Thomas Eugene Robbins (July 22, 1932 – February 9, 2025) was an American author. His novels are complex, often wild stories with strong social undercurrents, a satirical bent, and obscure details. He is probably best known for his novel Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1976), which was made into a movie in 1993 directed by Gus Van Sant.
Easton Press Tom Robbins books
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues - signed modern classic - 2003
Franklin Library Tom Robbins books
Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates - signed first edition - 2000
Writer Tom Robbins
Thomas Eugene Robbins was born in Blowing Rock, North Carolina to George Thomas Robbins and Katherine Ann Robinson. He also has three younger sisters, two of whom are still living. His grandfathers were both Baptist ministers.
Robbins lived with his family in Blowing Rock until they settled in Warsaw, Virginia in 1943, where he attended high school. In 1952, Robbins studied journalism at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia but left after he was ousted from his fraternity for discipline problems. In 1953 he enlisted in the Air Force after receiving his draft notice and spent two years as a meteorologist in Korea until being discharged in 1956. After he was discharged, Robbins returned to civilian life in Richmond, Virginia, and spent time with local painters. In 1957, Robbins entered art school at Richmond Professional Institute, which later became Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and was the editor of the campus newspaper as well as a copy editor for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
He spent the following year hitchhiking, finally settling in New York as a poet.
In 1961, he moved to San Francisco, and then to Portland. In 1962, he moved to Seattle to seek a Masters degree at the School of Far Eastern Studies of the University of Washington. Over the next 5 years in Seattle, he worked for Seattle Post-Intelligencer, first as a sports reporter, and later as an arts reviewer. In 1966, he published a column on the arts in Seattle magazine. Also during this time, he hosted a weekly radio show at Seattle non-commercial KRAB-FM. It was in 1967 that he went to a concert by the rock band, The Doors, which Robbins considers a life-changing experience, and a catalyst for his decision to move to La Conner, Washington, and write his first book.
In 1969, Robbins moved to La Conner, where he married for the third time, to Terri. It was at the little house on 2nd Street where he write all of his books till the present. While moving in the late-1980's to a farm property outside Burlington, Washington for one year, and moving in the mid-1990's to a house on the end of Pull-And-Be-Damned Road on the Swinomish Reservation where he lived for 5 years.
Tom Robbins books in order
Another Roadside Attraction (1971)
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1976)
Still Life with Woodpecker (1980)
Jitterbug Perfume (1984)
Skinny Legs and All (1990)
Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas (1994)
Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates (2000)
Villa Incognito (2003)Collections
Wild Ducks Flying Backward - essays, reviews, and short stories (2005)Novellas
B Is for Beer (2009)Nonfiction
Guy Anderson (1965)
Tibetan Peach Pie: A True Account of an Imaginative Life - autobiography (2014)Tom Robbins quotes
Easton Press Tom Robbins books
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues - signed modern classic - 2003Franklin Library Tom Robbins books
Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates - signed first edition - 2000(This page contains affiliate links for which we may be compensated.)
Writer Tom Robbins
Thomas Eugene Robbins was born in Blowing Rock, North Carolina to George Thomas Robbins and Katherine Ann Robinson. He also has three younger sisters, two of whom are still living. His grandfathers were both Baptist ministers.Robbins lived with his family in Blowing Rock until they settled in Warsaw, Virginia in 1943, where he attended high school. In 1952, Robbins studied journalism at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia but left after he was ousted from his fraternity for discipline problems. In 1953 he enlisted in the Air Force after receiving his draft notice and spent two years as a meteorologist in Korea until being discharged in 1956. After he was discharged, Robbins returned to civilian life in Richmond, Virginia, and spent time with local painters. In 1957, Robbins entered art school at Richmond Professional Institute, which later became Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), and was the editor of the campus newspaper as well as a copy editor for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
He spent the following year hitchhiking, finally settling in New York as a poet.
In 1961, he moved to San Francisco, and then to Portland. In 1962, he moved to Seattle to seek a Masters degree at the School of Far Eastern Studies of the University of Washington. Over the next 5 years in Seattle, he worked for Seattle Post-Intelligencer, first as a sports reporter, and later as an arts reviewer. In 1966, he published a column on the arts in Seattle magazine. Also during this time, he hosted a weekly radio show at Seattle non-commercial KRAB-FM. It was in 1967 that he went to a concert by the rock band, The Doors, which Robbins considers a life-changing experience, and a catalyst for his decision to move to La Conner, Washington, and write his first book.
In 1969, Robbins moved to La Conner, where he married for the third time, to Terri. It was at the little house on 2nd Street where he write all of his books till the present. While moving in the late-1980's to a farm property outside Burlington, Washington for one year, and moving in the mid-1990's to a house on the end of Pull-And-Be-Damned Road on the Swinomish Reservation where he lived for 5 years.
Tom Robbins books in order
Another Roadside Attraction (1971)Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1976)
Still Life with Woodpecker (1980)
Jitterbug Perfume (1984)
Skinny Legs and All (1990)
Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas (1994)
Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates (2000)
Villa Incognito (2003)
Collections
Wild Ducks Flying Backward - essays, reviews, and short stories (2005)Novellas
B Is for Beer (2009)Nonfiction
Guy Anderson (1965)Tibetan Peach Pie: A True Account of an Imaginative Life - autobiography (2014)
Tom Robbins quotes
"Our greatest human adventure is the evolution of consciousness."
"We waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love."
"Salvation is for the feeble, that's what I think. I don't want salvation, I want life, all of life, the miserable as well as the superb."
"People of ze wurl, relax!"
"Don't be outraged, be outrageous."
Source and additional information: Tom Robbins