William Wallace Johnstone (1938-2004), born in southern Missouri, was a prolific American author, mostly of Western, horror, and survivalist novels. He began writing in 1970 but had his first novel, The Devil's Kiss, published in 1979. After his death, it was announced that a carefully selected author had been chosen to carry on his legacy. J. A. Johnstone is continuing William W. Johnstone's series.