Gary Goldstick grew up in Philadelphia and attended the University of Pennsylvania where he earned a BA and a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He subsequently attended UCLA, earned an MS in Computer Engineering, and worked in the field of computer design for several aerospace companies and a firm that he founded. After earning an MBA at Pepperdine University, Gary embarked on a thirty-five-year career as a certified management consultant, during which he advised and/or turned around, sold, or liquidated over 300 businesses. He is the author of the nonfiction books Business Rx: How to Get in the Black and Stay There, published by John Wiley & Sons, and Romancing the Business Loan: Getting your Banker to Say “Yes” in the 90s, published by Lexington Books. His first novel, Saving the Karamazov’s, was published in 2011. Gary lives in Little Rock Arkansas with Sadie, his 26 lb. labradoodle.
Gary draws on his 30-year career as a certified management consultant, during which he successfully turned around, restructured, revitalized and liquidated over 300 businesses. He is the author of two nonfiction books on the subject, the first published by John Wiley & Sons in 1988 and the second (represented by Jeff Herman), published by Lexington Books in 1994.
He presents himself as someone engaged in writing and storytelling — someone who embraces imagination and the power of narrative to craft compelling characters and worlds. In his conversation he discusses themes of illusion and identity, suggesting a deep interest in how outward appearances and inner realities can diverge. Goldstick speaks with confidence about his work, projecting both humility and ambition: he seems to view literature not only as entertainment, but as a means to probe psychological and moral questions. His tone in the interview reveals a reflective personality, aware of both the potential and responsibilities inherent in being a writer.
In “Just Call Me Gatsby,” Gary Goldstick delivers a riveting financial thriller that peels back the glittering surface of wealth to reveal a world built on illusion, manipulation, and moral ambiguity. The story centers on Christopher “Gatsby” Brooks—charismatic, influential, and seemingly untouchable. His empire appears solid, glamorous, and enviable, but beneath the façade lies a tangle of unregistered securities, questionable investments, and dangerously concealed truths. As the illusion of success begins to crack, so does Gatsby’s carefully constructed persona, proving that deception has consequences.
What sets this novel apart is its authentic blend of business realism and suspenseful storytelling. It is far more than a crime story—it’s a powerful commentary on society’s obsession with wealth, prestige, and appearances. Goldstick draws on his deep experience in corporate finance to craft a narrative that exposes the darker side of ambition, corporate corruption, and the moral compromises made in pursuit of success. For readers fascinated by high finance, legal drama, and psychological suspense, this book offers both edge-of-your-seat tension and thought-provoking insight.
At its core, the novel explores the fragile boundaries between ambition and greed, integrity and illusion. Goldstick skillfully portrays how human vulnerability shapes decisions in the high-stakes world of finance. The characters are richly developed, their motivations layered, and their dilemmas hauntingly real. The tension escalates when Shirley Frazier, a keen management consultant, begins to uncover inconsistencies in Gatsby’s empire—triggering a chain reaction that threatens to unravel everything he has built.
As the authorities close in and a mysterious death raises the stakes, Gatsby bets everything on a final, daring move: raising $100 million for an enigmatic venture, racing against time to save his empire—or lose it all. “Just Call Me Gatsby” is a suspenseful, incisive exploration of how charm, ambition, and self-deception can build an empire—but also destroy it. It’s a gripping tale that lingers long after the final page, reminding readers that in the world of finance, the greatest risks are often the ones we take with our own principles.
Watch Gary Goldstick talk about his book: