Michael McGarrity, The Long Ago

Friday, July 21, 2023 - 6:00pm

Join us to celebrate the release of Michael McGarrity's new book, The Long Ago.

A soldier returns home from Vietnam in the early 1960s to search for his missing sister in this gripping story of broken lives and a search for happiness. In this riveting story, the broken lives of a brother and sister are tenuously held together by their childhood fantasy of The Long Ago, a faraway place where only happiness and tranquility reign. To escape his dysfunctional family, Raymond Lansdale joins the army and finds a career filled with purpose and adventure. But recent news of his sister Barbara’s disappearance brings Ray home determined to find her before he must return to duty. He embarks on a search that takes him from the majestic Montana ranchlands to the glittery mean streets of LA, and back to the jungles of Vietnam, where he’s forced to confront his worst fear. What if Barbara’s search for The Long Ago ended in a shallow, unmarked grave, not the exciting, carefree life she’d once imagined? The Long Ago is a richly crafted spinoff to a body of work that continues the Kevin Kerney family saga.

With the publication of Tularosa in 1996, Michael McGarrity turned to writing full time. Many of his novels have been national best sellers. He holds a BA with distinction in psychology and a master’s degree in clinical social work. His career in criminal justice spanned over twenty-five years and included creating treatment programs for drug offenders, supervising outreach services for at-risk juveniles, and re-establishing mental health services for the Department of Corrections after the infamous 1980 riot at the New Mexico Penitentiary. As a Santa Fe County deputy sheriff, he worked as a patrol officer, training and planning supervisor, community relations officer, and was the lead investigator of the sex crimes unit, which he established. Additionally, he taught courses at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy, served as a caseworker and investigator for the Public Defender’s District Office, and conducted investigations for a state government agency. In 1980 he was named New Mexico Social Worker of the Year and in 1987 was recognized by the American Legion as Police Officer of the Year. In 2004 he received the New Mexico Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts — Literature. He is also the 2015 recipient of the Frank Waters Exemplary Literary Achievement Award and the 2015 Santa Fe Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts – Literature. He has been instrumental in establishing the Hillerman-McGarrity Creative Writing Scholarship at the University of New Mexico, the Richard Bradford Memorial Creative Writing Scholarship at the Santa Fe Community College, and the N. Scott Momaday Creative Writing Scholarship at the Institute of American Indian Arts. Michael lives in Santa Fe.

 

Event address: 
Bookworks
4022 Rio Grande Blvd NW
Albuquerque, NM 87107
The Long Ago: A Novel By Michael McGarrity Cover Image
$28.95
ISBN: 9780393541656
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: W. W. Norton & Company - July 4th, 2023