Dean Ray Koontz (born July 9, 1945) is an American author. His novels are primarily billed as suspense thrillers, but they frequently incorporate elements of horror, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and satire. Many of his books have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list, with fourteen hardcovers and sixteen paperbacks reaching the number-one position. Koontz authored his works under numerous pen names earlier in his career, including "David Axton", "Deanna Dwyer", "K.R. Dwyer", "Leigh Nichols", and "Brian Coffey". He has published over 105 novels, along with a number of novellas and collections of short stories, selling over 450 million copies worldwide.