Bentley Little was born in Arizona, where he would later establish himself as a prominent figure in the horror genre. He pursued higher education at California State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a Master of Arts in English and Comparative Literature.
Little's writing career began with a bang, as his debut novel "The Revelation" won the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel in 1990. This achievement caught the attention of Stephen King, who would later praise Little as "a master of the macabre." King's endorsement solidified Little's reputation as a disciple of the horror master.
Little's short fiction has been featured in various publications, including Cemetery Dance, a horror magazine founded by Richard Chizmar. His stories, such as "The Janitor," "The Sanctuary," and "Blood," have appeared in the magazine's early issues. He has also contributed to anthologies like "The Best of Cemetery Dance," which features works by renowned authors such as Dean R. Koontz, Norman Partridge, Ramsey Campbell, and Stephen King.
Since the publication of "The Revelation," Little has written over twenty novels, including "The Mailman," "The Summoning," "The Night School," "Dominion," "The Store," and "The House." His novels have been praised for their dark and unsettling themes, and have earned him a reputation as a master of horror.
Little's short stories have also been widely praised, and have been collected in anthologies like "Murmurous Haunts," "The Collection," and "Four Dark Nights." His story "The Washingtonians" was adapted into an episode of the Masters of Horror TV series, starring Johnathon Schaech.
Throughout his career, Little has been unapologetic about his love of horror fiction, refusing to hide behind labels like "dark fantasy" or "dark suspense." Instead, he has proudly embraced his status as a horror writer, and has been discovered and endorsed by some of the genre's biggest names, including Dean R. Koontz.
