“Mathis is a master storyteller on the the importance of family. By birth or by choice, family is expertly woven by Mathis’ words.”
Kathie Giorgio, author of In Grace’s Time, and If You Tame Me, and others
Bill Mathis has written five novels, all published through Rogue Phoenix Press. His sixth book, The Way Things Are, a collection of essays, short stories, and poems published in August 2023.
Bill began writing after he retired from working in foster care and directing YMCA camps. Besides working with diverse children and families for over 40 years, his personal family involvement has also been varied. He grew up in a household with 7 children, his father a pastor in a tiny farming town that excelled in large families—parents with 3 children or less were considered to have problems. Married and divorced twice with 2 daughters, a step-daughter, 3 grandchildren, Bill has been in a relationship with his domestic partner for over 10 years. He says he was a slow learner about some things!
Mathis enjoys traveling, photography, collecting art, and has volunteered with hospice. For over 25 years Bill has lived with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis which worsened beginning in 2020. It is not terminable, but the low energy has limited his writing and traveling.
Bill enjoys connecting with people. Connect with him on Facebook, or email.
Check out his books:
Check out Bill’s photography:
Awards
2020 Third Place in Annual Contest! Memory Tree finished third in the Chicago Writers Association’s annual First Chapter Contest out of a record number of entries
2019 Pencraft Runner Up Award for Literary Excellence
2019 Chicago Writers Association 1st Place Award for First Chapter of a novel in progress which became his fourth novel, Revenge is Necessary
2019 One of the Honorary Guest Authors at the Carl Sandburg Literary Awards sponsored by the Chicago Public Library Foundation
2019 Chill With A Book Premier Readers Award
Wisconsin Writers Association – 2017 Jade Ring Contest – Honorable Mention in Humor and Nonfiction
Wisconsin Writers Association – 2015 Jade Ring Contest – 1st Place for Nonfiction – The Oak Tree (click HERE to read)
Wisconsin Writers Association – 2015 Jade Ring Contest – Honorable Mention for Poetry
OWLS – Ogle-Winnebago Literary Society – 2016 Contest – 2nd Place for Fiction
Waukesha Writer’s Workshop – 2015 Bo Carter Memorial Contest – 2nd Place for Short Story