What scares master of suspense Dean Koontz? Plenty.

He’s sold more than 500 million books, writes two novels every year, lives like a prince and keeps his manuscripts in the fridge in case of fire

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Dean Koontz, 77, author of more than 110 books, at his art-filled home in Irvine, Calif. (Philip Cheung for The Washington Post)
10 min

IRVINE, Calif. — Few American writers sell as many books, live better or worry more than Dean Koontz.

“There are days that you think, ‘I can’t do this anymore,’” says Koontz, 77, author of more than 110 books that have sold over 500 million copies in 38 languages. “Of all the writers I’ve ever known, I have more self-doubt. I’m eaten by it all the time.”