How Dean Koontz Proved Anyone Can Be a Bestseller
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- Опубліковано 14 кві 2019
- How did Dean Koontz sell 450 millions books? Hard work? Luck? Innate skill? Today we'll take a look at his long road to becoming one of the world's best selling authors.
I knew Dean and his wife, Gerda in the very beginning when she made him that deal when they lived in Harrisburg, PA. Dean and Gerda only lived there for about their first three years. I serviced both his wife's IBM Sectric typewriter where she worked and Dean's IBM Selectric typewriter in their apartment where he worked. Talking about working, Dean worked 12 hours a day except for Sunday. He only worked 6 hours on Sunday. This was week in and week out. He did NOT goof off. They were just a great couple and very. very nice people. I'm so, so happy that things worked out for them. I'm thrilled just to have known them.
I am 69 years old. I have been a bookworm since I was 12. Dean Koontz is my favorite author.
Whats ur favorite book by him how many did you read ?
Watchers, twilight eyes , phantoms ?
Yes! Koontz is without question my favorite author!!
My favorite is Odd Thomas.
Leading up to where I am now in my Koontz fandom, I wasn't sure for a long time if I would enjoy his Frankenstein series...
I shouldn't have doubted, they're as great as my other faves of his.
The Jane Hawks series is pretty top notch as well.
I have seen many people's reviews complain about him being preachy, which is silly, I Really Very enjoy the way he digresses with thought and sentiment. In fact, I have grown to expect this of him.
I also love the way he creeps into the mind of his villains, he shows from their perspective, their evil and deluded, self righteous, self indulgent thought processes... in their own crazy explanations of why they do what they do.
Same! The Jane Hawk series really solidified it. Though he was already my favorite before that.
That was a great review on Koontz and his fantastic body of work. I concur.
The Humanizing of Evil and how it's defeated by the meek but indomitable nature of the human spirit!! :) I resonate with that I love it.
Dean Koontz actually IS one of my favourite authors simply because he IS "safe." Sure, if you have read ten or more you know what you'll get, but it's always a relaxing read.
My top 5 Koontz books in order are:
1) Strangers
2) Watchers
3) From the corner of his eye
4) Lightning
5) Twilight eyes
There are many honourable mentions.
As far as I know, he doesn't act like a chick on social media, so he might be a favorite of mine.
I would have to add Phantoms. The only book that ever scared me to death. From the corner of his eye, I will have to read. Watchers, was the first book that ever made me cry, lol. Lightning - insane. I think I would have to do a top 15.
@@AngieWy Yes! Phantoms is creepy
Great video Trav my man. Excellent tribute to Koontz. Hope he gets to watch this!
Hey, The Vision and Night Chills are terrific!
I don't know that Dean Koontz is my absolute favorite author, but he is certainly in my top 5. I absolutely adore his writing style. In my humble opinion, writing is best when the reader is less aware of the reading process and more aware of experiencing the story in the mind's eye. Mr. Koontz has the ability to do that better than most. I don't know if his writing has always been this good, but books like Watchers, Intensity, Innocence, and Elsewhere all have that effect, and are some of the best books I've ever read.
Exactly the kind of motivation that we need, thanks for the video mate
I've never read a single word from Koontz. But I have/had a friend who I wrote with for a long time. She always said I was in her top 5 favorite authors/writers. Top three actually, specifically beating out Dean Koontz, who was one of her top five favorites. So that was high praise, as she was an avid reader and writer. That was before I really began my writing journey. I don't feel like I have any more particularly innate talent than Mr. Koontz, but I can appreciate hard work.
Good video. Just bought my first Koontz book today.
He is my favorite author! His books are awesome! He conquers subjects that I believe frighten most other known authors. He doesn’t bore you with the same stuff all the time. And he definitely hits a chord with reality through storytelling. But better! His research is admirable and it shows in his writing. Plus he is one of the few authors that can make me laugh out loud! To laugh is always a plus in life to me. Koontz is a real person, and continues to grow in mind and soul which I can relate to wholeheartedly! Love your books Dean; ‘Innocence’ being my favorite so far, but there’s Odd Thomas, Jane Hawk, Watchers, The Husband, The Good Guy, and a few more I love; the rest I really like! Some I have read 20 to 30 times. No bs. Koontz stands in his own category which no one can touch so far! Love you Dean, Gerda, and all your Goldens! Course I’m not biased. I just know what I like. And Dean Koontz’s writing is great! A breath of fresh air! I own all but a few of his books. I will eventually have them all! ❤️
Nice summary and recap here! My favorite author is Thomas Harris. I do admire and enjoy Dean Koontz work. My fav DK novels: 1 Midnight 2 Watchers 3 Bad Place
Lightning is a really good read.
