Educated at local public and parochial schools, Derleth was interested in writing from an early age and produced his first fiction at 13. He had many rejections initially, but sold his first story, Bat's Belfry, to Weird Tales in 1926. He then returned to his education, receiving a BA from the University of Wisconsin in 1930. After graduation, he worked in a canning factory in Sauk City. Together with his friend Mark Schorer, they rented a cabin and churned out stories for Weird Tales. In 1939, he co-founded Arkham House which became the publisher of the works of H.P. Lovecraft, a long-time friend and his idol. He was named literary editor of the Capital Times newspaper and continued in that role until 1960. He was elected president of the Associated Fantasy Publishers in 1948. Derleth was responsible for over 150 short stories and some 100 books. He died of a heart attack at the age of 62. His works include The Night Rider (1922), The Tenant (1928), Across the Hall (1930), Nellie Foster (1933), Place of the Hawks (1935), Wind Over Wisconsin (1938), Bright Journey (1940), The Lonesome Place (1948), The House of Moonlight (1953), The Return of Solar Pons (1958), Wisconsin Murders (1968) and Return to Walden West (1970). |
