Mike McQuay
Mike McQuay, born Michael Dennis McQuay on June 3, 1949, in Baltimore, Maryland, was a versatile American writer known for his contributions to the science fiction and mystery genres. After moving to Oklahoma and graduating from McGuiness High School, he attended the University of Dallas. McQuay's career spanned various roles including musician, airplane mechanic, and banker, but he ultimately became a full-time writer in 1980. His notable works include the time travel novel "Memories," which was recognized as a runner-up for the Philip K. Dick Award, and the Matthew Swain series that blends mystery with science fiction.
Throughout his writing career, McQuay utilized several pseudonyms, producing works in established franchises such as Tom Swift, Nancy Drew, and the Hardy Boys. He also coauthored novels with acclaimed writers, including Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. McQuay's writing often features a tough, morally virtuous protagonist battling against corruption. He continued to write until his untimely death on May 27, 1995, leaving behind a legacy in genre fiction.
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Mike McQuay
Fiction Writer
- Born: June 3, 1949
- Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland
- Died: May 27, 1995
Biography
Michael Dennis McQuay, better known as Mike McQuay, was born on June 3, 1949, in Baltimore, Maryland, where he attended grammar school. His family moved to Oklahoma, and McQuay graduated from McGuiness High School in Oklahoma City. He attended the University of Dallas from 1967 through 1970. McQuay married his first wife, Mary, in 1968, but they divorced in 1981. He married his second wife, Sandy, in 1982, and the couple had one son and two daughters.
McQuay worked as a musician, airplane mechanic, banker, retail store owner, bartender, and salesman before becoming a full-time writer. He was artist-in-residence at Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma, from 1980 until his death in 1995. He began writing in 1975, when he was working on a factory assembly line.
His time travel novel Memories, published in 1987, was runner-up for the Philip K. Dick Award for 1987. Only science- fiction novels that are first published as mass market paperbacks are eligible for that award. His Matthew Swain series, dedicated to writer Raymond Chandler, combined the mystery and science- fiction genres, featuring a title character who was a futuristic hard-boiled private detective. Most of his novels feature a tough, street smart, virtuous male antagonist set against a corrupt establishment.
McQuay wrote many books under pseudonyms. As Jack Arnett, he wrote a four-novel series called Book of Justice; as Don Pendleton, he wrote four books in the Executioner series and three in the Superbolan series featuring action/adventure hero Mack Bolan. McQuay also adopted house pseudonyms to write books in several popular franchises, becoming Victor Appleton to write a Tom Swift book, Franklin W. Dixon to create a Hardy Boys novel, Laura Lee Hope for a Bobbsey Twins title, and Carolyn Keene for a Nancy Drew book. In addition, McQuay coauthored two novels: Suspicion, an installment in Isaac Asimov’s Robot City series, with Michael P. Kube-McDowell, and Richter 10 with Arthur C. Clarke. He finished the manuscript for Richter 10, a story about a futuristic seismologist, just before he died on May 27, 1995.