: ABOUT THE AUTHOR :
John Gargrave is a Canadian novelist, freelance writer, and editor with a Bachelor’s degree in English and Classical Studies from the University of Toronto. A lifelong writer with a passion for history, mythology, and speculative fiction, he has spent decades honing his craft through both professional writing and creative storytelling.
John’s passions in life surfaced early. The first birthday wish he can remember was for a tricycle and a pen. Traveling and writing were already hard-wired in his soul. A fantasy story written at the age of six was dismissed by his teacher because she thought he had copied it from a children’s book. It was, in fact, a John original.
At the age of seven, John and his family emigrated from England to Canada. Following a brief attempt at living in California, the Gargraves finally settled in Toronto where he completed his education. Even there, John’s penchant for roaming showed itself. Two years after enrolling in an English Language and Literature program, he jumped to a curriculum in Classics (Greek, Latin, classical history and philosophy) because it offered more of a challenge. Perhaps Homer’s Odyssey inspired his move.
After graduation, he took a year-long sabbatical through Europe to absorb the various cultures, languages and experiences, seeds for his continued writing. He then held a variety of managerial positions in manufacturing, importing and exporting. Finally, a lengthy stint of conducting coach and rail tours through Europe and Canada consolidated his literary direction.
His debut novel, Shadows From The Sun, grew from a fascination with the idea of discovering a present-day paradise untouched by humanity’s oldest failings—and the consequences that follow when that paradise encounters the modern world. Combining adventure, mystery, and philosophical exploration, the novel reflects his enduring interest in the intersection of human nature, faith, and moral choice.
Today, Gargrave devotes his time primarily to writing novels and short stories. He divides his year between Toronto, Ontario, and Knoxville, Tennessee, where he lives with his partner, a Southern woman whose aversion to Canadian winters has made the arrangement a practical necessity as well as a happy compromise.
