The Dean of Books: Dean Koontz
Dean Koontz is the author of more than 140 novels and short story collections that have sold more than 500 million copies around the world.
His latest, “The Friend of the Family,” was published last week.
Koontz will make a virtual visit to Spokane on Saturday.
A Lover of Writing, of Books and of Dogs
On his Web site, a fan asked Koontz if it’s true he really reads 200 books a year. And if he does, what does he do with them afterwards?
“The correct thing, the courteous and moral and courageous thing, the wise thing, is to buy a book to read,” he replied. “Buy a second copy to maintain in pristine condition in a vacuum under glass, buy a third copy to donate to the library, buy a fourth copy as a sign of solidarity with the author, and buy a fifth copy as an attaboy for Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of movable type”
This might explain how, over his 58-year career, he’s sold 500 million copies of his own books. Those books have generated at least 17 adaptations for feature films or television.
As a senior at Shippensburg State (Pennsylvania) College, Koontz won an “Atlantic Monthly” fictionwriting competition. He went on to teach high school English and to work in a federally funded program to help impoverished children near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
After a year and a half of doing that, his wife, Gerda, told him she’d support him for five years while Koontz concentrated on writing. “If you can’t make it as a writer in that time, you’ll never make it,” she said.
He published his first novel — a science fiction tale — in 1968. By the end of the 1970s, his books were selling more than a million copies each. He landed his first book at No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list, “Midnight,” in 1989.
While researching that book, Koontz came into contact with the Canine Companions for Independence and ended up with Trixie, a golden retriever. After Trixie died in 2009, Koontz adopted Anna. After Anna died in 2016, he adopted Elsa.
Koontz, Trixie and Anna wrote seven books and two iBooks over 10 years, about life from a dog’s perspective. Royalties from those books were donated to CCI.
Koont'z Latest: 'Friends of The Family'
“The Friend of the Family,” published Jan. 20, introduces readers to the Museum of the Strange and the lonely life of a traveling carnival sideshow.
The star attraction is a gifted young woman who is rescued by a kind-hearted family. She will do anything to help those she now holds nearest and dearest. Empowered with a purpose to vanquish evil, she will not fail her family.
“Decency defies evil when the carnival comes to town in Depression-era America,” says a starred review at Kirkus Review.
“Will good prevail in this compassionate, emotional story? Readers’ eyes may spring a few leaks, so keep your tissues handy.”
Dean Koontz will appear live 5 p.m. Saturday on the Bing Crosby Theater’s big screen from his Southern California home for a virtual conversation with Comma managing editor Donna Wares and readers in Spokane.
For tickets, preorders of “The Friend of the Family” and signed commemorative bookplates: Spokesman.com/northwest-passages
Canine Companions For Independence
Koontz has dedicated “The Friend of the Family” to the nonprofit Canine Companions for Independence, which provides dogs to people with disabilities.
Koontz donated $2.5 million to this organization between 1991 and 2004.
Representatives from Canine Companions for Independence and their service dogs will be present at the Northwest Passages event.
Dean Koontz's Publishing Output
