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“Until his untimely death at the age of fifty, Gary Provost was one of the most beloved writing instructors... and arguably the leading teacher of writing in the United States.” --Writer’s Digest.
SOMETHING ABOUT GARY . . .
On November 14, 1944 Gary Richard Provost was born, the youngest of nine children and, remarkably, the seventh son of a father who had also been born a seventh son.
Although his Boston childhood was spent in poverty, Gary's humorous perspective of that life would later show up in nearly all of his work. (A delightful and insightful example: his first YA novel--The Pork Chop War published by Bradbury Press.)
After high-school, Gary decided to live out a childhood fantasy. He hit the road, got out of town, took a hike, literally. With his Boston buddy, Cliffy, he hitch-hiked around the country, taking on a succession of thirty-five jobs that, as he'd later say, “didn’t pay much but gave me a lot to write about and would some day look glamorous on the back of a dust jacket.”
After about ten years of this Route 66 lifestyle, "just as I was plodding toward that critical thirtieth birthday without a credit to my credit," he made another life-defining decision. What the heck, he figured. He'd publish his work himself, sell it on the steps of the Boston Public Library, make a few bucks. And that's exactly what he did.
This irreverant book of offbeat humor, The Dorchester Gas Tank, proved to be “not an end, but a beginning," winning him a small cult-level popularity, plus ("at no extra charge!")the interest of editors over at Writer’s Digest magazine, the world's leading magazine for writers.
Gary was off and running, contributing countless memorable, entertaining, instructional articles for WD readers. During the 80s and early 90s, he was a Golden Boy, serving also as a contributing editor, correspondent, and regular columnist for Writer's Digest magazine.
Because of his voice, productivity, extraordinary versatility and renowned instruction, Gary was eventually dubbed “The Dustin Hoffman of the Typewriter” and, not surprisingly, “The Writer’s Writer.” He not only wrote thousands of articles, but was also published in nearly every genre, from wholesome children's novels to gritty true-crime dramas.
All four children's novels were award-winning, including the three co-authored with his wife, Gail. Good If It Goes won the couple a National Jewish Book Award for Children's Literature in 1985. (It is interesting to note that their third collaboration, originally published in 1987, was recently updated and reissued for a new generation of middle-school readers: David and Max still offers teachers a unique tool for introducing young readers to the Holocaust.)
Gary wrote six best-selling true crime books. All were optioned for film, and the first, Fatal Dosage, was produced into the CBS TV film, Fatal Judgment, starring Patty Duke.
Name it, Gary wrote it. Romance, humor, mystery, celebrity biography, business, even sports how-to.
As he so aptly put it he was a specialist, and his specialty was writing.
Columnist, humorist, biographer, Gary became famous for his warmth, wit and wisdom and in his 40s became an in-demand editor, book doctor, ghostwriter, lecturer, writing coach, consultant to corporations, collaborator, and wildly popular speaker at writing conferences nationwide.
What would become his final work of nonfiction, Bogart: In Search of My Father, was ready for publication at the time of Gary's sudden death. (Ironically, helping Stephen Bogart reconnect with memories of actor Humphrey Bogart had been a project near and dear to Gary's heart.)
Also, at the time of Gary's tragic passing, he'd just returned from an extended four-month trip that included work interviewing Kelsey Grammer for his biography to be published by Dutton (So Far). Gary had also begun the second in a humorous mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime. (The series was inspired by Gary's personal experience and exposure as a finalist in the Chicago Sun Times' "national search to replace Ann Landers.") Baffled In Boston, was published a few months after Gary's death.
When Gary suffered a massive heart attack on May 10, 1995, other projects were underway as well, including a seventh book for writers. (In 1998, How To Tell A Story: The Secrets Of Writing Captivating Tales was completed by agent/author Peter Rubie and published by Writer's Digest Books.)
Other acclaimed books for writers by Gary were NAL’s The Freelance Writer’s Handbook and the still-popular handy reference book, 100 Ways To Improve Your Writing. Among WD top-sellers were Gary's famous , Beyond Style and How To Write and Sell True Crime.
WD's Make Your Words Work, a “crystallization” of Gary’s wisdom,” continues to rub away the magic to reveal the practical truth.
During his last ten years, while writing and speaking, Gary and Gail launched into seminars, workshops, manuscript evaluations, and home-study courses. They traveled around the country with week-end WRITE IT/SELL IT seminars, helping thousands of fiction and nonfiction writers--pre-published or otherwise--to improve their skills and understanding of both the writing process and publishing markets.
Gary's breakthrough video and audio courses for writers enabled Gary to mentor even more writing students. (Fortunately for today's writers, WRITING TO WIN and the VIDEO NOVEL WORKSHOP are still available for home-study use in video, audio, CD and now DVD formats.)
Perhaps the greatest legacy of this seventh son of a seventh son is the WRITERS RETREAT WORKSHOP(WRW), founded with Gail as a labor of love back in 1987. The internationally acclaimed 10-day program for serious writers of fiction and narrative non-fiction has continued to evolve, blossom and thrive under Gail's ongoing care and the masterful guidance of WRW Director, Jason Sitzes.
And so it is that for writers worldwide, Gary's indomitable spirit endures. If you read this far, it endures for you. |
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1. Non-Fiction
Make Your Words Work
Proven techniques for effective writing.
“A crystallization of Gary Provost’s writing wisdom... philosophy made practical.” --Writer’s Digest Books
2. Crime Fiction
Baffled In Boston
Baffled In Boston debuts the most likable--and unlikely--sleuth to come along in years.
Children's Fiction
David and Max
This delightful classic about the remarkable relationship between a boy and his grandfather is available in a new edition, updated for the next generation of young readers. (10 years old and up)
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