I am a graduate of the University of Illinois and earned my masters degree from that same university in Champaign-Urbana. After a three-year stint as a high school biology and English teacher as well as tennis coach, I became Editor of the Edina Sun Newspaper, and then Managing Editor/Features at The Physician and Sportsmedicine, a McGraw-Hill medical journal. Journalism In my freelancing career, I have written more than 600 articles, mostly on health, fitness, finances, and parenting. My work has appeared in publications such as: American Health Better Homes and Gardens Bicycle Guide Bicycling Catholic Digest Climbing Consumers Digest Esquire Experience Life Family Money Mature Outlook Mayo Clinic Health Letter Men’s Journal Special Report      Midwest Living Minnesota Monthly Mpls.St. Paul New Choices The Physician and Sportsmedicine Postgraduate Medicine Reader’s Digest Books Runner's World Sport Star Tribune Tennis Today’s Health & Wellness Writer's Digest For 14 years I worked closely with the editors at Better Homes and Gardens, writing the "Fitness Matters" department as well as features on health and parenting. I still enjoy writing BHG articles. I am recipient of the Minnesota Page One Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for a feature I wrote about my daughter's adoption. I am also Twin Cities Chapter Co-Chair of the National Writer's Union and Chair of the 2003 writer’s conference "Cashing In: Writing Your Way to Financial Success." Books I have written five books. (Actually six; my first book, on infertility, was a casualty of a corporate takeover in the publishing industry.) These books are: The Last Word on Lefse: Heartwarming Stories—and Recipes Too! (1992, Adventure Publications). It is a holiday heritage-and-humor book that profiles small-town lefse makers. The Last Word on Lutefisk: True Tales of Cod and Tradition (1996, Conrad Henry Press). The book, which covers the history, humor, and tradition of this uniquely festive food, was a finalist in the 1996 non-fiction category of the Minnesota Book Awards. In 1997, it earned the Merit Award for Excellence in "Book Publishing in the Humorous Category" and "First Book as a Publisher Category." This award is from the Minnesota Independent Publishers Association. The Last Toast to Lutefisk! 102 Toasts, Tidbits, and Trifles for Your Next Lutefisk Dinner (1999, Conrad Henry Press). Conversation starters for your next lutefisk dinner. "May your lutefisk be flakier than your friends." My most recent books are the following collaborations: Mall Walking Madness: Everything You Need to Know to Lose Weight and Have Fun at the Same Time, by Sara Donovan with Gary Legwold (2002, Rodale). No-Load Divorce: How to Save Money, Time, and Self-Respect As You End Your Marriage, ghostwritten for authors Bill Kumm and Steve Case (2003, Financial Independence, Inc.) I have also edited one book: Start Where You Are: Retirement Planning in a Changing World, by Ruth L. Hayden (2003, Kirk House Publishers). Business Writing I have done business writing for: Reell Precision Manufacturing (corporate newsletter). Click here to see samples. Medtronic (conference brochures, Website articles). Click here to see samples. 3M (product releases and features for trade publications) Best Buy (Web ad copy) Honeywell (speechwriting) ReliaStar-ING. My brochures include: "Women and Personal Finance," "Single Parents and Money Management," "The Essentials of Estate Planning," "Maximizing Your Income in Retirement," "Choosing the Right IRA," and "Teaching Your Kids the ABCs of Money." Click here to see samples. GMAC RFC (client satisfaction surveys) Extended Exposure (product press release) incaninc (Web health articles on infection control) Healthscout (Web health articles) Park Nicollet Diabetes Foundation (health reports) Meredith Corporation (better health brochure) NordicTrack (health articles) Mona Meyer McGrath (health articles) Bipolar Foundation (Web health articles) Praxis Press (Web medical papers) Priority Publications (health newsletter critique) Gary Legwold glegwold@lutefisk.com (612) 926-1877 "Ideas Need Words" Home Page © Copyright 2004 Gary Legwold and Conrad Henry Press. All rights reserved.