Dan Wells is an accomplished American author, renowned for his work in the horror, thriller, and science fiction genres. He is best known for his series such as Partials and the John Cleaver series. Wells was born in Utah and spent his formative years immersed in the world of literature, reading and writing. His passion for writing led him to pursue a Bachelor's degree in English, with an emphasis on writing and editing, from Brigham Young University. He continues to reside in Orem, Utah.
Wells' work is notable for its range, encompassing dark humor, supernatural thriller, and science fiction. His books have earned him nominations for prestigious awards such as the Campbell Award for Best New Writer and the Hugo Award for Best Novella. In addition, he has won two Parsec Awards for his work on the podcast Writing Excuses.
Some of Wells' most popular works include the Partials series, which includes Partials, Isolation, Fragments, and Ruins, as well as the John Cleaver series, which includes I Am Not a Serial Killer, Mr. Monster, and I Don't Want To Kill You. He has also written several standalone novels, including The Hollow City, A Night of Blacker Darkness, and Extreme Makeover. His writing has been adapted for television and the stage, and he has also worked as a professional gamemaster for online RPGs.
In addition to his work as a writer, Wells co-hosts the YouTube series Intentionally Blank with Brandon Sanderson and the Hugo-winning podcast Writing Excuses, which has expanded to include its own writing conference called WXR. He has also edited the anthology Altered Perceptions and is now the Vice President of Narrative at Dragonsteel. Despite his many professional accomplishments, Wells remains deeply connected to his family and community, and he continues to reside in Utah with his wife, six children, two dogs, and almost 500 board games.