Gary Collins was born and raised in Hare Bay, Bonavista North. A lifetime of wandering and working among the forests, rivers, and bays of Newfoundland and Labrador has brought depth to his writing, leaving an indelible mark on his readers.
He has seen seventeen of his books published, including the children’s illustrated book What Colour is the Ocean?, which he co-wrote with his granddaughter, Maggie Rose Parsons. That book won an Atlantic Book award: The Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Excellence in Illustration. His book Mattie Mitchell: Newfoundland’s Greatest Frontiersman has been adapted for film. Gary’s first novel, The Last Beothuk, won the inaugural NL Reads literary competition, administered by the CBC, and was long-listed for the International Dublin Literary Award.
Gary is known all over the province as the Storyman, bringing to life the rich histories of those who came before. He lives in Hare Bay still, content by the sea, with his wife, Rose. Together they have four children and seven grandchildren.