R.A. Mathis is a writer, musician, and former musician for the U.S. Marine Corps. Mathis earned his BA in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1992. He earned his Master of Science in business administration from the University of South Carolina in 1996, where he received an honorary doctorate in 2009. Mathis has published numerous short stories, poetry collections, and novels, including "A Lesson Learned", which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and an honorable mention for the PEN/Hemingway award for debut fiction
His poetry has appeared in "TriQuarterly", "Scribner's", and "Poet Lore". His novel "Eternity" was released by HarperCollins in April 2012. Mathis is regarded as a master storyteller whose work has been described as "haunting" and "sensuous," and who has been compared to such modern masters as Charles Bukowski and Raymond Carver. He lives with his wife, Sue Nelson, in Greenville, SC, and is the director of the Creative Writing Institute at Greenville Technical College.
Mathis also plays guitar in a band called The Wayward Brothers and is co-founder of the Charleston International Film Festival film festival.
The difference between the right spouse and the wrong spouse is the difference between a soul mate and a cell mate.R.A. Mathis
A fool mistakes meekness for weakness and a quiet tongue for an idle mind.R.A. Mathis
No one believes in Hell--until they get there.R.A. Mathis
There may be no secrets in small towns, but there are no strangers either.R.A. Mathis
