Dennis Lester McKiernan (born April 4, 1932) is an American writer best known for his high fantasy The Iron Tower.
His primary setting, Mithgar, was originally meant to host Middle-Earth stories that were sequels to Tolkien's work.
[1] McKiernan was born in Moberly, Missouri, where he lived until he served the U.S. Air Force for four years, stationed within US territory during the Korean War.
In 1977, while riding his motorcycle, McKiernan was hit by a car that had crossed the center-line, and he was confined to a bed, first in traction and then in a hip spica cast, for many months.
Doubleday then asked McKiernan to rewrite his story, placing the characters in a different fictitious world, and also to write a prequel supporting it.