I am from Argentina, we speak spanish here, and his books are not being edited anymore (since the 90's). Looking for a D.Koontz novel in an old library is super fun, and when you find one, it's just amazing. Same thing happens to John Saul (although he is not that good compared to Koontz imo), Ramsey Campbell, Frank de Felitta, William Peter Blatty... even Thomas Harris is just difficult to find here.
Good video.
Hey Travis, what a truly great and inspirational video (as always!), especially for young writers, like myself, who dream about writing full-time.
I saw you wrote that "Chase" has been long out of print. However, two years ago I was able to buy a copy of that novel, which was published in 2017 by Headline, a British publishing house.
So... if you're interested...
Ps. I think "Night Chills" was a pretty awesome book, too, even though it came out in the seventies.
Regards,
Chris
Watchers and Lightning are two of my all time favorite books. They are perfect!
Yep, he is my favorite author. And of course that all started for me with Watchers. And my favorite is A Big Little Life, about his golden Trixie. But I love most of his books that I’ve read.
He's written some of my favorite books. And is right up there in my short list of favorite authors.
To answer the question at the end: he used to be one of my favourite authors when I was a teenager, not so much anymore. Twilight Eyes had a very big impact on me, and I love the rewritten Demon Seed (haven't read the original published version though). I find myself thinking of Lightning, and Tick Tock quite often still, so I suppose they must have gone in fairly deep on some level.
I am a stephen king fan but I never dislike koontzs also.. Because I never understand why people keep compare them.. Koontz books are fun to read.. And king is awesome. I love them both.
I love Dean Koontz. Favorite all time writer!
I was first introduced to Koontz by my uncle, who gave me a copy of the book he'd gotten from his friend. The book was The Husband and I hated it very much. I went on to read Odd Thomas, Darkest Evening of the Year, and Prodigal Son (Frankenstein 1). Odd and Prodigal Son were good. Darkest Evening was shit.
I read the Odd sequels. I read 2, 3 and 4 but none after that. I'm in the minority there. I preferred books 2 and 4 to 3.
After that, I read Lightning. Lightning was fantastic, amazing, dark and brutal. Door to December was also good.
The primary strength of Koontz is pacing. When he's at his best, the plot hits the ground running, whereas Stephen King (my favorite writer) can give you a really bloated story (The Tommyknockers is a great example).
The primary weakness of Koontz is characterization, especially getting into his later period. His. heroes are nearly perfect, and never argue with each other or have any vices. The villains are pure evil with zero redeeming qualities. The kids are geniuses and never watch TV, watch movies, or play video games. And nobody swears. Hardened criminals will say "shit" and "bitch" sometimes but that's it.
So when I read books like Odd Thomas or Prodigal Son, even when I liked them, I felt that they were "off." The characters really didn't hold up next to Harold Lauder, or Jack Torrance or The Loser's Club.
Wish there was more of these. These videos are fun
I loved intensity and the movie was really good.😎
Okay but putting in a plug for Intensity, the film, it was really creepy and actually well done I think for a tv movie
He isn't my favorite author; however, I do truly love One Door Away from Heaven. His books were something new for me. I'd never read anything that gripped me by the hand and raced me along. Now, after I read a bunch of his books in a row, I started to catch the pattern of his writing. But that was okay because it let me look at his writing from a more technical standpoint and as an author myself, I'm down to learn from a great.
Also "From the corner of his eye" is excellent. Very different from the rest
@@angim6750 It is different. I read it and for whatever reason it jist didnt resonate with me. But I'd dare anyone else but Koontz to write a story like that and pull it off. You know?
@@breemlew The psychopath killer made me laugh
I did a Venn Diagram of all his book titles using just three concepts: dark/nighttime, cold/winter, and vision-- something like *24* of the books published under his own name alone fit into it 😅
Intensity so far is my favorite. Sole Survivor is also good. Recently finished Odd Thomas which was good but I’m guessing the others in that series are better. Currently reading Tick Tock which so far I’d recommend! I own about 20 of his books so got to go do more reading!
