10 reasons Catholics Should Read Dean Koontz

November 19, 2014

Are you looking for a spellbinding novel with deeply Catholic themes, compelling characters, and exquisite prose? Well, if you’ve been confining your search to Barnes and Noble’s family-friendly Christian fiction shelf, I’m here to tell you that you’re missing out.
As a reader, you have probably heard of Dean Koontz. He has sold 450 million copies of his books in 38 languages, making him one of the most successful writers in the world. And while his stories have been categorized as science fiction, fantasy, thriller, and horror, he’s also considered by many readers to be the world’s best Catholic author of fiction.
Here are the top ten reasons that Catholics should read Dean Koontz:
1) His protagonists are truly heroic

Read the full article @ aleteia.

Halloween habits: the rise of horror in children's books

November 16, 2014

Terror was a book. It was Whispers, by Dean Koontz.
Whispers was an adult novel, discarded by my mother for being “too scary” and retrieved by me for the very same reason. I knew it wasn’t meant for children, but that’s the great thing about books: they don’t come with age restrictions!
At that age I was always at the library anyway, secretly reading what I shouldn’t: racy books, violent books, even a book about sex for boys. However, Whispers switched me on to terror, and it was thrillers I learned to love best of all.
I moved onto other Koontz books – Phantoms, Night Chills, Shattered – swopping them with friends, borrowing them from the library, and then I stumbled uponThe Amityville Horror, by Jay Anson. I was way to young to watch the film – those darned age restrictions again! – yet no one fretted that I was reading the book on which the film was based, because reading couldn’t hurt anyone… right?

Read the full article @ The Guardian.

Veronica Scott gets fellow authors' take on favorite scary books

November 16, 2014

Amy Bartol, author of Under Different Stars
Just the thought of Bodachs, the evil, shadowy creatures from Dean Koontz’s epic series Odd Thomas makes me pull my foot back onto the mattress and cover my toes at night. It could be a thousand degrees; it doesn’t matter. The blanket stays in place! If I let it slip, these shifty, malicious harbingers could steal into the world from a dark dimension and get me. In Koontz’s novels, Bodachs form packs and troll an area, drawn to a location in frenzied anticipation of a horrific event. The blanket is my only protection … well, that and sleeping with the light on.
S.E. Smith, author of Twin Dragons: Dragon Lords of Valdier
I love Dean Koontz. The first book I ever read of his was Watchers. I swear I had dreams, OK nightmares, for weeks afterwards. I loved Einstein, the golden retriever, and actually felt sorry for the Outsider. His books, while some are really out-there, pull me into their world. I think I have read most of his books and still keep some of them on my bookshelf for rereading, including his Odd Thomas series.

Read the full article @ USA Today.

Two recent articles about Cemetery Dance

November 5, 2014

The Spookiest Little Publisher in the World by Leigh Buchanan (Inc.)

In the early ‘90s, a few presses were publishing hardback horror. But the market was dominated by mass-market paperbacks that could be purchased in an airport store at trip’s beginning and ditched in an airport trash receptacle at trip’s end. With a growing stable of authors who trusted him as an editor and a growing base of readers who trusted the Cemetery Dance name, Chizmar decided to create his own book imprint. His first title was an original: “Prisoners & Other Stories,” by the crime writer Ed Gorman, with an afterward by Dean Koontz. Both writers signed all copies. “’Prisoners’ is still the best-looking book to ever appear under my name,” says Gorman, a frequent contributor to the magazine. “It also brought me a kind of attention I’d never had before. And that was all Richard’s doing.”

Artisanal Terror From Lilliputian Presses: Horror From Cemetery Dance, EC Archives, Centipede Press by Dana Jennings (New York Times)

Richard Chizmar, founder and publisher of Cemetery Dance, singles out its 400-page Halloween anthology, “October Dreams 2.” The work’s contributors include Bradbury, Dean Koontz, Robert McCammon, Robert Bloch, Stewart O’Nan and Joe R. Lansdale, along with several dozen others.
Other Cemetery Dance titles: “The Dark Man: An Illustrated Poem,” by Stephen King and Glenn Chadbourne; “The Influence,” by Bentley Little; “Last Exit for the Lost,” by Tim Lebbon; “Pork Pie Hat,” by Peter Straub.

