Question: Who was the writer of a collection of short stories originally published in 1952 as The Apple Tree, which was made into a 1963 American horror-thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock ?
Context: White Fang Goes Dingo and Other Funny SF Stories is a collection of science fiction stories by American writer Thomas M. Disch.  It was first published by Compact Books in 1971.  Many of the stories originally appeared in the magazines "Fantastic", "Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine", "Amazing Stories", "New Worlds", "Galaxy Science Fiction", "Mademoiselle" and "If". Alfred Hitchcock's Anthology – Volume 2 is the second installment in the "Alfred Hitchcock's Anthology" series.  Originally published in hardcover as "Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Take Your Breath Away" in 1977, this issue contains 29 stories from "Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine" that, by the editors, were believed to be the best published the preceding year (1977). The Door Below is a collection of fantasy and horror and mystery short stories by author Hugh B. Cave.  It was released in 1997 by Fedogan & Bremer in an edition of 1,100 copies, of which 100 were signed by the author.  Many of the stories originally appeared in the magazines "Horror Stories", "Spicy Mystery Stories", "Detective Fiction Weekly", "Terror Tales", "Fantasy Tales", "Whispers", "Crypt of Cthulhu", "Shudder Stories", "Borderland", "Phantasm" and "Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine". Alfred Hitchcock's Anthology – Volume 5 is the fifth installment of "Alfred Hitchcock's Anthology", one of the many Alfred Hitchcock story collection books; edited by Eleanor Sullivan.  Originally published in hardcover as "Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Send Chills Down Your Spine" in 1979, the book contains 29 short stories by many well-known crime fiction novelists. The Birds and Other Stories is a collection of short stories by Daphne du Maurier, originally published in 1952 as The Apple Tree by Gollancz in the United Kingdom.  It includes "The Birds," which was made into a film of the same name by Alfred Hitchcock in 1963.  The anthology was published in the United States as Kiss Me Again, Stranger by Doubleday and then has been republished under the current name, "The Birds and Other Stories". The Birds is a 1963 American horror-thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, loosely based on the 1952 story of the same name by Daphne du Maurier.  It focuses on a series of sudden, unexplained violent bird attacks on the people of Bodega Bay, California over the course of a few days. The Borders Just Beyond is a collection of fantasy and horror short stories by Joseph Payne Brennan.  It was first published in 1986 by Donald M. Grant, Publisher, Inc. in an edition of 750 copies, all of which were signed by the author.  Many of the stories originally appeared in the magazines "Whispers", "Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine", "Macabre", "Pinnacle", "Arkham Sampler" and "Fantasy Macabre". Alfred Hitchcock's Anthology – Volume 1 is the first installment of "Alfred Hitchcock's Anthology", one of the many Alfred Hitchcock story collection books; edited by Eleanor Sullivan.  Originally published in hardcover in 1976 as "Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Keep You Spellbound", the book is a collection of 30 stories originally published in "Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine". The Chronicles of Lucius Leffing is a collection of supernatural, detective short stories by Joseph Payne Brennan.  It was first published in 1977 by Donald M. Grant, Publisher, Inc. in an edition of 1,540 copies.  The stories feature Brennan's supernatural detective, Lucius Leffing.  Many of the stories originally appeared in "Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine". Alfred Hitchcock's Anthology – Volume 4 is the fourth installment of "Alfred Hitchcock's Anthology", one of the many Alfred Hitchcock story collection books; edited by Eleanor Sullivan.  Originally published in hardcover as "Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Scare You Stiff" in 1978, the book includes 26 short stories and a short novel called "The Graveyard Shift" by William P. McGivern.  Also, within the 26 short stories is "The Green Heart" by Jack Ritchie which was made into the 1971 film "A New Leaf".
Answer: Daphne du Maurier