Author Dean Koontz Answers Questions

ByABC News via logo
May 10, 2004, 3:34 PM

June 11, 2004 -- Best-selling author Dean Koontz has thrilled his fans in one blockbuster novel after another from Watchers and False Memory to The Face now available in paperback and his most recent best seller, Odd Thomas. Where does he find such inspiration? In this online chat he answers questions about his novels, the future of character Chris Snow, | tips for writers, | reveals his muse.

New Questions as of June 11, 2004

Question: I am a 15-year-old Panamanian and am currently reading a huge book that contains three of your novels Shattered, Whispers, and Watchers. How did you get the inspiration for each of your books, and are any of your characters in these three books based on real people?Jaime, Panama City, Panama

Answer: Fictional characters are seldom if ever entirely modeled upon real people. If they were, they might not feel natural to a particular story and theme, but might seem to have been imposed upon it. I've dealt with the subject of the character-theme relationship in the first round of these questions, so I won't repeat myself. In the time I save by not repeating myself, I'll play a game of crocodile golf, a recreational activity that features nests of surly reptiles instead of the traditional sand traps, which enlivens an otherwise tiresome sport by the prospect of sudden death. Watchers was inspired by a lifelong love of dogs, by the Jung quote that is featured at the front of the book, by reading I'd been doing into the future of genetic engineering, by thinking I'd been doing about the difficulty of changing who we are even when we recognize the need for change. Whispers was inspired by a Freudian world view left over from college, which I eventually grew wise enough to abandon, by a fascination with California, which is virtually a character in the novel and which I had at that time adopted as my new home, and by a desire to take on characters and character relationships of a more complex texture than I'd been able to do in the genre word that preceded this novel. Shattered was an early book, and the motivation was simpler: I'd long admired short, simple, punchy suspense stories by Lawrence Block, Donald Westlake, Brian Garfield, and their peers; and I wanted to try a book like that.

Question: Have you ever written about any real-life experiences? And how does your wife feel about your books?Amy

Answer: Virtually every novel includes real-life experiences of mine. I have not, of course, been pursued by a beast that has escaped from a genetic engineering lab, do not suffer from xerodermapigmentosum, and haven't encountered aliens. But the details of daily life, the little background and character moments that support the primary story line are often based on real events. Indeed, Gerda, my wife, says that when she reads a new novel, she is reminded of numerous moments in our own recent lives which have been folded into the story. Gerda is my staunchest supporter and, next to me, she is my toughest critic. Generally, she prefers books like From the Corner of His Eye and Fear Nothing and Odd Thomas to books like The Taking, but as she was reading the manuscript of The Taking, she said at the midpoint, "This isn't my kind of thing, and I'd hope you wouldn't write another one like it anytime soon, but I sure am having fun with it." So she has the broad taste to accept all kinds of books.

Question: I am now 23 years old. In sixth grade I got grounded for breaking the knob off our television. Picking up your novel Lightning was what turned me on to reading. Thank you so much for the novels that you write. Also Strange Highways and the story of Benny was something else do you like this character? Cheers.John, South Glens Falls

Answer: I wonder why you broke the knob off the TV. Was some program so crappy (obviously not one on ABC) that you switched it off with fury? Were you in the mood to break something and the TV was just there? Were you channel surfing at high speed in primitive mode, sans remote? Were you running through the house in youthful enthusiasm, tripped over a duck, fell, struck the TV knob with your forehead, snapped it off, and therefore suffered amnesia for the next three years? Possessed by a demon? Well, whatever the reason for your violent, destructive frenzy, I'm glad that it ultimately led you to Lightning. I like the character of Benny, and I like the man his father came to be in that story. I've received considerably more mail on that piece, "Twilight of the Dawn," than on any other short story I've written.

Question: Whose books do you read? And has there been an author that has influenced you?Cheryl, Kissimmee, Fla.

