Gerald "Jerry" Neal Williamson (April 17, 1932 – December 8, 2005) was an American horror writer and editor known under the nameJ. N. Williamson.[1][2][3][4][5][6] Born inIndianapolis, Indiana he graduated fromShortridge High School. He studied journalism atButler University. He published his first novel in 1979 and went on to publish more than 40 novels and 150 short stories. In 2003 he received a lifetime achievement award from theHorror Writers of America. He edited the critically acclaimedHow to Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy & Science Fiction (1987) which covered the themes of such writing and cited the works of such writers asRobert Bloch, Lee Prosser,Richard Matheson,Ray Bradbury,H. P. Lovecraft,August Derleth,William F. Nolan, andStephen King. Many important writers in the genre contributed to the book. Williamson edited the popular anthology series,Masques. Some of his novels includeThe Ritual (1979),Playmates (1982),Noonspell (1991),The Haunt (1999), among others.
In 1946, Williamson founded The Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis, a Sherlock Holmes scion society of the Baker Street Irregulars.
Williamson recalled in a 2003 interview that his first work of fiction was aSherlock Holmespastiche called "The Terrible Death of Crosby, The Banker".[1]
