Geyer, Andrew 1964–

PERSONAL: Born May 9, 1964, in Austin, TX; Son of Frank A. (a rancher) and Judy (an administrative assistant; maiden name, Starr) Geyer; married Christina Kotoske, 1997 (divorced 2002); married second wife, Jay Jay Wiseman (an English instructor); children: Joshua, Caleb. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: University of Texas, Austin, B.A., 1988; University of South Carolina, M.F.A., 1992; Texas Tech University, Ph.D., 2003. Politics: "Independent." Religion: Nondenominational Christian. Hobbies and other interests: Distance running.

ADDRESSES: Home—506 Resimont Dr., Russellville, AR 72801. Office—Arkansas Tech University, Department of English, Witherspoon 151, Russellville, AR 72801. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Writer and educator. Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, assistant professor of English, 2003–.

AWARDS, HONORS: Book of the Year Award for Best Work of Short Fiction, Silver Medal, ForWord, and Spur Award for Best Work of Short Fiction, Western Writers of America, both 2004, both for "Whispers in Dust and Bone."

WRITINGS:

Whispers in Dust and Bone (short stories), Texas Tech University Press (Lubbock, TX), 2003.

Contributor to New Texas 2001, edited by Donna Walker-Nixon and James Ward Lee, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Press (Belton, TX), 2001. Contributor to journals, including South Dakota Review, Southwestern American Literature, Concho River Review, Salt Fork Review, Chiron Review, Savannah Literary Journal, Georgia Guardian, and Analecta.

SIDELIGHTS: Andrew Geyer told CA: "A native Texan, I grew up on a working ranch in Southwest Texas. The experience of growing up on the land—working outdoors with horses and cattle, at the mercy of the elements—has shaped the lens through which I view the world, and made me the writer that I am. It doesn't matter whether I'm setting fiction in Southwest Texas, South Carolina, or South America—that clear, no-nonsense worldview helps me cut to the heart of the matter at hand. Much like writing fiction, there is not much room for fluff or sentimentality trying to make a living at ranching in that semi-desert brush country—the boundary between success and failure is razor-thin."