Kenneth Milton Grimwood (February 27, 1944 – June 6, 2003) was an American author, who also published work under the name of Alan Cochran.

He wrote some of his early novels while working as nightside editor at KFWB News 980 radio in the city.

[1]Grimwood's debut novel, Breakthrough (Ballantine, 1976), is a blend of science fiction, reincarnation and horror elements that concluded with an unpredictable twist ending.

Cured of epilepsy by a breakthrough in medical technology, 26-year-old Elizabeth Austin has miniature electrodes implanted in her brain.

Adjusting to a normal life, she is ready to patch up a troubled marriage and resume her abandoned career.

However, as part of the implant operation, Elizabeth gave her consent for the insertion of extra electrodes, featuring experimental functions unknown to science.

[citation needed] In writing this novel, Grimwood did extensive research into brain surgery and epilepsy.

The storyline follows two Los Angeles detectives investigating a trio of murders that they learn involve members of a swingers club.

Grimwood's novel Replay (Arbor House, 1986), explored the life of 43-year-old radio journalist Jeff Winston after his death.

The time-loop concept of Replay has been referred to as a precursor of Harold Ramis's comedy-drama film Groundhog Day (1993), starring Bill Murray.

[4] Critic Daniel D. Shade reviewed the novel in 2001:[5] Yet in spite of all the pain and anguish we go through as we follow Jeff through his search for an understanding of why he is replaying his life, the book has some important things to say to the reader.

Jeff inspires us to look outward toward others and think less of ourselves.In 1986 the agent Irene Webb (then at the William Morris Agency, which still represents Grimwood's work) sold the film rights to Replay to United Artists for a $100,000 option against a $400,000 purchase.

The publisher described the book: Set on land and beneath the oceans, Into the Deep reveals, once again, Ken Grimwood's exceptional talent for blending fantasy and reality.

Vastly different, their lives are about to intersect and to become irrevocably changed by a school of dolphins--as the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

With the drama that unfolds from a silent war waged at the sea's greatest depths and from a single, fateful discovery, Into the Deep takes a tantalizing glimpse at the optimistic future this planet might achieve if humans and the creatures of the deep could learn to share and defend its remarkable bounty.Other novels include The Voice Outside (1982), exploring mind control and telepathy-inducing drugs; and Elise (1979).

[citation needed] At age 59, Grimwood died of a heart attack at his home in Santa Barbara, California.