Dean Ray Koontz is a celebrated American author known for his suspense thrillers, which often incorporate elements of horror, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and satire. He has published over 105 novels and many of his books have climbed the ranks of The New York Times Best Seller list, with fourteen hardcovers and sixteen paperbacks reaching the number-one position.

During the early stages of his career, Koontz wrote under several pseudonyms, such as "David Axton", "Deanna Dwyer", "K.R. Dwyer", "Leigh Nichols" and "Brian Coffey". Having sold over 450 million copies of his works, he has earned a devoted readership and critical acclaim for his intriguing tales.

Koontz's journey into writing began after a difficult childhood, finding solace and vocation in literature. At the age of twenty, he won the Atlantic Monthly's fiction contest, leading him to dedicate his life to writing since 1969. His works have been translated into 17 languages, and several have been adapted into films and television series.