Virgie Townsend

Virgie Townsend (she/they) is the author of the short story collection Because We Were Christian Girls, which won the Central New York Book Award for Fiction and was shortlisted for the Newfound Prose Prize, Cupboard Pamphlet’s Annual Contest, and Black Lawrence Press’ Black River Chapbook Competition.

Her writing has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, The Sun Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, VICE, and other national publications. Her short stories have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best Small Fictions, and Best Microfiction, as well as featured in several publications’ best-of anthologies. She is a judge for the Black River Chapbook Competition and previously served as an editor at SmokeLong Quarterly.

As an early literacy advocate and creative writing mentor, Virgie has worked with readers and writers from ages 5 to 85, and she adores them all. If you’re a writer interested in working with her as a 1-on-1 mentor or editor, please use the contact form below.

Virgie received a bachelor’s degree in journalism, magna cum laude, from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, and a juris doctor degree from the Syracuse University College of Law. She is a bar-admitted attorney in Colorado. Virgie lives in Syracuse, New York, with her family.

Find Virgie on Facebook and Instagram.