Pen Name:
Bob Gassaway
Genres:
♦ Articles
♦ Essays
♦ Mysteries
Bio
Bob Gassaway became a television reporter at the age of 17 and worked more than 20 years as a writer and editor for newspapers, magazines, and The Associated Press, including a stint as a war correspondent in Vietnam. After earning a Ph.D. in sociology, focusing on the symbolism of human communication, he conducted research as a sociologist, and taught journalism for 22 years at the University of New Mexico and the University of Missouri. He co-edited a non-fiction book called Dirty Work published by the Baylor University Press. To add authenticity to the drafts of his murder mystery novels, he visited dozens of murder scenes and observed dozens of autopsies.
In Memoriam
After a long illness, Bob passed away on May 19, 2016. An SWW member and a board member, many of us remember him as soft spoken and unfailingly polite, always noticing the efforts of others and encouraging positive interactions. Before the SWW Memoir Conference in 2015, Bob wrote an article, “The Many Faces of Memoir,” for the July 2015 issue of SouthWest Sage, and in doing so exposed many of his own experiences and memories for us to enjoy. Read the article included in “Robert Gassaway – Gentleman Author” with Rose Marie Kern’s introduction.
Read his obituary published in the Albuquerque Journal.
Books
Title: Dirty Work: The Social Construction of Taint
Editors: Bob M. Gassaway, Shirley K. Drew, Melanie B. Mills
Published: Baylor University Press / August 1, 2007
Genre: Sociology
Dirty Work profiles a number of occupations that society deems tainted. The volume’s vivid, ethnographic reports focus on the communication that helps workers manage the moral, social, and physical “stains” that derive from engaging in such occupations. The creative ways that those who perform such dirty work learn to communicate with each other–and with outsiders—regulate the negative aspects of the work itself and emphasize the positives so that workers can maintain a sense of self-value even while performing devalued occupations.
Available for Sale
Articles/Essays
“The Many Faces of Memoir” ♦ SouthWest Sage, July 2015, p. 1
“James McGrath Morris Getting Strong Reviews for Eye on the Struggle“ ♦ SWW Blog Post, February 20, 2015
“Sharpening Your Listening” ♦ SouthWest Sage, August 2011, p. 6
“Watch Your Language” ♦ SouthWest Sage, July 2011, p. 12
“Taming My Computer Fears” ♦ SouthWest Sage, June 2011, p. 1
“Good Books are Still Selling” ♦ SouthWest Sage, September 2009, p. 1
“Pitching A Novel” ♦ SouthWest Sage, July 2009, p. 1
“Interviewing For Fact or Fiction” ♦ SouthWest Sage, May 2009, p. 4