I've always wanted to adapt or at least write a script loosely based on voices of the night. It hit me really hard in middle school
Loving the new videos.
I have read a LOT of Dean's books. Less of them in later years when he kind of went off the rails about dogs but whatever floats his boat...he's rich enough to do what he wants. He's not my favorite author, there's too much of a formula to his books. The good guy always wins, gets the girl, rides into the sunset, etc. However, one of my very favorite books is by Dean Koontz, From the Corner of His Eye. I loved that book the first time I read it and it has always stuck with me. I recently read it again and loved it just as much. I'll probably read it again eventually. And that's something I can say about very, very few books in my life - and I average reading about a book every day or two. So, I completely agree with the video. Koontz writes good, reliable stories with a great one popping up once in a while. But that good one makes it worthwhile to read all the decent ones.
Did you ever read his erotica
@@alexx3914 I've never heard of him doing erotica. He doesn't really seem the type, does he? Where do you find his erotic books and what are some titles? Does he use the same name or a different pen name?
@@Fiddlebuckers no he used a different name. And it's a rarity to find. I just found out today after reading a few articles and UA-cam videos. It was also in his early years of writing.
@@alexx3914 Do you know what name he used? Now I'm curious lol
@@Fiddlebuckers I believe it's Ann griffin.
I'm an avid collector of his books (when money can allow). Aside from academic or faith based books, he's the only author I will read from going on 10 years now. Once I've collected everything he's ever written (and read it) I will open up to other authors, but for now I love falling into the intensely descriptive, harrowing, uplifting and vivid stories I feel only he can accomplish. King is a master of description as well but I find his stories bleak and soul sucking, they always leave me looking down at life. Dean Koontz can draw up great evil characters as well but he also shows their constant self destructing ways and how strong goodness can grow through adversity. I will say this, even though I admire the crap out of this author, his books are not "read aloud" friendly. His long drawn out descriptions flow better read to ones self. This is solely one woman's opinion but I think the odd Thomas movie stayed true to his book and was phenomenal to watch.
Good video, this author is an inspiration, as is his hair
My Top 10.
10. Your heart belongs to me. -totally underrated. There sure is a problem here and there, but I love how he started it and the reveal at the end was totally unexpected oh and the resolution at the end. Totally different from all koontz ending.
9. Dark Rivers of the Heart. - yes it is a bit formulatic, but love the antagonists here.
8. Fear Nothing. - this ones scary. the monkeys scared the shit out of me. And Bobby and Chris's friendship.
7. Watchers. though one of his most acclaimed, I will put it just one seven.
6. Odd thomas. a humble cook who is a friend of both elvis and frank sinatra, top that!
5. Midnight. - Janice Capshaw loves to run at night. ... that intro alone.!! And Chrissy foster and Harry are just adorable.
4. Strange Highways. . The pumpkin!!!. Love the short stories here.
3. Bad Place. The twins, Candy and Frank are sibling goals.!!!!!
2. Mr. Murder- this one got me into Koontz. I need.... a Charlotte and Emily.
1. From the Corner of his eyes. Yes it is lengthy and the ending sucks. But theres Enoch Cain and the twins. And Barty and his eyes!!!
I recommend False Memory!
@@mikebarnes7441 I have. Dr. Ahriman still creeps me out. A real monster that is. Although he is the only memorable character in the novel, at least for me. But thanks anyway.
@@carlitobuban7264 can i ask your opinion? I am still a fairly new Koontz reader and i have recently picked up watchers as i have gathered that is generally accepted as one of his best. But i have a few options after that: One Door Away From Heaven, What the Night Knows, The Face, The Taking, Fear Nothing, Phantoms
Thanks for your input!
@@mikebarnes7441 you actually picked great titles. I love all of them except The Face. One door away from heaven is highly recommended along with Fear nothing.
@@carlitobuban7264 hah i realized after i asked you that Fear Nothing was right there on your list above. Thar one is a bit shorter so i will most likely knock that one out after Watchers. Then I have Intensity then probably One Door. Thanks for your help man! 👍
I think it's pretty obvious that Dean Koontz got to where he is by hard work and determination. And Dean Koontz is my favorite author.
dean koontz was ok in small doses. his stuff now is bunk. its all the same. i hope youre just trolling. stephen king can be redundant, but at least his characters have depth.
What's your top 10 koontz novels Clay?
