Straub, born in Milwaukee on March 2, 1943, was a popular horror novelist with a somewhat unorthodox pedigree— before turning to writing about the fantastical, he had published short collections of poetry. Although he was reluctant to label his writing as horror at times, he brought his poet’s eye to his writing within the genre, drawing comparisons to Henry James and Phillip Roth by other writers. His first horror book, Julia (1975), was followed by If You Could See Me Now (1977), and his breakout hit Ghost Story (1979). Julia was adapted into the 1977 movie The Haunting of Julia starring Mia Farrow, and Ghost Story into a 1981 movie starring Fred Astaire. — Stephen King (@StephenKing) September 6, 2022 He is survived by his wife Susan Straub, son Benjamin, three grandchildren, and his daughter, novelist Emma Straub whose latest book This Time Tomorrow is about a women whose father’s health is worsening. It was partially inspired by the relationship between her and her father. Find more news and stories of interest from the book world in Breaking in Books.
