An Interesting Note to the movie "What Dreams May Come"

I wanted to know who wrote the book "What Dreams May Come".  Often it gives us insight to the experience of the writer.  This is what I found - the whole story is based on facts the author researched.

Below has been taken from Wikipedia:

What Dreams May Come is a 1978 novel by Richard Matheson. The plot centers on Chris, a man who dies and goes to Heaven, but eventually descends into Hell to rescue his wife. It was adapted in 1998 into an Academy Award-winning movie of the same title starring Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Annabella Sciorra.

Matheson stated in an interview, "I think What Dreams May Come is the most important (read effective) book I've written. It has caused a number of readers to lose their fear of death – the finest tribute any writer could receive."^[1]

In an introductory note, Matheson explains that the characters are the only fictional component of the novel. Almost everything else is based on research, and the end of the novel includes a lengthy bibliography.