Answer: I read almost everything, by anyone, in all genres, including so-called "literary" fiction, which is really just another genre. So many authors have influenced me that I'd test the capacity of the ABC Web site if I listed them all. Some of the deepest influences and the longest lasting have been Charles Dickens, James M. Cain, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Theodore Sturgeon, Herman Wouk, Carson McCullers, Flannery O'Conner, Emily Dickinson.

Question: Do you plan out your novels, such as with an outline, or do you just start writing and see where things go?Casey, Star, Idaho

Answer: For me, outlines are the death of creativity, but they work well for many writers. I start with an intriguing premise, theme, and a tantalizing character or two, then take the plunge. (See the first round of questions in which I discuss character and theme, which are pertinent.) Sometimes I worry that I have no ending, but if the characters work, they have a story to tell, and they always prove to know what their ending is-and should be.

Question: Do you listen to music when writing? If so, what type of music and what artists?Robert, Green Bay, Wis.

Answer: I love big band music; I listened to a lot of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington, and their contemporaries when I wrote The Bad Place. As might be obvious, I listened to nothing but Chris Issak CDs when writing Fear Nothing and Seize the Night. As I noted in both From the Corner of His Eye and One Door Away from Heaven, I listened exclusively to the incredible music of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole while writing those books as I did while writing Odd Thomas, and will probably listen to IZ again when I write the sequel to Odd. Weirdly, or so it seems to me, when I was working on Dark Rivers of the Heart for long hours during almost a full year, I listened to only one CD; Paul Simon's Graceland, hour after hour, day after day, over and over! Eventually I could sing every song, not only with perfect fidelity to the lyrics but with all the vocal nuances that Simon brings to them (though certainly not as melodically as he sings)-and I kept looking around for Garfunkel.

Question: Do you ever visit any of the Dean Koontz fan Web sites? If so, do you generally like them, find them funny, or have any thoughts about them?Desiree

Answer: I have always found it embarrassing to read about myself or my work, and as much as possible, I avoid that, just as I've done my best to avoid the celebrity aspect of what I do. I've turned down more interview requests that I've accepted, declined three offers over the years to be an on-camera host of a TV show, a la Rod Serling, and rarely read newspaper and magazine pieces about myself. What I love about what I do is the act of writing and the process of revision. I'd rather people talked about the story than about the writer, in part because I think the creative process is magical, if not spiritual, and that I am sometimes more the conduit for the story than the creator of it. I'm flattered that there's so much interest in what I do. At a couple of the occasional book signings I've done, I've met the woman behind Koontzmania.com, and she seems very smart, personable, and lovely. With people like her carrying the torch for me, I should visit the fan sites . . . but then there would still be the embarrassment of reading about myself.

Question: I enjoy your novels so much; they are always so unique. I am willing to bet that "susurration" is your favorite word and is in every novel you've written; if it isn't there, it isn't an authentic Koontz. Love it! Thank you for a lot of good reading!Patricia, Billings, Mont.

Answer: Thank you, Patricia. As I sit here considering your comment, murmuring susurratively, with the susurrus of the rain at the window, I doubt that this word susurrates through every novel, although probably through most. But then again, I use the words wimple, hyperdactylism, foozle, zarzuela, and dink in every novel, without fail, not because I am obsessive or superstitious, but simply because I know I will die under the spark-spitting steel wheels of a demonic locomotive if, even once, I fail to use all these magic words in a book.

Question: I have always loved suspense and have enjoyed your books immensely. Did you love these kinds of stories as a child?Beverly

Answer: I loved any story that first stirred in me a sense of wonder and that, second, kept me breathless. Suspense, fantasy, spooky stuff, science fiction (when it wasn't saturated with politics, as so much of it seems to be these days, when it was about fabulous new ideas), and adventure stories in far corners of the world.

Question: I am a mother of three teenage boys and work a full-time job. How do you discipline yourself to work on your story a little every day, without making your loved ones feel neglected? I love to write but never seem to get the time.

