful Living, in 2004.
Dogs often figure heavily in Koontz’s novels, as he is an avid dog lover. Watchers, Dark Rivers of the Heart, and One Door Away from Heaven are prime examples. However, lately he has seen fit to include cats as characters, most notably the smart cat Mungojerrie in the Christopher Snow novels.
Koontz writes novels that take us into worlds filled with adventure and suspense, dealing with extraordinary topics such as time travel, serial killers, and much more. He does this with believable characters that the reader can believe in and become attached to. His stories often contain issues that are very real to us, the readers, and bring insight as well as entertainment. The level of suspense remains high, creating a strong desire to reach the end of the story and on to the next .
Several of Koontz’s books have been adapted for the screen, though Koontz is notorious for disliking the film versions of his work. Among the works that have been brought to the screen is Demon Seed, The Funhouse, Watchers, Watchers II, Whispers, The Face of Fear, The Servants of Twilight, and Watchers III. Hideaway, Intensity and Phantoms.
Dean married in 1966 and when his wife, Gerda, offered to support him for five years to get his writing career going, he took her up on the generous offer. All of us who love to read Koontz stories and enter into the worlds he creates for us are very glad she did.
