Bio
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I obtained my Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in English
from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. I received my Masters of Fine Arts degree in
Creative Writing from Naropa University in Boulder, CO.
I am currently an English instructor at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College. I previously
taught at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and Allegany College of Maryland.
My fiction has been published in The Battered Suitcase, Pittsburgh Quarterly Online and Our
Town Magazine. My poetry has been published in Red River Review, Red Poppy Review, and
Menopause Press.
My novel, Tracks, was optioned for a screenplay by Ziji Films, Hollywood, CA, and I was
represented by the Coppage Agency of Hollywood, CA. I was also the assistant writer of the
short film, The Tech Know Zone.
I have won fiction awards including honorable mention in 2011 Ligonier Valley Writers Flash
Fiction Contest for the short story, “Missing and Presumed Dead”, first place in the Wild Violet
Online Literary Magazine 2007 Fiction Contest for my story, "X and Q", third place in the
Pennwriters Novel Beginning Contest for the novel, Tracks, and I was the winner of the 1996-
1997 Claire S. Garber Memorial Creative Writing Award for my story, “Dodge”.
I have also won awards for my poetry including third place in the Pennwriters poetry contest for
my poem, "If I wrote love poems..." and first place in the Central Cambria High School Writing
Festival Adult Specialty Writing Contest for the poem, “Morning Mist”.
In addition, I have given public presentations and readings including a presentation on writing at
the Central Cambria High School Writing Festival and readings at The Bottleworks Ethnic Arts
Center in Johnstown, PA and Laurel Arts in Somerset, PA.
I was the leader of the Works in Progress Writers’ Workshop for eight years.
I also coordinated and hosted poetry readings five years. I also coordinated and judged a poetry
and short story contest for four years.
You may contact me at purbaugh@comcast.net or www.barbarapurbaugh.com
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