About Austin Gary Books
Austin Gary (born Gary Austin Heyde, March 7, 1947, St. Joseph, Missouri, United States) is an American novelist, songwriter and playwright. "The Queerling" was an Indie Fab Finalist for ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year. His novel, "Miss Madeira" published in August 2011, was a finalist in the 2009 Faulkner-Wisdom Literary Competition and a finalist (short list) in ForeWords First Debut Fiction competition. In 2008 his unpublished novel "Ask Me No Secrets" was a finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Competition. "Genius," Gary's novel in progress, was a Finalist (Short List) in the 2010 Faulkner-Wisdom Literary Competition. His historical novel, "Genius," was also a finalist in the 2013 Pacific Northwest Writers Assoc. Literary Competition. His novels, "Miss Madeira" and "Genius" have both been adapted into plays. Gary is a BMI award-winning songwriter for "The Car" by Jeff Carson as Gary Heyde) and recordings by other country performers like Tammy Wynette and John Berry, and as Associate Producer of albums by Carson, Berry and Hank Williams, Jr.'s Hog Wild album. A storyteller, he has appeared on Seattle Public radio station KUOW with personal stories about Thornton Wilder and the Martin Luther King assassination and A Guide To Visitors --The Best Of Stories On Stage. He is also a teacher, intuitive numerologist and a former advertising creative director, radio/television jingle composer, and newspaper editor. He is the father of award-winning stage director Rachel Rockwell -- named 2012 Chicagoan of the Year in Theatre and Jeremy Spencer, drummer for heavy metal band, Five Finger Death Punch -- named 2012 Golden God's "Best Drummer" by Revolver Magazine. Gary now lives in Calgary, Alberta.
