802 ratings | 126 reviews | avg rating:3.76

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Bobby Mathews

Goodreads Author

Born

in Fort Gordon, Georgia, The United States

Website

http://bwmathews.wordpress.com

Twitter

bobbymathews

Genre

Crime, Fiction, Horror

Influences

Donald Westlake, Robert B. Parker, Elmore Leonard, Stephen King, and a ...more

Member Since

August 2011

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Bobby Mathews attended Troy University, where he majored in journalism and minored in theater and English. His checkered past includes stints as a reporter and editor for daily newspapers, where he won awards for his writing, editing and leadership. No, he has no idea what the contest judges were smoking, either.

He's also been a bartender, paralegal, and bum, occupations—or sidelines—that creep into his stories and novels.

"I write weird stories about monumentally fucked-up people," he says. "That's what interests me. I hope it interests other readers, too."

Mathews lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with his wife and sons. ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Bobby Mathews Usually I curl up in a ball and cry.

And then I drink some whiskey and smoke a good cigar (I'm not kidding). I try to think about something else for aw…moreUsually I curl up in a ball and cry.

And then I drink some whiskey and smoke a good cigar (I'm not kidding). I try to think about something else for awhile—the kids, my wife, college football—anything at all will do.

After that, I try to beat writer's block by changing up the way I approach the page. I might work longhand for a couple of days, knowing those pages are never going to lead anywhere. But it's nice to watch the ink flow across the page. Or I might go beat on my 1953 Royal Quiet De Luxe manual typewriter for awhile. Those pages have a lot more chance of being turned into something. Eventually I come back to the computer with a clear head and a mindset to attack the story I want to write.(less)

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What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Bobby Mathews To "Crush your enemies. See them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women."

Okay, maybe not that. But seriously, to be able to tell …moreTo "Crush your enemies. See them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women."

Okay, maybe not that. But seriously, to be able to tell the story as best I can, to know in my heart and in my mind and in my soul that I've done good work.

And then to have a reader pick up the story or book and say "This was good. This entertained/touched/affected me in some way."

That's an amazing feeling.(less)

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Combine Editions
Bobby Mathews’s books

Average rating: 4.29 · 382 ratings · 123 reviews · 23 distinct works • Similar authors

	Living the Gimmick 4.27 avg rating — 100 ratings — published 2022 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Magic City Blues 4.36 avg rating — 76 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Negative Tilt: Stories 4.66 avg rating — 29 ratings — published 2024 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Prodigal 4.50 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2010 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Clean Getaway 3.80 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2012 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Good Night's Sleep 4.25 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2015	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hidden House really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	His Lucky Day 3.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2012 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Big Gamble really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Six Rounds liked it 3.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Bobby Mathews…

Bobby is Currently Reading

Bobby Mathews is currently reading

The Next Witness

by Kirstyn Petras (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Bobby Mathews said: " Kirstyn Petras' debut novel is a thriller set in a near-future dystopia, and the book hinges on a continually asked question: Do the ends, in fact, justify the means?

This is a novel where there are no easy answers. Petras doesn't spoon-feed readers h ...more "

Feb 04, 2024 06:38PM · see review

Bobby Mathews is currently reading

The Turnout

by Megan Abbott (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Mar 17, 2023 08:27PM

Bobby Mathews is currently reading

Real Bad Things

by Kelly J. Ford (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Sep 11, 2022 08:00PM

Bobby’s Quotes

“I don't mind you thinking I'm stupid, but don't talk to me like I'm stupid”
― Harlan Ellison

160 likes

“If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; but if you really make them think, they'll hate you.”
― Harlan Ellison

551 likes

“You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.”
― Harlan Ellison

tags: ignorance, intelligence, opinions, stupidity

3107 likes

“The two most common elements in the universe are Hydrogen and stupidity.”
― Harlan Ellison

821 likes

“I know that pain is the most important thing in the universes. Greater than survival, greater than love, greater even than the beauty it brings about. For without pain, there can be no pleasure. Without sadness, there can be no happiness. Without misery there can be no beauty. And without these, life is endless, hopeless, doomed and damned.
Adult. You have become adult.”
― Harlan Ellison, Paingod and Other Delusions