“I’m unschooled, which simply means I have 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 anything.”

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 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 18 anthologies.

— Selections used in schools and colleges, on reading assessments, oral interpretations, and as models of compact prose.

— Lives in Massachusetts, where, despite vision loss, he still writes every day, but rarely seeks publication.

— Doesn’t tweet, twitter, or text. Doesn’t social network, on or off the internet. Doesn’t hobnob with writers, editors, or publishers. Rarely attends readings or other literary events. A member of no club, group, clique, guild, or association.

Copyright 2008, Bob Thurber, all rights reserved

Copyright 2008, Bob Thurber, all rights reserved