If you'd like to receive the most current news and information on Dean Koontz and his work, sign up for his FREE monthly newsletter. You'll receive special offers, sneak previews, Dean trivia and more!






  • Newsletter - February 2007


    A message from Trixie Koontz

     Cookies to you! Is me, Trixie, who is dog. Have been thinking about lot of things lately. Have been thinking why people always want to stop and smell roses when world has lots more interesting things to smell, like pee-marks left by other dogs, wadded up Big Mac wrapper in gutter, Aunt Wanda's feet, and area of neighbor's backyard where body is buried. Have been thinking which came first, dog or kibble, dog or blue poop-pickup bags, dog or plush toys with squeaker inside. Have decided kibble, blue bag, and squeaky toys came first because God would want everything dogs need to be here before dogs arrive. Means people came before dogs, because dogs need people to tell us how cute we are. Dogs probably were last thing put on earth--peak of Creation. Have been thinking about paws. Dogs have 'em, people don't. So if dogs are peak of Creation, paws must be better than hands. But would like to have hands to get own kibble, drive car, play rockin' ukelele, and other things can't do with paws. Seems like hands more useful than paws. Then realize other things hands good for: forging signatures, pointing finger of blame, pulling trigger, making obscene gestures, picking pockets, picking nose.... Maybe would be bad idea--dogs with hands. Probably dogs could drive if only had tentacles. Hey, is possible dogs not peak of Creation? Whoa. Deep question. Needs much heavy thinking. No. Is not possible. Many proofs dogs peak of Creation. A few: is no dog equivalent of Paris Hilton; never saw dog wearing plaids and stripes at same time; no dog would ever tie human to post and leave alone in backyard; no dog ever got drunk, woke up next morning in bed with strange cat. Also no dog would buy film rights to best-selling novel, change story fifty ways, and produce stupid trash, which is reason dog should get many many many treats.

    Bliss to you,



    What Readers Want To Know

    I'm in bookselling and got my hands on an advance reader's copy of BROTHER ODD. I doubted that any book in the series could reach the peak and the power of the original, ODD THOMAS, but this one comes really, really close. And the AMAZING ending has me excited about what comes next for Oddie. I think the next one might be the best of all. Please tell me the series doesn't end here! —Rob, Chicago

    Thanks for your kind words, Rob. There will be a fourth episode in Odd's life, and maybe more. He is on an epic journey, and I have no idea where it will lead him--except that as he deals with the real problems of life and with the supernatural, he will always be Odd, maturing in mind and heart, but always fully aware of the comic and the tragic qualities of life that are entwined in every moment of our existence. I have to finish a very special novel slated for autumn 2007, and of course FRANKENSTEIN #3, but then I will follow Odd to whatever epiphany he leads me.

    Find answers to more of your questions

    You can submit your own questions to:dean@deankoontz.com
    or:
    Dean Koontz
    PO Box 9529
    Newport Beach, California 92658

     

    Return to the top

    How Odd Thomas Was Born

    When I wrote ODD THOMAS, the title character came to me fully formed, as if he were a real person whom I had known all my life. No character in any of my previous novels led me through his story with such grace, with his voice unfailingly strong in my mind's ear, making revelations about himself and his family that were surprising - even shocking in some instances - yet seemed inevitable to me the moment they were made.

    Other characters have endeared themselves to me - nearly always because of their humanity and their courage and their intellectual conviction. Never had one of them filled me with awe and with admiration, which it seems could be earned only by real people, never by fictional characters - but then along came Odd. By the time I finished ODD THOMAS, I knew Odd was on a journey unique to a character in contemporary fiction, a journey exploring the beauty of humility. Yes, these books are about the power of love and friendship. About the reality of evil.

    More about Odd Thomas