Gregory Maguire

Gregory Maguire is an American novelist born on June 9, 1954, in Albany, New York, best known for his fantasy novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995), which reimagines the backstory of the Wicked Witch from L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz and inspired a blockbuster musical and film.[1][3][4] He published his first novel, The Lightning Time, in 1978, and has written numerous books for adults and children, often inspired by classic fairy tales and children's stories, exploring themes like grief and ecology.[1][2][3] Maguire earned a Master's in Children's Literature from Simmons University and continues to blend fantasy with mature narratives.[2][5]