This was originally published by the Concord Bridge. You can read the story here.

Gregory Maguire spends most days at home. His life is quiet, except for the many clocks that tick, toll, and chime throughout the house.

Within these walls, his imagination spawned an empire.

The author of “Wicked” has become one of the most famous writers in town after retelling “The Wizard of Oz” from the Witch of the West’s perspective three decades ago. The 2003 musical based on his story is the fourth-longest-running show on Broadway. Part one of the film version of ”Wicked” raked in $634 million at the box office and won two Oscars this year; part two arrives in November. He’s published more than 40 books, including his fifth “Oz” retelling, a prequel called “Elphie,” that came out last month — and now he’s working on a play.

Yet in town, Maguire is just another face. He grabs coffee at Main Streets Market & Cafe, signs books at the Concord Bookshop, and works out of one of his makeshift offices in town.

He’s lived here since 1994 but felt he’s always known Concord through reading children’s mystery books by Jane Langton in his youth. Langton lived in Lincoln, but her fantastical stories mostly take place here.

“I wrote her a fan letter when I was in college,” said Maguire, who is 70. “And she said, ‘Well, if you’re ever in the area, come have lunch.’ And I wrote back and said, ‘I’ll be there in two weeks.’”

The books introduced him to Concord writers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, who appear in Langton’s stories — which inspired him to reflect on the mysteries of the world.

“That’s one of the great things that literature does and one of the reasons why I wanted to do it, too,” Maguire said.

His literary journey

Maguire grew up in an Irish-Catholic family in Albany, New York. His literary career started with the release of “The Lighting Time” in 1978, the year he earned a master’s in children’s literature from Simmons College.

He lived in Cambridge near Harvard Square, where he continued authoring children’s books while working as a professor at Simmons. After teaching for eight years and completing his doctorate at Tufts University, he moved to London. He threw himself into writing fiction and returned to the United States for 10 weeks every year as a visiting author and gave talks to children. 

“‘Wicked’ had not broken yet, as it were, and I was living in a state of what the British call ‘financial embarrassment,’ which means I didn’t have any money,” he said. 

During those trips, he stayed with Betty Levin, a former professor who became a colleague and friend, at her farm in Lincoln. He dedicated “Wicked” to her when it was published in 1995. With two friends living in Concord, he wanted to be near them.

“I grew to love being on this side of Route 128, and rather than in Jamaica Plain or in Cambridge,” he said. 

He moved back to Concord and edited “Wicked.” Since then, he’s continued to write novels in town.

With his success, he’s used his platform to amplify the arts in Concord.

He served on the board of the Umbrella Arts Center until 2020 and has stayed involved after stepping down. 

“He said, ‘I may be going off the board, but that doesn’t mean I’m not here for you. I’m here for conversations, for questions, to help in any way I can,’” said Eileen Williston, the center’s executive director. 

He spoke last fall at the premiere of “Wicked” at O’Neil Cinemas in Littleton. Ellen McHale, who chairs the Umbrella board, recalls crowds lining up at the small theater. People who couldn’t get into the movie came with books in hand, hoping for Maguire’s autograph.

‘No diva’

Maguire shares a studio in the center with his husband, painter Andy Newman. He comes often for theater performances, concerts, artist open studios, and more.

“He’s doing everything to lift up this town that he lives in,” McHale said.

At the Concord Bookshop, several racks hold dozens of signed copies of Maguire’s books. He stops by and signs copies regularly. 

“There’s no diva, there’s no there’s no nervousness when he comes in,” owner Dawn Rennert said. “He’s just a good human that you like to spend time with.”

A collector’s edition of “Wicked” caused a “huge spike” in sales at the bookstore when it was released in September. The store sold hundreds of copies, Rennert said.

Maguire, who carries on Concord’s rich literary history, said he wishes some of the writers who inspired him could respond to emails.

“In terms of getting advice,” Maguire laughed, “it’s inconvenient because most of them are dead, so they tend not to answer their emails.”

Local luminaries

He said he learned how to reflect on the world from past Concord authors, but the town’s literary community — which includes Doris Kearns Goodwin, Concord Bridge board member Alan Lightman, and Stona Fitch — is “alive and breathing.”

Maguire hasn’t featured Concord in any stories yet but said he is open to the challenge. He also revealed he’s working on two projects: a memoir and a play.

“I just thought, well, let’s try something different,” Maguire said. “There are things I want to talk about. …  I can’t think of a successful way to write it as a novel, so let me try something else.”

The play will be called “Abide the World.” He wouldn’t offer details about the work, but the name, inspired by the last two lines in an Emily Dickinson poem, has stuck in Maguire’s mind for a long time.  

He’s proud to claim he’s known as Concord’s cheery “doofus” with three nice kids, now adults. His years of raising children are over, and most days are now spent writing in the home he calls his sanctuary.

Out in the community, he feels at ease. 

“Everybody in Concord is pleasant and effective and has things they want to achieve,” Maguire said. “They go at it with energy and sometimes even abandon, and I just fit in with Concord’s sense of itself.”

This story is part of a partnership between The Concord Bridge and the Boston University Department of Journalism.