Before They Are Hanged by Dean Koontz

October 27, 2014

Did you know that the Romanian title of Relentless translates into English as Before They Are Hanged? (English translation of the linked review.)

A late-to-the-party Odd Thomas film review

October 21, 2014

It’s better than average as a supernatural, comedy/mystery, but the movie sets itself up as a completely charming romance as well.  To skirt a spoiler, we’ll just let you know that there is a common plot twist that allows the male character to avoid any relationship maintenance and in short, fails the romance angle. Some Dean Koontz readers forgave that plot twist are ongoing Odd Thomas fans, which might mean another movie one of these days. I may be too mad to watch another one, which is a shame because “Odd Thomas” started off so great. You decide, but for me it’s two out of five paws.

Read the full review @ The Cougar Chronicle.

Elmore Leonard's archives go to University of South Carolina

October 17, 2014

University of South Carolina Dean of University Libraries Tom McNally said Leonard visited the campus last year, saw its archives of modern American writers and wanted his papers to go there.
The university purchased the Leonard material, but officials and Leonard’s family declined to discuss the terms.
Highlights of Leonard’s collection include many handwritten manuscripts on the custom-made, unlined yellow paper that Leonard favored.
The collection at USC includes:

• Correspondence between Leonard and authors such as George V. Higgins, John D. MacDonald, John Grisham and Dean Koontz.

Read the full article @ Crain’s Detroit Business.

Ask Anna links

October 16, 2014

• Ask Anna and Support Canine Companions (The official CCI page for the book)
• Does Your Canine Need Advice? Ask Anna Koontz, Win a Copy! (Tripwads.com)
• Votes, Recall, And Records (HamptonRoads.com)

No, Dean has not written a book titled "Falling Stars"

October 15, 2014

Unfortunately, this headline is causing people to think just that: ‘The Next Dean Koontz: New Suspense Thriller “Falling Stars” Hits Bookshelves’.
You can read what this is really about @ WebWire.com.

Discover Dean Koontz

October 14, 2014

Hey US fans, have you seen the site Harper UK has set up for their editions of Dean’s books? Check it out @ www.discoverdeankoontz.com.

A few links re: The Crime Thriller Awards

October 13, 2014

• Welcome to the Crime Thriller Awards 2014
• Living Legends 2014
• Original page for the 2014 show episodes (videos only work in the UK)

The Sepcsavers Crime Thriller Awards 2014 magazine

October 13, 2014

To go along with the previously posted video from The Crime Thriller Club tv show. (Dean’s on page 15.)

Dean on The Crime Thriller Club

October 12, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srvjEtGlfEQ

Horror Writers Association Launches “Horror Selfies” Campaign

October 4, 2014

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Oct. 3, 2014 — PRZen — The Horror Writers Association (HWA), the premier organization of writers and publishers of horror and dark fantasy and home of the iconic Bram Stoker Awards^®, today announced the launch of its new promotion campaign, Horror Selfies. Through the campaign, HWA will highlight the exceptional work, both literary and cinematic, produced by the horror genre.
Inspired by the popular “Say it with a Sign” meme—used by everyone from Ellen DeGeneres and Jon Bon Jovi, to David Beckham and Princes William and Harry—the HWA is utilizing the vast reach of social media to provide a platform through which people can tell the world why they love horror.
The HWA invites authors and readers, actors and directors, fans and followers, to submit a selfie to www.HorrorSelfies.com in which they hold a sign encouraging others to read horror/dark fantasy, to watch horror movies, or to write horror. Additionally, the HWA is encouraging people to promote literacy and reading among children and Young Adults, or to support a local library in their Horror Selfies.

…
THE HORROR WRITERS ASSOCIATION is a nonprofit organization of writers and publishing professionals around the world, dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it. The HWA formed in 1985 with the help of many of the field’s greats, including Dean Koontz, Robert McCammon, and Joe Lansdale. Today, with over 1250 members around the globe, it is the oldest and most respected professional organization for the much-loved writers who have brought you the most enjoyable sleepless nights of your life.

Read the full article @ The Digital Journal.

