joseph hillström king (born june 4, 1972), pen name joe hill, is an american writer. he wrote the novels "heart-shaped box" (2007), "horns" (2010), "nos4a2" (2013), and "the fireman" (2016). he also wrote the short story collections "20th century ghosts" (2005) and "strange weather" (2017); and the comic book series "locke &amp; key" (2008–2013).