Gary Tillery

After service in Vietnam in 1968-69, and two decades in the business world as co-owner of an advertising agency, Gary Tillery turned his time and energy to writing. Based on his Vietnam experiences, he published a collection of interrelated short stories titled Darkling Plain (one story took First Prize in a contest judged by Ray Bradbury), and he is the author of a series of humorous novels featuring a soft-boiled detective known as "Monterey Jack." Quest Books published his spiritual biographies of John Lennon, George Harrison, and Elvis Presley. The first was named Official Book of the 2010 John Lennon Tribute in New York City, and translated into German, French, and Portuguese. The latter was a featured book of the Patheos Book Club. He is also the author of three books of poetry, most notably The Ghosts of Wrigley Field. Tillery is also a professional sculptor. His most prominent work is the sculpture for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Chicago, his piece "They Also Serve" is in the permanent collection of the National Veteran's Art Museum, and he created the bronze bust of Steve Allen for the Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood. He is associated with the Rotblatt Amrany Studio, for which he has executed a number of public sculptures on view across the country.