Charnel House: Famous Figures in the History of Book Binding

October 4, 2014

At Charnel House, the horrific and strange aren’t reserved for Halloween. Former rock drummer Joe Stefko founded Charnel House in 1989 to produce state of the art limited edition books of horror and weird fiction. Over the next decade, the market for collector’s edition books in the literary horror genre exploded. But most weren’t publishing fine editions. Charnel House has differentiated itself with editions that are nothing like the trade editions. Over half of the press’ titles are from author Dean Koontz, though in more recent years titles have increasingly focused on typography.

Read the full article @ ILAB.org.

Deal with Troubles, But Don’t Lose Track of the World’s Beauty: An Interview with Dean Koontz

September 19, 2014

“The dark makes the light stuff brighter.”
Not only is that a comment made by a character in Dean Koontz’s latest novel “The City,” it’s a truth that the author learned first-hand while growing up.
In “The City,” eight-year-old African-American musical prodigy Jonah Kirk is blessed with a mother and grandparents who selflessly love and support him. His father Tilton, however, epitomizes the adult who never grows up, who never accepts responsibility for anyone or anything other than the pursuit of his own pleasure. Jonah sees these traits in his father and, understandably, resents him.
Dean can relate to Jonah here. During an interview on “Christopher Closeup,” he recalled that his mother was a wonderful woman, but his father was a “violent alcoholic” who was also a “gambler and womanizer,” resulting in his family living in poverty. The worst part for Dean wasn’t his family’s unstable financial situation, though; it was the fact that he lived in a small town where everybody knew everybody else’s business, leaving him in an “almost constant [state of] humiliation or embarrassment” at his father’s actions.
And yet, Dean wouldn’t change his childhood even if he could. He said, “There’s a temptation to think how much better my life would have been, or how much more I would have achieved if I’d had a rosier childhood. But then I think, ‘No, if I hadn’t had my dad’s example, I might have gone that way.’…That is where I was able to clearly see that there is good and evil in the world; there are not just shades of gray. As a consequence, I think it helped me a great deal as a writer to have grown up in that environment.”

Read the full article and listen to the full interview @ Patheos.com.

Nevada: 150 things for 150 years

September 19, 2014

96. Strangers by Dean Koontz The characters in this 2002 horror novel are all brought to the Tranquility Motel in the Nevada desert outside of Elko to figure out what was done to them and why.

Read the full article @ NewsReview.com

Another new Phantoms film review

September 6, 2014

It’s always amusing to look back at a movie that’s packed with future stars, especially if said movie belongs to the horror genre. Why? Well, let’s face it…the actors know what they’re making. It’s not Oscar-material. No, no, they’re making the scary stuff, which I assume is a good gig, but not necessarily career changing. Case in point the late, great Peter O’Toole in 1998’s Phantoms. Dude was as classical actor as someone could be, yet even he had bills to pay. At least he took a role filled with other future Hollywood stars (well, mostly). Phantoms is packed with future headliners in Liev Schreiber, Rose McGowan, Joanna Going, Nicky Katt, and Ben Affleck. Not too shabby.

Read the full review @ joblo.com.

Please do not pay this much for Dean's autograph!

September 1, 2014

I recently stumbled upon HistoryForSale.com which bills itself as “the autograph and manuscript leader.” I will say that it has a lot of autographs available for purchase. When it comes to items signed by Dean, there are currently three: a “typescript with the opening lines of his 1991 best-selling novel Cold Fire” (which looks to be a neatly removed first page of the novel,) and two “autograph” pages (1,2) each with Dean’s simple answers to four questions (like “what’s your favorite movie,”) and his autograph. For each of these items the site is asking $629, $899, and $899 respectively. And those are the “sale” prices.

Seriously folks, Dean’s autograph is not hard to come by. Granted, he doesn’t tour but his autograph is hardly a rarity. If you want something signed by Dean, do a simple eBay search. You’ll spend a lot less, and you’ll probably get a whole book out of the deal.

Bookstore specializes in author signings and first printings

August 31, 2014

Nestled between Fowler’s Gun Room and an antique coin shop on Tustin Street in Orange, first impressions paint Book Carnival as a quaint hole-in-the-wall bookstore.

But for mystery and suspense readers, it is hallowed ground.

In 1992, Michael Connelly held a signing for his first book, “Black Ice,” in the 1,800-square-foot store. He’s returned annually ever since.

Dean Koontz held his first signing at Book Carnival in 2001 and has returned multiple times…

The full article is at The Orange County Register Web site but good luck reading it as it’s behind a paywall.