An "acclaimed mystery writer" and the author of Bad Twin. Delivered his manuscript to Hyperion Publishing some days before boarding Oceanic Flight 815, but Hurley found a copy of the manuscript in The Long Con. It is also of interest to some that the name Gary Troup is in fact an anagram of purgatory. Troup is also listed as the author of the now "out-of-print" book The Valenzetti Equation.
In Gary Troup's biography a note from the editors at his publishing house mentions a possible romantic relationship between Gary and the flight hostess Cindy Chandler on Oceanic Flight 815, also mentioning that she plays a role in the book Bad Twin:
Gary Troup was a confirmed bachelor. Long on charm but short on commitment, he’d kept his affections in check—until he met Cindy Chandler, a flight attendant on Oceanic Airlines. All indications are that he was completely smitten with her: It is to Cindy that he dedicated this book; with characteristic slyness, he even gave her a cameo role to play…
Published Works
- Bad Twin
- The Valenzetti Equation (out of print)
Book Talk Interview
On 16 Sept 2004, Gary Troup was interviewed by Laird Granger about Bad Twin on Book Talk show #1523. Three of nine parts of the interview have appeared on various booksites.
Part 1
Part 1 was found on the Barnes and Nobel page for Bad Twin. Next to the Bad Twin picture, there is a link that states: "See an exclusive video clip". [1]
Laird Granger: Hello, I'm Laird Granger and welcome to Book Talk. Today we're talking to Gary Troup,
novelist and non-fiction author whose works include The Valenzetti Equation and his
newest mystery novel Bad Twin. Welcome Gary, nice to have you here.
Gary Troup: Thanks, glad to be here Laird.
Laird Granger: Bad Twin - what inspired the novel?
Gary Troup: I was game fishing off the Florida Keys and I got to talking to the boat captain. He started
telling me about this other business that he had which was ferrying people and things in and
out of Cuba. Illegally of course.
Laird Granger: Interesting.
Gary Troup: Oh yeah, I thought he'd make a great character and that was the spark that got the book going.
Laird Granger: But the book's not really about him...
Gary Troup: No, no, the boat captain is j...
*CLIP ENDS*
Part 2
Part 2 was discovered in a link in a Borders Reward e-mail. [2]
Gary Troup: The boat captain is just a point of departure. Here's this guy. One day he's taking families
fishing and the next day he's making smuggling runs, and it was that duality that intrigued
me - how we all have good and bad inside of us.
Laird Granger: And is that what the title 'Bad Twin' refers to?
Gary Troup: Er, yeah. The book is a story about a private investigator named Paul Artisan who's
hired by this rich man to track down his missing twin, the supposed "bad twin" from the title.
Laird Granger: But without giving anything away here, who is bad and who is good - that's all part of the mystery isn't it?
Gary Troup: (nods) Yes, yes, very much so.
Laird Granger: Your book men...
*CLIP ENDS*
Part 3
Part 3 was found on the Amazon Bad Twin page.[3] The clip was accompanied by the following statement:
"Amazon.com Exclusive: Author Gary Troup delivered the manuscript for his hotly anticipated thriller, Bad Twin, just days before he boarded doomed Oceanic Flight 815. Watch the recently uncovered video clip of Gary Troup on Book Talk interviewed by Laird Granger talking about the controversy surrounding his mysteriously out-of-print first book, The Valenzetti Equation, and his new novel, Bad Twin."
In this part of the interview Alvar Hanso, The Hanso Foundation and The Valenzetti Equation are raised:
Laird Granger: Your book mentions a lot of real life people, places and institutions. Gary Troup: Yeah, I try to incorporate real-life stuff into my fiction, um, just gives it a lot more... veracity. Laird Granger: Like Alvar Hanso, and the Hanso Foundation? Gary Troup: (looks uncomfortable)... right... Laird Granger: Did including them have anything to do with your non-fiction writing? Gary Troup: Absolutely. I wrote a non-fiction book called The Valenzetti Equation Laird Granger: (interrupting) about the reclusive Princeton University mathematician Enzo Valenzetti and his famous theorem... Gary Troup: Yes Laird Granger: At least that's what they say it's about. (shaking head) I have to confess I can't find a copy. Gary Troup: (nods) Yeah, I know. I mean, first of all it was a small printing, and allegedly, now... *CLIP ENDS*
Opening title of Book Talk show #1523, clip 3 of 9.
