Richard Laymon, was a contemporary horror fiction writer, whose writing career was launched with the release of his first novel The Cellar in 1980 at the age of 33. Prior to this he worked as a school teacher and also in the glorious occupation of librarian. He died from a heart attack in 2001 and has had a substantial number of his novels and short stories published post-humously. It is interesting to note that he was very successful in Europe, Australia and Britain, but was barely known in his home country of the US until after his death, by which time he had written over 30 novels and 60 short stories. His novel Flesh was named Best Horror Novel of 1988 by Science Fiction Chronicle and also shortlisted for the prestigious Bram Stoker Award, as was Funland.