Items Tagged with 'gregory maguire'

In the 19th century, Concord was home to a literary revolution spawned by writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Louisa May Alcott, and others. That legacy still thrives today, as local authors continue to inform, inspire, and stir the imagination. And during the holidays, there’s no better gift than a book — something thoughtful, lasting, and deeply personal. 

On a spring evening in early April, Concord’s creative community gathered under a starscape of giant whimsical poppies decorating the ceiling of The Umbrella Arts Center for an event that celebrated the arts and honored the acclaimed author of Wicked and a long-time Concord resident, Gregory Maguire. There was much to celebrate as Maguire is actively supporting the rollout of a film adaptation of Wicked, as well as touring for his fifth book in the Wicked series, Elphie.

Concord, MA, has been known since the 19th century for its celebrated writers. Names like Thoreau, Alcott, Hawthorne, and Emerson have been joined by Kearns Goodwin, Maguire, Lightman, and others. This spring, several of Concord’s modern-day authors have new books that you won’t want to miss. Head to Barrow Bookstore, the Concord Book Shop, or the Concord Free Public Library and get to know our hometown authors. You may even find a signed copy to add to your library!

The debut of a new book by Concordian Gregory Maguire is always cause for celebration in our town. His best-selling books, including Wicked, A Wild Winter Swan, Hiddensee, and others are loved by readers around the world. 

This October, Gregory will launch a new spin-off sequel series, Another Day. Expanding on the characters we’ve come to love from his initial series, The Wicked Years (which included Wicked), the first in this series is The Brides of Maracoor, featuring Elphaba’s granddaughter and a few familiar faces from Oz—all in a fantastically new setting filled with a new and compelling cast of characters.

Concord, Massachusetts can claim many famous sons and daughters, including writers, philosophers, revolutionaries, and educators. Among that august group stands Gregory Maguire – author, educator, philanthropist, and champion for literacy and literature education.

He is best known as the author of more than 40 children’s books, short stories, novels for adults, and non-fiction works. From the international best-seller and Broadway hit Wicked, to Egg and Spoon, Gregory’s works have captured the imagination of readers around the world.

There’s something magical about Concord, Massachusetts. A persistent and insistent energy over the course of centuries has attracted artists, innovators, writers, revolutionaries, philosophers, abolitionists, social justice warriors, scholars, and a whole host of leaders and creative disrupters. They live among us today, and I had the great honor to sit down with two artists - Gregory Maguire and Andy Newman – in their Concord home to learn about their creative journey, and also about the very special place they created to raise their three adopted children.