Letters
Audio Extract Books
Two letters appear in audio form through Troup's website [4]. They differ slightly from those on the Borders website.
Walkabout Publishing Christine DeVries, Senior Editor August 16, 2004 Mr. Gary Troup 481 West 68th Street NY NY 10023 USA Dear Mr. Troup, I wanted to drop you a line to tell you how delighted I am with the draft of BAD TWIN. I think it's the cleverest, and the same time spookiest, thing you've done. Good move setting some scenes in Sydney and at the reef not to mention including such an appealing, if not neccessarily trustworthy aussie woman as a love interest. Your growing audience in our hemisphere will no doubt apreciate the local references. I am happy to tell you that we are planning a major promotional push for your book, and I am wondering if we could lure you to Sydney sometime soon, to meet with our marketing people and to work out some details of your publicity tour. We would insist, of course, on arranging your accommodations and covering your expenses, as well as trying our very best to show you a damn good time while you are with us! Please let me know if you are willing to make the journey. Warm regards, Christine
Gary Troup Ms. Christine DeVries Walkabout Publishing 4200 Queen Street Sydney, New South Wales 2316, Australia August 23, 2004 Dear Christine– Thanks so much for your kind note. Like every other sort of salesman, I rub my hands with glee at the thought of expanding my territory—and Australia is a big territory. Regarding my willingness to come to Sydney, you should know that I never miss a chance to visit your beautiful city—and if the trip is on the publisher's dime, so much the better. I trust that entertaining me will not be too difficult for you and your colleagues; just have a few bottles of your excellent shiraz on hand at all times. Which reminds me, please don't call me Mr. Troup anymore, I write private eye books, not litterary novels and i'm not to be taken too seriously. Let me know when it would be convinient to have me visit, early september would work for me. Cheers, Gary
Borders Letters
Two letters appeared on the Borders Store website. [5]
Christine DeVries, Senior Editor August 17, 2004 Mr. Gary Troup 481 West 68th Street NY NY 10023 USA Dear Mr. Troup, I wanted to drop a line to tell you how delighted I am that Walkabout will be publishing BAD TWIN here in Australia, and how pleased I am to have the privilege of being your editor. I have long been a fan of your work, and have lobbied for several years now to have your books introduced Down Under, where I believe they will attract a wide audience as well as the critical acclaim you've deservedly enjoyed in the States. BAD TWIN, with it's wonderfully evocative scenes in Sydney and at the Reef (not to mention its intriguing if not entirely flattering portrayal of Australian womanhood!) is the perfect vehicle for launching you here in the Antipodes. I am happy to tell you that we are planning a major promotional push for your book, and I am wondering if we could lure you to Sydney sometime soon, to meet with our marketing people and to work out some details of your publicity tour. We would insist, of course, on arranging your accommodations and covering your expenses, as well as trying our very best to show you a damn good time while you are with us! Please let me know if you are willing to make the journey. Warm regards, Christine
Gary Troup Ms. Christine DeVries Walkabout Publishing 4200 Queen Street Sydney, Australia August 26, 2004 Dear Christine– Thanks so much for your kind note. Like every other sort of salesman, I rub my hands with glee at the thought of opening up fresh territory—and Australia is a big territory. I very much look forward to working with you. Regarding my willingness to come to Sydney, you should know that I never miss a chance to visit your beautiful city—and if the trip is on the publisher's dime, so much the better. I trust that entertaining me will not be too difficult for you and your colleagues; just have a few bottles of your excellent shiraz on hand at all times. Now, as to my portrayal of Australian womanhood… You may as well know that the love-interest in BAD TWIN is not an entirely fictional creation. While doing my research last year, I met a countrywoman of yours who is every bit as fetching (and let us hope more trustworthy) than the character Pru in the novel. Not to flirt, but what is it about this strange attraction between Australian women and American men? Which reminds me, please don't call me Mr. Troup anymore. I write private eye books, not literary novels, and I am not to be taken too seriously. Let me know when it would be convenient to have me visit. I am taking a break between books and could travel almost anytime. Cheers, Gary
Theories
- Some theorize that the actual Gary Troup is Stephen King, because in a press release ABC said they hired a well-known mystery writer to ghost as Troup. Stephen King is a well-known mystery writer who has been mentioned on the show and is a huge fan of the series.
- Gary Troup is the Turbine Man
- "Gary Troup" is an anagram for "purgatory"