Tom Spanbauer
Tom Spanbauer was an American novelist known for exploring sexuality, race, and human connection in his fiction.
Raised in Idaho, he drew heavily on his roots in the American West, which are evident throughout his five novels.
After living in Kenya and various parts of the United States, he settled in Portland, Oregon.
He earned his MFA in Fiction from Columbia University in 1988.
Beyond writing, Spanbauer was influential as a teacher, developing a philosophy he called "dangerous writing," which encouraged authors to write honestly about shame and vulnerability.
His most notable student was Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club.
