Gary Jennings (September 20, 1928 - February 13, 1999) was a U.S. author noted for several historical fiction novels: Aztec, a story of the Aztec empire just before and during the arrival of the Spanish; Aztec Autumn, a story of the Aztecs following the Spanish conquest; and The Journeyer, an account of the travels of Marco Polo to the Far East. His novels were known for their historical detail and occasionally graphic content.
A third Aztec novel, Aztec Blood, was released after his death. This novel was based on his ideas, approved by his estate and by his editor, but at this point the true author has been kept secret, and the novel credited to Jennings.
Jennings' novels are well-researched: he lived for 12 years in Mexico to research the Aztec novels, travelled the Balkans while researching Raptor, and joined nine circus troupes during the writing of Spangle. He also produced a number of novels for younger readers, such as A Rope in the Jungle and Black Magic, White Magic.
Born September 20, 1928 in Buena Vista, Virginia, to Glen Edward and Vaughnye May, Gary Jennings attended little formal school after graduating from Eastside High School (of "Lean on Me" fame) in Paterson, New Jersey, and was mostly self-educated thereafter. Jennings died on Friday the 13th of February 1999 in Pompton Lakes, NJ.
Quotation I'm a writer. I write not only for a living, I write because I'm a writer. Gary Jennings - 1993
