Dean was born in Everett, Pennsylvania on July 9 to Florence and Ray Koontz. His family moved that year from Everett to Bedford, Pennsylvania.
Dean stayed with Louise and Bird Kinzey, where he first got pleasure from books.
Dean wrote short stories and sold them to relatives.
Dean won twenty-five dollars and a wristwatch in an essay contest about being an American.
Dean developed an interest in bizarre disappearances.
Dean met Gerda Ann Cerra, and had his first date with her at a high school dance.
Dean graduated from Bedford High School and went to Shippensburg State Teachers College to major in English. While there, he converted to Catholicism.
Dean won a prize for “The Kittens” from an Atlantic Monthly writing contest, and won honorable mention for an essay in the same contest.
Dean became short story editor for The Reflector, Winter 65–66 issue.
Published in that issue:
“The Kittens”
“Of Childhood”
“This Fence”
Dean finished his college degree in English at Shippensburg Teachers College; his official graduation was the following spring.
Gerda and Dean got married on October 15 and honeymooned in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Dean worked as a teacher/counselor in the Appalachian Poverty Program in the Tussey Mountain School District in Saxton, Pennsylvania.
In The Reflector May issue he published:
“It”
“Sam: the Adventurous, Exciting, Well-traveled Man”
“Something About This City”
“Hey, Good Christian”
In the Fall issue, he published:
“The Standard Unusual”
“Once”
“Mold in the Jungle”
“A Miracle is Anything”
“Flesh”
“The Rats Run”
“Some Disputed Barricade”
“For a Breath I Tarry”
“Holes”
“Cloistered Walls”
“I’ve Met One”
Also published that year:
“The Kittens,” Readers and Writers
Dean taught English at Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
Published that year:
“Where No One Fell,” The Reflector
“Soft Come the Dragons,” The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August (This was Dean’s first professional sale.)
“Love 2005,” Mr., November
“To Behold the Sun,” The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, December
Published that year:
Star Quest, Ace (first published novel)
“A Darkness in My Soul,” Fantastic Stories, January
“The Psychedelic Children,” The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, July
“The Twelfth Bed,” The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August
“Dreambird,” Worlds of If, September
Gerda offered to support Dean for five years, and he quit teaching to be a full-time writer.
Florence, Dean’s mother, died in February at age fifty-three, when he was twenty-four. Before she died, she told him she had to tell him something about his father.
Published that year:
The Fall of the Dream Machine, Ace
Fear That Man, Ace
“In the Shield,” Worlds of If, January
“Temple of Sorrow,” Amazing Stories, January
“The Face in His Belly,” Perihelion, Spring/Summer
“Killerbot,” Galaxy, May
“Where the Beast Runs,” Worlds of If, July
“A Dragon in the Land,” Venture, August
“Muse,” The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, September “What Do Editors Mean When They Say ‘Sorry, but the Motivation is Missing’?” Writer’s Digest, March
“Diligently Corrupting Young Minds,” Science Fiction Review, June
Dean hired the Scott Meredith Agency to represent him.
Published that year:
Anti-Man, Paperback Library
Beastchild, Lancer (This book was a finalist on the ballot for a Hugo Award, short novel category.)
Dark of the Woods, Ace
The Dark Symphony, Lancer
Hell’s Gate, Lancer
Soft Come the Dragons, Ace
The Pig Society, Aware Press
The Underground Lifestyles Handbook, Aware Press
Bounce Girl, Cameo (Aware)
Hung, Cameo (Aware) (Dean’s first use of a pseudonym.)
“A Third Hand,” The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, January
“The Good Ship Lookoutworld,” Fantastic Stories, February
“The Mystery of His Flesh,” The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, July
“Beastchild,” Venture Science Fiction, August
“The Crimson Witch,” Fantastic Stories, October
“Shambolain,” Worlds of If, November-December
“Unseen Warriors,” Worlds of Tomorrow, Winter
“Nightmare Gang,” Infinity One, edited by Robert Hoskins, Lancer
Published that year:
The Crimson Witch, Curtis
Demon Child, “Deanna Dwyer,” Lancer
Legacy of Terror, “Deanna Dwyer,” Lancer
“Bruno,” The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, April
“A Veritable Cornucopia,” Tomorrow and… Seven
Dean started to read John D. MacDonald.
Henry Morrison became Dean’s agent.
Published that year:
Chase, “K. R. Dwyer,” Random House (This was Dean’s first hardcover.)
