Barbara Townsend

Barbara Townsend's writing journey began at the University of Wyoming where she was inspired her to write a mystery. In another semester, an internship in the Toppan Rare Books Library led her into different direction. With books dating from the 1800s, she examined women in nineteenth-century Mormon polygyny. Her research paper won a student competition at the American Heritage Center. Her accumulated research led to the novel "Blood Atonement", a historical mystery. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts.

Blood Atonement was Barbara's first trade-published novel followed by "Clear and Convincing Evidence". "Tarnished Gold" is her third novel, another historical mystery.

A fascinating spot on the Old West map led her to investigate burials in the two cemeteries. Her work led to the Wyoming Historical Society granting her its Outstanding Historical Preservation Award in 2022. Continuing the research led to her latest book, "Life and Death in Historic Atlantic City, Wyoming", for which was the Wyoming Historical Society's Nominee for Nonfiction Book of 2026.