C.J. Maughan
307 ratings | 58 reviews | avg rating:3.20

C.J. Maughan’s Followers (29)

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C.J.’s Bookshelves

to-read (223)
currently-reading (5)
read (327)
all-time-favorites (17)
books-about-writing (5)
couldn-t-put-down (12)
did-not-finish (3)
first-to-read-program (1)
medical-science-books (5)
short-stories (2)

C.J.’s Friends (38)

Caitlin
Caitlin
3,194 books | 159 friends

Cindy B...
Cindy Burnett (Thoughts from a Page)
2,362 books | 2,059 friends

Cathrin...
Cathrine ☯️
2,766 books | 821 friends

Tracey
Tracey
3,078 books | 2,907 friends

Bkwmlee
Bkwmlee
3,639 books | 458 friends

Eden
Eden
6,965 books | 203 friends

Katy O.
Katy O.
7,878 books | 2,162 friends

Phrynne
Phrynne
5,198 books | 2,868 friends

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C.J. Maughan

Goodreads Author


Born
Virginia, The United States
Website

Twitter
cj_maughan

Genre
Fiction

Influences
Ray Bradbury
Celeste Ng
Alice Sebold
Mary Roach
Douglas Adams
Stephen K ...more

Member Since
July 2017

URL


I'm a former chemist who realized I was much better at writing fiction than lab reports. I'm oddly fascinated with melancholy and tend to prefer stories that are depressingly beautiful.

I read a lot of books and have pretty strong opinions about them. I can be harsh in my reviews. BUT I still love talking about any and all books and am especially interested in any that YOU just absolutely loved, so feel free to add me as a friend if that's your thing too!

If you ever needed to find me, kidnap me for ransom money and/or just need someone to give you a quarter to call home, you can find me on my 10-acre mini-farm in Virginia, often with muddy boots, coffee in my veins and my neurotic, but adorable, corgis Ollie and Scout right there at my side ...more

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Ask the Author

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Popular Answered Questions

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?
C.J. Maughan It started as a short story actually. I was standing outside, on my back porch, late one night after letting my dog, Ollie, out.
Everything was silent…moreIt started as a short story actually. I was standing outside, on my back porch, late one night after letting my dog, Ollie, out.
Everything was silent. Everyone was sleeping.
Then, on the next street over I heard a bus pull up. That loud - woosh - of the air brakes and the door swinging opening caught my attention. It was too dark too see anything besides the reflection of the bus's headlights, but I wondered who could be riding the bus at this hour? What was their life like?
My short story, Dead Bus (available on my website), was the result of this. But after I finished it, it seemed like such a bigger story. I kept wondering where was everyone on the bus going? What happened if someone rode it all the way to the end of the line? What was waiting for them there?
Eighteen was the result of that question. (less)
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See 1 answer from C.J. Maughan…

Combine Editions

Average rating: 4.0 · 1 rating · 1 review · 2 distinct works
Eighteen
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Eighteen
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* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

2 posts
C.J. Maughan's Blog

A Place for Ma - Short Story

Here's a new short story I wrote! You can read the whole thing here:
http://cjmaughan.com/a-place-for-ma/

I really like this one. Hopefully you do too! :)
 •  0 comments  •  flag
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Published on June 06, 2018 17:35
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C.J. is Currently Reading

Palace of Stone
C.J. Maughan is currently reading
by Shannon Hale (Goodreads Author)
bookshelves: currently-reading
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Nov 08, 2021 06:05AM
Princess Academy
C.J. Maughan is currently reading
by Shannon Hale (Goodreads Author)
bookshelves: currently-reading
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Nov 08, 2021 06:05AM
The 100-Year-Old ...
C.J. Maughan is currently reading
bookshelves: currently-reading
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Oct 13, 2021 06:14AM

C.J.’s Quotes

Ray Bradbury
“I have never listened to anyone who criticized my taste in space travel, sideshows or gorillas. When this occurs, I pack up my dinosaurs and leave the room.”
― Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing: Releasing the Creative Genius Within You
tags: humour, individuality, science-fiction
6235 likes

Ray Bradbury
“First you jump off the cliff and build your wings on the way down.”
― Ray Bradbury
tags: inspirational
433 likes

Ernest Hemingway
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
― Ernest Hemingway
tags: good, writing
19422 likes

Margaret Atwood
“Don't let the bastards grind you down.”
― Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale
3229 likes

Stephen King
“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
― Stephen King
tags: reading, writing
13090 likes

recent posts
C.J.’s Groups

220 Goodreads Librarians Group — 310033 members — last activity 0 minutes ago
Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra ...more
154447 Support for Indie Authors — 16611 members — last activity Jan 26, 2026 06:10AM
Officially 15k Members Strong & Climbing!! Building and supporting a community of self-published authors dedicated to both sharing experiences and le ...more
152441 Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge — 26870 members — last activity Jan 25, 2026 09:40AM
An annual reading challenge to to help you stretch your reading limits and explore new voices, worlds, and genres! The challenge begins in January, bu ...more

C.J.’s Friend Comments

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message 1: by Tracey
Dec 13, 2017 03:43PM

Tracey Thanks so much for the friend invite!


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