Children of the Storm, “Deanna Dwyer,” Lancer
The Dark of Summer, “Deanna Dwyer,” Lancer
Dance with the Devil, “Deanna Dwyer,” Lancer
A Darkness in My Soul, Daw
The Flesh in the Furnace, Bantam
Starblood, Lancer
Time Thieves, “Leigh Nichols,” Ace
Warlock, Lancer
Writing Popular Fiction, Writer’s Digest Books
“The Terrible Weapon,” Trend, January/February
“Cosmic Sin,” The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, February
“Altarboy,” Infinity Three, edited by Robert Hoskins, Lancer
“Ollie’s Hands,” Infinity Four, edited by Robert Hoskins, Lancer
“A Mouse in the Walls of the Global Village,” Again, Dangerous Visions, edited by Harlan Ellison, Doubleday
“Always an Open Door for the Paperback ‘Category’ Novel,” Writer’s Digest, January
Published that year:
Aphrodisiac Girl, reprint of Bounce Girl (Oval Press)
Blood Risk, Brian Coffey, Bobbs-Merrill
Demon Seed, Bantam
Hanging On, M. Evans and Company
The Haunted Earth, Lancer
Shattered, “K. R. Dwyer,” Random House
A Werewolf Among Us, Ballantine
“Grayworld,” Infinity Five, edited by Robert Hoskins, Lancer
“The Sinless Child,” Flame Tree Planet, edited by Roger Elwood, Concordia “Terra Phobia,” Androids, Time Machines and Blue Giraffes, edited by Roger Elwood and Vic Ghidalia, Follett
“The Undercity,” Future City, edited by Roger Elwood, Trident Press
“Wake Up to Thunder,” Children of Infinity, edited by Roger Elwood, Franklin Watts
Gerda published that year:
A Darker Heritage, Lancer
Gerda quit her job to work for Dean.
Published that year:
After the Last Race, Atheneum
Strike Deep, “Anthony North,” Dial Press
Surrounded, “Brian Coffey,” Bobbs-Merrill
“Night of the Storm,” Continuum I, edited by Roger Elwood, Putnam
“We Three,” Final Stage, edited by Roger Elwood and Barry Malzberg, Charterhouse
Gerda and Dean moved to Las Vegas, Nevada.
Claire Smith became Dean’s new agent.
Published that year:
Dragonfly, “K. R. Dwyer,” Random House
Invasion, “Aaron Wolfe,” Laser (Collectors thought this was written by Stephen King.)
The Long Sleep, “John Hill,” Popular Library
Nightmare Journey, Berkley
The Wall of Masks, “Brian Coffey,” Bobbs-Merrill
Gerda and Dean moved to Orange, California.
Published that year:
Night Chills, Atheneum (This was Dean’s first work emphasizing a cross-genre approach.)
Prison of Ice, “David Axton,” Lippincott
Ray Koontz, Dean’s father, arrived in California with only a suitcase.
The first film based on one of Dean’s works, Demon Seed, opened April 1.
Published that year:
The Face of Fear, “Brian Coffey,” Bobbs-Merrill
The Vision, Putnam
Published that year:
The Key to Midnight, “Leigh Nichols,” Pocket Books (This was Dean’s first paperback bestseller.)
Published that year:
The Funhouse, “Owen West,” Jove (This was Dean’s second paperback bestseller.)
The Voice of the Night, “Brian Coffey,” Doubleday
Whispers, G.P. Putnam’s Sons (This was a key novel — one of Dean’s first attempts at a story with a large canvas and a complex psychology; it was his first paperback bestseller under his own name.)
Published that year:
The Eyes of Darkness, “Leigh Nichols,” Pocket Books
The Mask, “Owen West,” Jove
How to Write Best-selling Fiction, Writer’s Digest Books
Published that year:
The House of Thunder, “Leigh Nichols,” Pocket Books
Published that year:
Phantoms, G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Published that year:
Darkfall, Berkley (Originally meant as a third Owen West novel, it was put under the Berkley imprint.)
Twilight, “Leigh Nichols,” Pocket Books
“When Should You Put Yourself in an Agent’s Hands?” The Basics of Writing and Selling Fiction, Writer’s Digest Press.
Published that year:
The Door to December, “Richard Paige,” New American Library
Twilight Eyes, The Land of Enchantment
Shattered, “K. R. Dwyer,” Berkley (reissue of Random House 1973 edition)
“Situation Critical,” Writer’s Yearbook ‘85, Writer’s Digest Press
Published that year:
Strangers, G.P. Putnam’s Sons (This finalist for the World Fantasy Award was also Dean’s first hardcover bestseller.)
“Down in the Darkness,” The Horror Show, Summer
“Weird World,” The Horror Show, Summer
“Snatcher,” Night Cry, Fall
“The Black Pumpkin,” Twilight Zone, December
Ray tried to kill Dean with a knife; he was evaluated at a hospital and placed in a retirement home.
Dean became first president of Horror Writers of America.
Published that year:
Shadowfires, “Leigh Nichols,” Avon
Watchers, G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Twilight Eyes, Berkley (revision of Land of Enchantment 1985 edition)
“The Interrogation,” The Horror Show, Summer
“Hardshell,” Night Visions 4, Dark Harvest
“Miss Attila the Hun,” Night Visions 4, Dark Harvest
“Twilight of the Dawn,” Night Visions 4, Dark Harvest
“Keeping the Reader on the Edge of His Seat,” How to Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction
“Why Novels of Fear Must Do More than Frighten,” How to Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction
Ray got another knife and tried to kill Dean, who took it from him and nearly was shot by police. He had to go to court to keep his father in psychiatric care until he could find a place for him.
