Tim Gautreaux

About

Tim Gautréaux was born and raised in Morgan City, Louisiana, and is the author of three books of fiction, the most recent of which, a collection of stories called Welding with Children, was published by St. Martin’s Press. His fiction has been anthologized in The Best American Short Stories four times and in New Stories from the South five times. “I have an interest in antique machinery of all sorts—from player pianos to steam locomotives,” Mr. Gautréaux confesses, “and I maintain a library of turn-of-the-century catalogs and manuals so I can read up on obsolete mechanisms. I often use my knowledge of machinery to provide texture, authenticity, and even symbolism in my stories.” Since 1974 Mr. Gautréaux has taught the writing of poetry and fiction at Southeastern Louisiana University. “Writing has helped me discover sympathy for people who are undereducated, poor, spiritually untaught,” he says, “and [those who are] disoriented by everything from corrupt politicians to the computer age.”
(March/April Issue, 2000)