William Kotzwinkle Books In Order

Publication Order of Felonious Monk Mystery Books

Publication Order of Inspector Mantis Mysteries Books

Publication Order of Walter the Farting Dog Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Children's Books

Publication Order of Graphic Novels

Publication Order of E.T. Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

William Kotzwinkle is a bestselling author who is best known for the “Walter the Farting Dog,” series of children’s fiction.

Given his fertile imagination, he had produced everything from satire, science fiction, mysteries, and children’s stories.

Since his work is not so easy to define the easiest way to describe it is to say that it cannot be boxed into any one category. Moreover, he has not only excelled in writing literary works but he has also dabbled in the novelizations of popular movies.
He is famous for novelizing “The Extra-Terrestrial,” which he titled “E.T.” His novel provides a great deal more information and a very different perspective as compared to the film.

While he has recently become better known for his adult fiction works, he has penned many young adult and children’s fiction works throughout his career.

In an interview with Walter Gelles of “Publishers Weekly,” he once said that he would never do another work meant for children but he has been unable to stop.
He believes it all has to do with his inner child who always wants to relive the experiences of his childhood in that fun and spontaneous way.

Kotzwinkle was born in the mid-sized city of Scranton, Pennsylvania very close to the border with New York.

He was born an only child and had a very close relationship with his dad who was then working as a printer and his mother who was a homemaker.
His father was a very outdoorsy person who often used to take him and his mother hiking in the Lackawanna Valley.

William was taken by the beauty of nature but he never gravitated toward serious writing until he enrolled at Pennsylvania State University.
It was at university that he began honing his narrative skills in playwriting and drama seminars, and even wrote poetry.

William Kotzwinkle moved to Greenwich Village in New York City in 1957 after he dropped out of university. While living there, he immersed himself in the work of Beat writers and the Beat Lifestyle, learning from authors such as Jack Kerouac.
During this time, he earned a living reporting for a tabloid as a reporter, short order cook, Prentice Hall promotions writer, and Santa Claus at a department store among many other jobs.

While William Kotzwinkle wrote a lot during the 1960s, he just did not bother to get published.

It was not until Joe Servello his old friend read some of his manuscripts that and decided to take the initiative. He took the manuscript for Fireman and began submitting it to agents and publishers until one accepted it for publishing in 1969.
After that initial success, there was no way he would ever find joy in any other profession. According to the author, his debut was so successful since it was the first time he ever really reconnected with one of the best moments from his childhood.
During the 1970s, Kotzwinkle developed a reputation as a prolific novelist who was always producing some very new and unique material.

Some of his most popular works during this time included the likes of the lyrical meditation on Greenwich Village which was titled “The Fan Man.”

“Walter the Farting Dog” by William Kotzwinlle is a work that has been called the companion text to “Everyone Poops” by Taro Gomi, even if it has much less educational value.

The lead in the novel is a fat grey dog named Walter, who comes back home with an apologetic look alongside two children. He happens to be suffering from incurable gas and hence his family wants to take him back to the pound.
The night before he is taken back, he sits down and eats the 25-pound bag of biscuits prescribed to make him fart less. But the biscuits only make him fart more as they result in a giant gas bubble in his insides.
During the night, two burglars break in and what he believed was a liability turns into an asset. It is pretty much very predictable but the authors know their stuff and will keep children roiling the aisles reading how much the dog farts.
Audrey Colman the illustrator does most of the visual gags to do with Walter blasting out farts out his backside. She is very good at reaction shots and comes up with surreal patterns and photos of cats glancing at Walter and people holding their noses.
It is certain to please kids and its disruptive effects will surely last for a long time on the kids.

William Kotzwinkle’s “Trouble at the Yard Sale” opens with Walter’s family frustrated as their yard sale has failed to attract customers.

Walter cannot help but wonder why they have not attracted customers even as he contentedly farts near Father. When some man offers to buy him for ten dollars, Father is ready to let him go immediately leaving Walter perplexed.

He is sad that he has to leave his family but soon finds relief upon discovering that his new owner works as a clown. Walter believes that he will be instrumental in adding a lot of space and joy to children when he tags along to birthdays with his new owner.
However, the clown intends to put him to work on a dastardly duty – inflating balloons using his farts which will then be used to stun guards when he goes robbing banks.
Will Walter be converted to the dark side?
Walter continues to be a lovable character despite his farts and ultimately he is saved by his farts. While he is not the most beautiful dog he is a loving one who is all all about tolerance.

“Rough Weather Ahead” by William Kotzwinkle opens with Walter’s family consulting a man who says he is the foremost expert in animal gas.

Professor Kompressor was called in after Walter’s emissions reached their highest levels ever. He prescribes a special formula that Wlater is supposed to eat which he asserts will diminish and in time eliminate altogether the disgusting flatulence.
But the problem does not go away and Father decides it is time he stepped in with his own formula. However, the farting only gets worse as Walter turns into something akin to a helium balloon.

The rest of the narrative is all about how Walter saves the day once again and his travels in the atmosphere.