Jack Ketchum

Jack Ketchum is the pen name of American horror novelist Dallas Mayr. Born in Livingstone, NJ, Ketchum has worked a variety of jobs including lumber sales representative, teacher, and actor before becoming a novelist. As a teenager, he had the honor of meeting Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, who would become his mentor and friend until Bloch's death in 1994.

Ketchum is known for his horror novels, with Stephen King praising him as writing more important fiction than any other novelist except Cormac McCarthy. His novels include Off Season, Offspring, and Red, which were adapted to film. In 2011, Ketchum received the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award for outstanding contribution to the horror genre. Growing up, Ketchum was fond of Elvis Presley, dinosaurs, and horror, and spent much of his time making up stories using his toys as characters. He was befriended by Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, during his teenage years, who became his mentor. Ketchum worked many different jobs before completing his first novel, Off Season, in 1980.

Ketchum's decision to concentrate on novel writing was partly fueled by a preference for work that offered stability and longevity. He has received four Bram Stoker Awards and three further nominations for his novels. Many of Ketchum's books have been adapted into feature films, including The Lost, The Girl Next Door, Red, and The Woman. Ketchum's work is largely based upon true events, with The Girl Next Door being inspired by the 1965 murder of Sylvia Likens. He continues to write and live in New York City.