Gary McAvoy

A native Californian transplanted to the Pacific Northwest, Gary McAvoy began writing early in life, first for a small-town newspaper and regional Southern California magazines, then in corporate communications for his own high-tech businesses and client projects, and on to published nonfiction books. Nurturing a lifelong passion of collecting handwritten history, in 1997 Gary founded VintageMemorabilia.com, an online gallery of authentic signed letters, documents, manuscripts, books, photographs, and other memorabilia of historical or cultural significance. Those who share this passion know that few things compare to holding history in one's hands—a letter penned by Abraham Lincoln, for example, or one by Truman Capote discussing work on his book "In Cold Blood"—much of which informs Gary's own writing projects. It was this last acquisition, in fact, that sparked the adventures leading up to Gary's book, "And Every Word Is True," a fresh look at the investigation of the infamous 1959 Clutter family murders in Kansas, heinous crimes chillingly portrayed in Capote's landmark nonfiction novel. Gary's debut series “The Magdalene Chronicles,” features gripping, intelligent thrillers set in the Vatican and wherever its influence reaches. Both that and his current ongoing series, "Vatican Secret Archive Thrillers," feature Father Michael Dominic, a Jesuit paleographer—a specialist in ancient writing systems and deciphering historical manuscripts. Gary has long been fascinated with the Vatican and its legendary Secret Archive, and his books are filled with historical facts and locations woven throughout engaging storylines with international intrigue. From 1999 to 2005 Gary worked closely with primatologist and animal ethicist Dr. Jane Goodall, serving as Seattle Base Camp Chair for the Jane Goodall Institute, managing Northwest fundraising efforts in support of the Institute’s global initiatives. In 2003 Gary convinced Jane she should speak to global food issues, and in 2005 they co-authored "Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating" (Warner Books) with Gail Hudson. Additional information can be found at Gary’s website, GaryMcAvoy.com.