@@daveedmunds1109 1st off I'd like to say that asking for my top 10 makes no sense because i like things you probably Won't and I wont like things that you probably do so why do we need my top 10, but I'll give it. Odd Thomas , Flight plan, the city, The door to December, fear nothing, Odd hours, Odd Apocalypse, Seize the night, tick tock, strange highways.
@@claymaynard4207 it does make sense Clay. I'm interested in what your opinion is or else why ask anyone's opinion on anything as it might not match your own lol
@@claymaynard4207 thanks for the response. Out of those I've read Odd Thomas and loved it.
He is one of my favorite authors. James Lee Burke; Joe R. Lansdale; Louis L'Amour; Robert Cormier, etc...I even got an autographed book of his with a handwritten letter because I sent him my two self published books on Amazon. The Man is a real hard worker!! I received an award in 8th Grade: Hardest Worker!
my two books on Amazon:
Poetry / Art Book "My Poetic Blessings" in Three parts and my Autobiography "My Life & Escape, How I Escaped the Captivity and Suffering of the VA Prison of Drugs" both by Michael Anthony Melice
I have read more than 20 of his books. He is an incredible author. He and Robert Mcammon are underrated authors
Reread “ A Door to December” still enjoyable as ever when I first read it some twenty years ago.
Intensity is my favorite Koontz.
Yes, I know no one who's worked harder.
My favorite writer is Charles Dickens.
My favorite living writer is ... a constant change but Thomas Pynchon is up there.
Good overview and commentary.
Koontz is my favorite (perhaps tied with Terry Pratchett)
The only book I've completed of Koontz so far was Darkfall. Which, I don't hear many people talk about. Honestly, it was a 90's nostalgia book....I don't know how to describe it but...it was this era of writing that was my favorite.
Voodoo flavored murder mystery? I dunno, but I was enrapt when I first picked it up
Cool another video I like this series
Great video mate
I read "Whispers' and 'Night Chills' when I was ten. The violence and creepy sexual situations totally traumatized me for sure, LOL. 'The Bad Place' was an amazing ride though, what a weird plot! And 'Phantoms', of course.
Not many people's favorite author?! You must be kidding. He's only sold 450 million books. There's an excellent analysis of Koontz as a serious - and outstanding - Catholic author which you can find online.
I'm sure he did take a while to get going. But if you read the essay I alluded to, in which the author quotes both extremely recent and thirty year old prose excerpts, you'll see an undeniable first rate ability.
I can recall only one Koontz novel I couldn't get anywhere with, "77 Shadow Street," I think it's called. Otherwise, I am an avid fan. He could certainly have decided to be a "literary writer," someone on the order of Steven Millhauser, whom I'm a huge fan of, but he doesn't appear to have been interested in a life in the academy, thank God. He writes his own genre. I do think he parodies himself sometimes, and there are repeated elements and qualities, motifs in his work. I can't think of a writer of whom that isn't so. It's certainly so of Steven Millhauser. Graham Greene, whom Koontz reminds me of in that Greene appears to have been unpretentious and certainly uninterested in being a "literary writer," said that every worthwhile writer repeats themes, ideas, his own style. Greene wrote great thrillers and is universally recognized as a great novelist. Koontz is still a denizen of the genre he invented, which is a goulash of various elements. I think that just as Phillip K Dick and Raymond Chandler used to be recognized as genre writers but are now understood to have been first rate American writers, period, the same thing may happen to Koontz eventually.
I read it. It's good, but odd. To encapsulate, it's a sort of time loop story, iirc.
Looks like you took my twitter suggestion.
After the last race, Night Chills, the vision and Prison of Ice are great books IMO.
I never could get through Whispers.
I agree with you with most things.
And have loved novels from all his Eras.
I would say he’s in my top ten Authors with
Poppy Z Brite
Brett Easton Ellis
Ramsay Campbell
Scott Heim
Joe Hill
Stephen King
Anne Bishop
Ian Banks
And Jenifer Roberson.
If koontz wouldn’t always have dogs in his novels I’d enjoy them more.
to me, koontz is hit or miss. I am still giving him chances, because some of his books really hit hard.
loved the video
too funny and inspiring
Night Chills is very underrated. It would make a great thriller/horror film.
Midnight paperback was my first seance.
AFFLECK - YOU WERE THE BOMB IN "PHANTOMS", YO!
