'It's that inner image of yourself'

“Integrity is not a conditionalword. It doesn't blow in the wind or change with the weather. It is your innerimage of yourself, and if you look in there and see a man who won't cheat, thenyou know he never will.” – John D. MacDonald

 

Born in Sharon, PA on this date in1916, crime/suspense novelist and short story writer MacDonald achieved thehighest accolade in his genre, being named a Grandmaster by the Mystery Writersof America shortly before his death in 1986.   A self-proclaimed“accidental writer” (he was considering a military career and had achieved therank of Lieutenant Colonel during WWII), he also was the winner of a NationalBook Award with critically acclaimed Travis McGee series. 

 

MacDonald's first novel appeared in1950, but it was his 1957 title The Executioners that put himon the map.  An almost continuous best-seller since, the book also holdsthe distinction of being the focus of two feature films, both box officesuccesses.    

His character Travis McGee made his first appearance in 1964 in TheDeep Blue Good-bye, starting a run of 21 bestsellers featuringhim.   Each title in the series includes a color, the lastbeing The Lonely Silver Rain.    All told, MacDonaldwrote dozens of short stories and more than 60 novels with 15 adaptedinto movies or television series.

 

“Every day,” the always humbleMacDonald said, “no matter how you fight it, you learn a little more aboutyourself.  And all most of it does isteach humility.”