Bentley Little

Bentley Little, born in 1960 in Arizona, is an American author primarily known for his contributions to horror fiction. He has maintained a consistent publishing schedule, releasing approximately one novel annually since 1990. Despite his prolific career, Little tends to avoid the spotlight, rarely engaging in promotional activities or interviews.

His academic background includes studies at California State University Fullerton, where he earned degrees in Communications and Comparative Literature. Notably, his master's thesis became his debut novel, 'The Revelation,' which went on to receive a Bram Stoker Award. Little's literary style is characterized by concise titles, often following a "The [noun]" structure, and he firmly places his work within the horror genre, eschewing labels like "suspense" or "supernatural thriller." Esteemed authors Stephen King and Dean Koontz have publicly supported his work, contributing to his broader recognition.

Bentley Little's novels are recognizable by their concise titles, frequently employing the structure "The [noun]," as seen in titles like 'The Mailman' and 'The House.' He firmly identifies his writing as belonging to the horror genre, expressing a preference for this direct classification over terms such as "suspense" or "supernatural thriller." This straightforward approach to genre has resonated with readers and critics alike. The support and endorsement from fellow acclaimed authors Stephen King and Dean Koontz have played a significant role in elevating Little's profile and increasing the visibility of his work within the literary landscape.

Several of Bentley Little's works have been adapted for other media, though with varying degrees of success and fidelity to the original tone. His short story "The Washingtonians" was adapted into an episode for the TV series 'Masters of Horror' in 2007. This adaptation, directed by Peter Medak, notably shifted the tone towards camp, diverging from the dark humor of the source material and receiving negative critical reception. Additionally, a film adaptation of his novel 'The Store' was announced in 2007, with a script and production team in place, but as of 2025, this project has not materialized. More recently, Amazon Prime Video ordered a TV series based on his novel 'The Consultant' in 2021.