Born in Rockport, Massachusetts, Rick was a 1966 graduate of Rockport High School, and received Bachelor's degree in 1971 and a Master's degree in 1974, both in English Literature from the University of Maine. He was classmates with Stephen King, which led to him often being called "the other horror writer from Maine". In addition to writing, he taught English Literature and Composition at Westbrook High School and at Southern Maine Community College.

Choosing to write in the horror story genre, with sensibilities shaped by William Shakespeare, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Ray Bradbury, he was a prolific writer and well respected and critically acclaimed by reviewers, his readers and his fellow authors. In 2012, he was recognized by his colleagues as recipient of the Bram Stroker Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Horror Writers Association. He mentored many young writers and students.

Politically liberal, he stood up for the poor and disenfranchised almost as passionately as he did for his writing. He was kind and generous to all, giving all that he could and sometimes more.

He died of a heart attack on March 21, 2013. He had three sons, Aaron, Jesse and Matti Hautala.

See photos of celebrities before they hit the big-time.

Rick Hautala

Writer

Producer