Perhaps the thing I most enjoy about Koontz's books is that, unlike Stephen King, whom I compare him favorably to, his protagonists are usually really decent people I enjoy spending time with. Unlike so many of King's characters, who can be downright horrible people. Koontz's characters are normal and simple and hardworking everyman characters who are also brave and noble, honest and true. They are my ideal of The Hero archetype. Like the character in Cold Fire; who, after discovering he has control over his supernatural gift, criticizes Superman for having a day job. He, on the other hand, decides to spend the rest of his life rescuing and helping all the people his power informs him about! I LIKE THAT!
Motivating
He is a decent writer.
Hard to belive that story about who’s part of that book was longer. Since anyone could of counted the pages.
He always craps out on endings, but he does have some interesting stories. I really like Darkfall, Hideaway, and his short collection Strange Highways
I dont know anybody who says that hes their favorite author. But i do have a friend who would tell you that watchers is one of their favorite books.
Let's get to work!
If he can do it anyone can do it too! Not always works that way! Greetings from Colombia South America.
Demon Seed the movie is awesome!!! The title is weird but its still awesome. What didnt u like?
Do more Koontz reviews!
asgreeeeeee on all your points! i fuck with dean kootz
It's never too later I'll do it when I'm 80 because I'll still look 40 when I'm 80. I'm going ro be a famous actor and writer
How about Lee child?
People need to start treating James Patterson like pro wrestling treats Chris Benoit. Who the fuck is that guy? Seriously though, that man has the most overwhelming exaggerated sense of importance and accomplishment I have ever seen for doing practically nothing other than having the money to pay others to write his books.
You should do one on Travis McBee next.
Haha
Wouldn't publishing under different names hamper your chances of building an audience?
I think your way off my friend. He is a remarkable talent and often underrated.
Damn!!! this writing thing is more of a curse than a pleasure.
wow the audio peaking... omg.
I did so, but signed to my name.
⚡
Do Sai King please.
I love his Odd Thomas series
Have you seen the movie
Your rich, just like that... ha ha. love it.
A lot of his characters work hard to raise themselves out of poverty and bad situations.
Two typewriters...hahahahahaha!!!! I love it!!!
The secret is in his hair
Prolific.
I was an Old King Cole (Coel) miners daughter... intellectual property???
Hes books before 1980 are good the vision night chills, winter moon im reading key to midnight now its good so far maybe they het better nut tjese are good.
I Liked his first Odd Thomas books and the Seize The Night characters, but he never continued them. I don't buy his stuff anymore. It's rather repetitive. Many years ago, I loved "Lightning".
well said
You forgot Watchers one of the best My opinion I just love dogs😀please don’t compare him to other writers😀
I don’t understand are you bashing him or appraising him😀he is my favourite author but he’s the author of intelligent readers with high IQ’s. I challenge anyone to read all his books before you judge. LOVE YOU KOONTZ.🙂
Don't give in to technology. He forgot the personal touch, although: answer your own mail, even with family as fans, not a goon.
It's less hard work and perseverance, and more obsessive compulsive disorder.
Like his wig.
He started wearing it because he got tired of being mistaken for G Gordon Liddy. Not kidding, that's what Koontz said.
@@ryanjacobson2508 I did not know that! Ty.
"To this day, he's never done a book tour." Actually, there's a video on UA-cam of Koontz speaking at what I guess is some kind of Comic-Con or something, where he talks about going on a book tour. Hate to be THAT GUY, but just sayin'...
He's done signings and conventions, which is what he's discussing in that video if it's the one I'm thinking about. But he's never gone on a nationwide, multi city, multi week book tour like most of his contemporaries.
I stand corrected.
Thats not too long to pursue 1968 to 1980 12 years if im not a famous actor in 30 or 40 years ill still keep trying
I think is talant is way more than averge niw i think hes a better writer than king
I went by the rule of his author picture; if he's bald with a mustache it's a good read, hair; dont care. False Memory was my favorite.
Koontz is a creationist, he thinks non-religious people have no morals, he's a terrible writer on sentence-by-sentence and book-by-book basis, and his right-wing TV anchor bouffant is utterly hilarious.
"Dumb luck," haha
My problem ... No talent ... :(
his new stuff sucks. its all the same. cookie cutter stories
He used to be my favorite until his books became so religious. I'm not into having an author preach at me.
you want subscribers get rid of the annoying music