Biography

Matthias Robert Stephen Brauer is a writer of humorist essays, short stories, sketch comedies, and generally funny stuff. His content focus is on daily living, culture, social and philosophical sciences, current events, writing, and cheese. His works have appeared in The Funny Times and The AAWG eZine and he has performed at Notes & Poets events.

Matt was born and raised in the far north suburbs of Chicago. His early work experience involved working in food service as a busboy and dishwasher, in retail as a sales clerk, assistant manager, and manager, and finally as a sales clerk when he attended college (though he will deny all but the college part). After moving to the far northwest suburbs when he married his wife, he earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering with Summa Cum Laude honors at Northern Illinois University. He has also taken training in writing and improv at The Second City Training Center in Chicago.

After college, but before focusing on writing, he used his degree to work as an electronics design engineer. In his spare time, he has also played in various rock bands as a guitarist and songwriter. Matt draws on his experiences to create the situations and characters in his writing. When he’s not writing words, Matt enjoys writing music, playing the guitar, photography, graphic arts, bicycling, and bumming around Chicago. He divides his professional time between engineering and writing.

Influences

Too many to mention, but here are some key ones: Robert Benchley, Steve Martin, Woody Allen, Preston Sturges, Sid Caesar, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Monty Python, Kids in the Hall, Fry and Laurie.