Answer: First of all, I've never had children, let alone three teenage boys, so I'm amazed you can even think about writing let alone find the time to do it. Even Trixie, our golden retriever, demands (and receives) play and belly rubs that, on an annual basis, add up to enough time to write half a novel! Basically, over the years, I've found that I make writing time by denying myself other pleasures: Aside from architecture and antiquing, I have no hobbies; I seldom watch television, and my own reading time has declined so that whereas I once read 200 novels a year, I now read 20. But do not feel sorry for me; do not weep and pound your breast in despair over my self-denial. When writing, I'm doing what I love to do, and no vacation in Zanzibar, no game of golf or tennis would be a fraction as much fun.

Question: I've always enjoyed your canine characters (as well as the human ones), probably because I'm a pet professional and pet lover. Besides being entertaining stories, your books have educated readers about the countless positives of living with dogs-in particular the service animals. I understand you are involved with CCI (bravo!), and I wonder how you first became aware of the organization and interested in supporting its programs.Amy, Sherman, Texas

Answer: A good dog, under the gently controlling influence of a caring owner, is a source of joy and wonder and perpetual comic relief. Dogs can teach us patience because they are patience personified; they can teach us to enjoy the small things of life, for they are not driven by ambition; they are reflexively courageous; they have strength without arrogance, beauty without ego, charm without guile. Grooming a dog can be a Zen experience: Because she has a thick coat and because we have a no-hair-in-the-household standard, Ms. Trixie receives a 45-minute combing every morning and a 15-minute combing most afternoons. During these sessions, she languishes in limp enjoyment, as if she were at a spa, and whoever is combing her-sometimes Gerda, sometimes me-zones out, so focused on the beautifying task that the world is forgotten, with the consequence that a combing is like meditation, and restful. Every floor in the house still has to be swept every day, as backup, but we wouldn't give up the combing even if all could be handled by sweeping! As for CCI: I read an article about them just before I wrote Midnight, and I decided to included a paraplegic and his service dog in the story. Soon thereafter, we because deeply involved in this wonderful organization. For more about CCI-and dogs, and true stories that will lift your heart-I recommend the book Love Heels, by Patricia Dibsie, with an introduction by me, published by Yorkville Press.

Question: Is there any way that Oddkins would ever be republished? All available copies seem to either cost upwards of sixty dollars or are in poor condition. I don't want to resort to stealing the copy from my local library!Karen

Answer: I own the original film for the book, but I'm not sure that it is in good enough condition to allow the art work to be reproduced at full quality. It might be fine; I just don't have the knowledge to judge correctly. Since I feel that the art is as important to the experience of the book as is the text, I've not tried to make a deal for text alone. Perhaps if Robot Santa, my next book for children, sells at least as well as Santa's Twin, some publisher will want to investigate the possibility of reprinting Oddkins in all its original visual splendor. Don't steal from your library, Karen. That is immoral. Hold up a liquor store and use the proceeds of the robbery to buy a mint-condition Oddkins first printing.

Between the Pages: Book Questions

Question: Are you planning on doing any more books like Odd Thomas first person-narration, etc.? That was one of the best books I have ever read.Brian, Washington, D.C.

Answer: Thank you, Brian. I have seldom written first-person narration Twilight Eyes, Fear Nothing, Seize the Night, Odd Thomas because I've always felt that each first-person narrator should sound unique, not like me when I write in third person, and not like one another. Because first person necessarily narrows the scope of a story, I only want to use it when I have a character so fresh (at least to me) that more is gained by his or her voice than is lost by the narrower scope.

For some reason, suitable first-person narrators have been coming to me more frequently than in the past. Life Expectancy, which will be published in December of 2004, is in the first person. Because I was so enchanted by the character of Odd Thomas and because reader mail related to that book has now exceeded the mail volume for any other book I've published, I plan to return to Odd and see where his life has gone since I left him listening to music with Elvis; I'm sure he has more to tell me.

Question: Odd Thomas was wonderful. How are you able to create such nuanced characters like Thomas and his girlfriend? Are they modeled off people you know?Chris, Austin, Texas

Answer: Thanks, Chris. No, the characters aren't modeled off people I know, though traits I see in several people can sometimes coalesce in a single character.