Dean Koontz is an American author best known for his work in the suspense thriller genre. Although he is well known and people in literary circles may know a lot about him, there are many facts about Dean Koontz his fans might not know. To help you get to know the successful author better, here are some Dean Koontz facts you might find interesting to learn.
Dean Koontz Facts: His Early and Personal Life
Where Was Dean Koontz Born?
Dean Koontz was born on the 9th of July 1945 in Everett, Pennsylvania. He did not have a happy childhood, as he experienced abuse at the hands of his father, who suffered from a mental illness and alcoholism.
Did the Author Go to University?
Koontz was a student at Shippensburg State College, where he won a fiction competition in his final year.
Is Dean Koontz Married?
Dean Koontz is married to fellow author Gerda Ann Cerra. The couple married in 1966.
Does Dean Koontz Have Children?
Dean Koontz does not have any children. He and his wife decided not to start a family due to Koontz’s father suffering from a mental illness that is potentially hereditary.
Where Does Dean Koontz Live?
According to Mansion Global, Dean Koontz and his wife live in Irvine, California. They bought their Mediterranean-style mansion in October 2019 and paid $11.6 million for the 13,418-square-foot property.
Facts About Dean Koontz: His Literary Career
When Did Dean Koontz Publish His First Book?
Dean Koontz published his first novel, Star Quest, in 1968. He had written the book in his spare time. It was a science fiction book, and he went on to write more than a dozen novels in this genre.
For What Genre Is Dean Koontz Known?
Although Dean Koontz began his literary career in science fiction, he is better known for writing books in the horror genre. He began writing horror novels in the 1970s.
How Many Books Has Dean Koontz Written?
Koontz has written more than 105 novels, using both his real and pen names, and he continues to write. He is one of the world’s best selling authors, as he has sold more than 450 million copies of his work.
Does Dean Koontz Have Any Pen Names?
Although Koontz has written most of his books using his own name, he has also written multiple novels and short stories using pseudonyms. Pen names Koontz has used include Aaron Wolfe, Richard Paige, Brian Coffey, Owen West, David Axton, Anthony North, Deanna Dwyer, Leigh Nicholas, John Hill, and K.R. Dwyer.
Other Dean Koontz Facts
What Is Dean Koontz’s Net Worth?
One of the Dean Koontz facts his fans want to know is about his wealth. So, what is Dean Koontz’s net worth? It is estimated that the net worth of Dean Koontz is $200 million, which makes him one of the richest authors in the world. He is as rich as R.L. Stine and richer than Stephenie Meyer but not as rich as Barbara Taylor Bradford or Nora Roberts.
He Is a Dog Lover
One of Dean Koontz’s greatest passions is his dogs. Not only have some of his doges featured on his book covers, but the author has also used his dogs as inspiration for his pen names. He currently has a dog called Elsa. Koontz makes significant donations to animal charities, including Canine Companions for Independence, which provides people with disabilities with service dogs.
He Was Once a Teacher
Before becoming an author, Dean Koontz worked as an English teacher at a Pennsylvania High School.
We hope you enjoyed reading our Dean Koontz facts. You might also like to read our facts about Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, and Shonda Rhimes.
[…] Dean Koontz is the writer of 105 novels plus many novellas and collections of short stories. The American author has sold more than 450 million copies of his work altogether. Most people consider Koontz a suspense thriller writer, although his works include elements of horror, drama, satire, mystery, fantasy, crime, and science fiction. At the beginning of his career, Koontz used pen names, including Deanna Dwyer, K.R. Dwyer, David Axton, Brian Coffey, and Leigh Nichols. […]