By his own admission, Garry is equal parts old soul, kid at heart, and professed grump. A lifelong reader and storyteller-in-the-making, he grew up surrounded by books like Mr. Bump, Ralph S. Mouse, Bialosky’s Special Picnic, Space Cat and anything by Roald Dahl. These days, he’s passing that same love of stories down to his son - with a side of comic books and monster trucks for good measure.

When he’s not writing or crunching numbers (more on that below), Garry can be found enjoying a baseball game, cheering on Seton Hall basketball (where he once sat on the bench as an undergrad assistant), or at home reaching for a good German beer. Oh — and he’s also a bona fide Kentucky Colonel. Really.

Inspired by a visit to Greece and the deep-rooted tradition of philoxenia — a culture of hospitality and generosity toward strangers and guests  — Garry created Taki Souvlaki: A Taste for Gratitude as a tribute to kindness, food, and the simple joy of sharing with others.

Garry was born in a small New Jersey town to loving, supportive parents who spent much of his childhood either reading to him or taking him on regular trips to local libraries. It was through these quiet adventures among the stacks that he came to know the delight of stories and the thrill of getting lost in a good book.

Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine becoming a children's author. But when his son was born and he and his wife began reading to him, the idea grew larger in his mind. The way his son took to books so naturally, he found myself imagining how meaningful it would be to make his boy smile or laugh at something he had written. He also began to notice that many children's books lacked clear messages - at least in the traditional sense - and he felt compelled to create stories that the whole family could both enjoy and learn from.

Beverly Cleary once said, "If you don't see the book you want out on the shelves, write it." Inspired by that idea, Garry set out to create stories that spoke to young readers while also offering a gentle reminder to the grown-ups reading along.

Garry is an accountant by trade — a profession known for long hours and looming deadlines (though not the kind you might expect… if you’re looking for tax tips, you’re out of luck). In recent years, though, Garry has found a creative escape from the world of spreadsheets in the form of Taki Souvlaki: A Taste for Gratitude — his first foray into children's storytelling.

But Garry’s most important job — by far — is being a husband and a dad. His wife and son are his everything: his inspiration, his grounding force, and the heart behind this book. It was for them, and because of them, that he set out to create a story that celebrates culture, connection, and the simple joy of gratitude.