Best-selling horror writer is an Alabama grad

I enjoy reading Alabama Alumni Magazine, and one of my favorite regular features in the publication is “Bookshelf,” which tells readers about authors and new books with Alabama connections.

The Fall 2010 issue’s “Bookshelf” feature included a story by Detroit-based freelance writer Kurt Anthony Krug called “The Power of the Word,” which discussed the career of horror writer Robert McCammon.

I have to admit that I’ve never read any of McCammon’s best-sellers, but I plan to change that very soon. McCammon’s not only a native of Birmingham, but as it turns out, he’s also a University of Alabama graduate.

McCammon, now 58, attended Alabama and received a B.A. in journalism in 1974 from the Capstone. Since then, he’s gone on to publish 16 novels with two more in the works for 2011 and 2012.

Tonight, I want to provide you with a list of McCammon’s novels. Without further ado, here they are, in order of publication:

1978 – Baal
1980 – Bethany’s Sin
1980 – The Night Boat
1981 – They Thirst
1984 – Usher’s Passing
1987 – Swan Song
1988 – Stinger
1989 – The Wolf’s Hour
1990 – Blue World
1990 – Mine
1991 – Boy’s Life
1992 – Gone South
2002 – Speaks the Nightbird
2007 – The Queen of Bedlam
2010 – Mister Slaughter

“The Five” is due out in early 2011 and “The Providence Rider” is set for release in 2012.

In the end, how many of these books have you had a chance to read? What did you think about them? Which would you recommend? How many of you are fans of McCammon’s? Let us know in the comments section below.

For more information about McCammon, visit his Web site at www.robertmccammon.com.