Bio:Charles G. Waugh

I was born in Philadelphia, PA on July 18, 1943. I am an only child. My mother was Isabelle D. Waugh (an English teacher) and my father was Gordon B. Waugh (an electrical engineer). During World War II my father served as a naval officer. I spent the first year of my life in Boston, MA (where he was stationed), and the second in Portland, ME (where he was transferred). From two until twelve I lived in the country community of Laurel Lake, NJ. Dad started working for IBM, and a few years later was reassigned to its home base in Endicott, NY. After attending high school there, I was accepted at Syracuse University where I earned a B.S. in speech in 1965 (with minors in English and Economics) and an M.A. in psychology in 1969. After two years in graduate school at Kent State where I majored in communication and minored in sociology (eventually finishing my Ph.D. dissertation in 1982), I took a job at the University of Maine at Augusta in the fall of 1971. I am still there and since 1981 have been a full professor of communication and psychology.

I have taught on the college level at Syracuse University, Ithaca College, Kent State University, and the University of Maine at Augusta since January 1965. With the Spring 2014 semester, I have begun my fiftieth year. Since 1978, I have published 212 books. The majority of my work being in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Now, after a ten year break, I'm back doing books again, with 12 out and another 12 in press. (Oddly enough, this is a career I probably would not have had but for a coincidence. In 1974 I met Martin Harry Greenberg, who knew Isaac, at a Boston Science Fiction convention where we both had gone to hear Dr. Asimov speak. One thing led to another, and ultimately I did more than 190 books with Marty and 76 with Isaac. Both gave me great help and encouragement, for which I shall forever be indebted. And, maybe because of that, I have always tried to help others as the two of them helped me.)

I have two children, two stepchildren, three grandchildren, and four grand-stepchildren. My son, Eric-Jon Rossel Tairne (nee: Waugh) has done about thirty books and my granddaughter, Tara Nicole Azarian, about forty films. Carol-Lynn Rossel was my first wife (1968-2000). She is an author, photographer, musician, and doll artist. Kathy Chazin is my second wife (2001- ). She is a LPN, a LCSW, a co-editor, and the love of my life.

I am a country boy and a very simple person. I've always thought of my body as a vehicle for carrying my head from room to room, and am so square; colleagues often call me a cube. In addition to Marty and Isaac, my success as anthologist and author has come from the creative mind and good memory with which I was blessed, a work ethic my family instilled in me, and a great ability to structure things that I learned from many years participating in debate and teaching public speaking.

Basically, I am a happy, stable person--and have been lucky enough to have had a full, rich and tranquil life.

I can't imagine you'd want to know more about me--but if you do, just drop me an e-mail, or consult Volume 126 of Contemporary Authors. It contains a long phone interview they did with me.