Harold Schechter taught American literature for four decades and is Professor Emeritus at Queens College. His works have appeared in many publications, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times. He has written extensively on American pop culture in such books as The Bosom Serpent and Savage Pastimes, and his true-crime book The Mad Sculptor was nominated for an Edgar Award. In addition, Schechter has penned detective novels based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe and received an Edgar Award nomination for the Curiosity House series, published under the pseudonym H. C. Chester and co-written with his daughter, bestselling novelist Lauren Oliver. Schechter co-wrote with David Black the episode teleplay for Law & Order's "Castoff."