“I’m unschooled, with no formal training, no academic credentials, no degrees in literature or anything else. Despite my lack of education, I did undergo a long apprenticeship, maintaining a strict daily routine for over 20 years before I tried to publish.”

Bob Thurber (b. 1955)

— Grew up “dirt poor” in Rhode Island.

— Graduated high school “by the skin of his teeth.”

— At the age of 19, bought an electric typewriter and set out to become a writer. (Still owns a couple of manual typewriters.)

— Never attended a writing class, but studied and wrote every day for over 20 years before he submitted anything for publication.

— Sold his first story at the age of 42 (after submitting it by fax, the editor purchased it within hours.)

— Went on to publish over 200 more, and receive over 40 awards and citations.

— Has been called: A raw and unique talent, A maestro of micro-fiction, An emotional terrorist, and The Sam Peckinpah of Flash Fiction.

— His work has appeared in 22 anthologies. One recent selection was praised and reprinted by The New Yorker.

— Numerous selections used in schools and colleges, on reading assessments, oral interpretations, and as examples of concise prose.

— Lives in Massachusetts, where, despite health problems and vision loss, he still writes every day, though he rarely submits for publication. Solicitations for unpublished work along with permission to reprint should be directed to his representative.

— His debut novel “PAPERBOY: A Dysfunctional Novel” was released in May, 2011 and is available from Casperian Books and all major outlets.