Robert John Goodney was born in Ashland, Wisconsin, on July 21, 1934, the son of a grocery store owner. He attended local schools. In 1952, he entered Drake University, intending to major in drama. There, he became interested in writing fiction. In September 1957, after a 3-day stint as a graduate student at the University of Chicago and a marriage, he enrolled in Vance Bourjaily's fiction workshop at the State University of Iowa. In September 1959, Bob and his wife Rosemary came to New York, where Bob edited the Ed McBain Mystery Magazine and clerked at the Tompkins Square Branch of the New York Public Library. Two of his short stories were published in Manhunt magazine. Robert John Goodney died in November 1963 at the age of 29. The Dropouts is his only published novel.