The day before the Queen's Ball, Father had a visitor--a very young girl with literary aspirations, someone Lord Lytton had recommended visit Father and sent over–and while Father was explaining to her the enjoyment he was having in writing this Drood book for serialisation, this upstart of a girl had the temerity to ask, 'But suppose you died before all the book was written?' [...] He spoke very softly in his kindest voice and said to her, 'One can only work on, you know--work while it is day.

His first novel Song of Kali was released in 1985. in English from Wabash College in 1970 and in 1971 a Masters in Education from Washington University in St. He spans genres such as science fiction horror and fantasy sometimes within the same novel: a typical example of Simmons' ability to intermingle genres is Song of Kali (1985) winner of World Fantasy Award.

He spans genres such as science fiction horror and fantasy sometimes within the same novel: a typical example of Simmons' ability to intermingle genres is Song of Kali (1985) winner of World Fantasy Award. He is also a respected author of mysteries and thrillers some of which feature the continuing character Joe Kurtz.