A former submariner and science writer, Gerard Gormley built one of Boston's best industrial advertising agencies, then sold it to his employees and began writing books. A novel, THE DOLL, was published in 1977. His first nature book, A DOLPHIN SUMMER (New York: Taplinger1985), was widely acclaimed for artistic merit, hailed as a marvelous new form of nature writing, and dubbed one of Library Journal's best for 1986. His next nature book, ORCAS OF THE GULF (San Francisco: Sierra Club Books 1990) was another of Library Journal's best picks. Gormley has also published three articles, a book review, and some short verse. His work has appeared in three anthologies. In 1992, Gormley was awarded a three-week fellowship by Yaddo; in 1991 a one-month fellowship by The Millay Colony for the Arts; and in 1990 the Fletcher Pratt Fellowship at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference. For some years he divided his time between writing, and selling collectible books over the Internet.
