Dean Ray Koontz is an American author best known for his novels which could be described broadly as suspense thrillers. He also frequently incorporates elements of horror, science fiction, mystery, and satire. A number of his books have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List, with fourteen hardcovers and sixteen paperbacks reaching the number one slot.

Early in his career, Koontz wrote under a variety of pen names, including "David Axton," "Deanna Dwyer," "K.R. Dwyer," "Leigh Nichols," and "Brian Coffey." He has published over 105 novels and numerous novellas and collections of short stories, selling over 450 million copies worldwide.

Koontz's career began after winning the Atlantic Monthly novel award at twenty. He has lived a prolific life as a writer, with many of his novels translated into 17 languages and adapted for cinema and television. Dean Koontz resides in Southern California with his wife, Gerda.