At book No. 78 and counting, Koontz has no drought of ideas

NEWYORK— Dean Koontz admits itwas “kind of frustrating” a few months back when an idea that he predicted the coronavirus in his 1981 novel, “The Eyes ofDarkness,” took on a life of its own online.

“Itwas one of those internet things that’s mostly bogus,” said Koontz. “I had a book 40 years ago mention the Wuhan virus and it came from a lab in China. I didn’t make a prediction of a pandemic, itwas a totally different story. My first strategywas justd,`on’t engage in this and it will go away.’ And it just didn’t go away. Social media has got a light side and its dark side.”

The author, 75, has a new book out called “Elsewhere” about Jeffy and Amity— a single father and his 11-year-old daughter— moving through life as best they can after their wife and mother, Michelle, disappeared seven years prior. Dad meets an eccentric scientist who presents Jeffy with what’s described as a “key to everything,” holding the ability to time jump among parallel universes. The discovery opens up a bevy of possibilities for Jeffy and Amity (including meeting up with Michelle) but also danger— because there are people who really want that key, andwould kill to get it.

In a recent interview, Koontz talks about hiswell of untouched ideas, adapting his writing forHollywood and publishing with Amazon. Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.

You’ve written more than 100 books. Do you ever have trouble coming up with newideas?

Koontz: I have a drawer inmy office that when I get an idea that’s not too horrendous, I scribble it on a piece of paper. I put it in that drawer. And I’ve always said, “When I run out of ideas formy next book, I’ll pull one out.” I’ve never had to. There’s always new ideas. I think imagination is like a muscle, and the more you use it, the more ideas come to you.

“Elsewhere” paints such a vivid story. You haven’t had your writing adapted in a while. Would you be open to that again?

I amopen to it but I never have any high expectations. My film agent has “Elsewhere” out tomarket. I just haven’t had a lot of luck with that. After the 1995 film “Hideaway” (starring Jeff Goldblum), I considered tying an anvil aroundmyself and leaping off a bridge. Stephen Som

mers made a very nice version of “Odd Thomas” (starring Anton Yelchin in 2013), but itwas crimped by the fact that about halfway through the money ran out and he had to cut the budget, but itwas still good.

You nowhave a publishing deal with Amazon. What’s that like? A lot of authors have a love-hate relationship with Amazon.

It always comes down to the people you deal with. It’s astonishing that everyone that I’ve beenworking with at Amazon have been very creative, very efficient, just fun towork with. A lot of it is it’s a younger group, and that sort of astounded me too.

Do you see a point where youwouldwant to stop writing? (Koontz has already delivered bookNo. 79 to his publisher.)

I’ll probably stop when I fall dead and hit the keyboard. Time will stop everybody, but I’ve had some reviews saying that the books are almost better than ever and that’s gratifying. As long as it’s still play and it’s still fun and I get positive letters from people, that’s better than sitting by the pool with an umbrella.

DOUGLAS SONDERS/THOMAS & MERCER Author Dean Koontz is out with his 78th book, “Elsewhere,” about a father and his young daughter who get the ability to time-hop to parallel universes.