Roger Corman’s film version of Watchers was released.
A contract for five backlist books to Berkley fell through.
The first book about Dean, Sudden Fear, edited by Bill Munster, was published.
Published that year:
Lightning, G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Oddkins, A Fable for All Ages, Warner
The Mask, Berkley (reissue of Jove 1981 edition)
“Graveyard Highway,” Tropical Chills, edited by Tim Sullivan, Avon
“A Genre in Crisis,” Night Visions 4, Dark Harvest
A scheduled trip to England fell through; Dean was too ill from stress to go.
Dean was given an honorary doctorate degree from Shippensburg University. On that trip, he went to see his former home, but couldn’t get out of the car.
A new deal was made with Berkley for a six-book package.
Published that year:
Midnight, G.P. Putnam’s Sons (This was Dean’s first number one New York Times bestseller.)
“Trapped,” Stalkers, edited by Ed Gorman and Martin H. Greenberg, Dark Harvest
“Ghost Stories,” Post Mortem, St. Martin’s
A television movie of Face of Fear was made by Warner Brothers to be aired on CBS, with Dean as co-executive producer, and using his teleplay.
Watchers II by was produced by Roger Corman.
Cinepix produced a direct-to-video film version of Whispers.
Published that year:
The Bad Place, G.P. Putnam’s Sons (This book became a number one bestseller.)
The Servants of Twilight, Berkley (reissue of Twilight, Pocket Books 1984 edition)
Ray Koontz died from degenerative alcoholic syndrome. Gerda and Dean moved to Newport Beach, California. Published that year:
Cold Fire, G.P. Putnam’s Sons (This book became a number one bestseller.)
The Voice of the Night, Berkley (reissue of Doubleday 1980 edition)
Dawn Dunn and Susan Hartzell were caught plagiarizing Phantoms in a 1991 book, The Crawling Dark, and the 1990 Demonic Color (Zebra); they were forced to put a half-page ad in Publishers Weekly and give their advance to Dean.
Robert Gottlieb of the William Morris Agency became Dean’s new agent.
Knopf offered $18.9million for three books and Dean switched to Knopf; Ballantine bought seven backlist titles for reissue.
Trimark Pictures released a film version of The Servants of Twilight.
Published that year:
Hideaway, G.P. Putnam’s Sons (This book became a number one bestseller.)
Beastchild, Charnel House (hardcover revision of Lancer 1970 edition)
The House of Thunder, Berkley (reissue of Pocket Books 1982 edition)
“Trapped,” graphic novella adapted by Ed Gorman, Eclipse
Published that year:
Dragon Tears, G.P Putnam’s Sons (This book became a number one bestseller.)
Mr. Murder, G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Shadowfires, Berkley (reissue of Avon 1987 edition)
“Why We Love Horror,” TV Guide, October
Gerda and Dean purchased two and a half acres at Pelican Hill to build a dream house.
Dean reached a settlement with Mark Masztal and H&M Publishing for issuing The Book of Counted Sorrows.
A legal battle ensued with Roger Corman over the film Watchers III.
Martin Greenberg, Ed Gorman, and Bill Munster published The Dean Koontz Companion.
Published that year:
Dark Rivers of the Heart, Alfred A. Knopf
Winter Moon, Ballantine (revision of Invasion, Laser 1975 edition)
The Funhouse, Berkley (reissue of Jove 1980 edition)
The Door to December, “Richard Paige,” New American Library/Signet (revision of 1985 edition)
“Godzilla vs. Megadeth” for the “Youthanasia” CD
“My First Short Story,” The Dean Koontz Companion, Berkley
“Koontz, Would You Just Shut Up Already?” The Dean Koontz Companion, Berkley
“You’ll Either Love It or Hate It — Or Just be Indifferent to It,” The Dean Koontz Companion, Berkley
“How To,” The Dean Koontz Companion, Berkley
Tri-Star released a film version of Hideaway; Dean fought to get his name taken off the ads.
Published that year:
Strange Highways, Warner
Icebound, Ballantine (revision of Prison of Ice, Lippincott, 1976)
The Key to Midnight, Berkley (revision of Pocket Books 1979 edition)
“Illusion, Truth and the Whole Damn Thing,” David Copperfields Tales of the Impossible, HarperCollins
Published that year:
Intensity, Alfred A. Knopf. (This book spent three weeks as the number one bestseller.)
Santa’s Twin (illustrated by Phil Parks), HarperCollins
The Eyes of Darkness, Berkley (revision of Pocket Books 1981 edition)
“Beautiful Death,” Beautiful Death: Art of the Cemetery, by David Robinson, Penguin Studio
Miramax released its film version of Phantoms.
Intensity was adapted for a miniseries on Fox network.
Published that year:
Sole Survivor, Alfred A. Knopf
Ticktock, Ballantine
Demon Seed, Berkley (revision of Bantam 1973 edition)
“Great Art and Muppet Hatred,” Screamplays, Ballantine
Published that year:
Fear Nothing, Bantam (hardcover)