J. Shane Townsend

Writes about culture, conservation, and disaster—the brine where humans and nature collide and mix. He has lived and worked his way from the American South, through the Andes, Amazon, Asia’s Ring of Fire, East Africa’s Cradle of Humanity, around the world and back again to rural America.

Shane writes from near Charlottesville, Virginia.

Media Kit

Select Pieces

Mountain Showdown

Was he my dog, or was I his pet gringo
If Kenyan Rains Allow

Charging cape buffalo & Gura River rainbows
Tatsamenie Kings

Fly-in fishing the Canadian wilderness
Fly for a Try

Fishing salmon on Scotland’s River Tay
No Fish Safe

Espionage & machete-fishing for pirañas
Last Day

Seek it out and take it all in until your last, last day
Biloxi Bacon

One soul’s trash-fish is another’s tradition
Red Hills Ramble

Tradition, conservation, and the bobwhite quail

“I was stunned by the revelation of true unboundaried (not a misspelling) humanity in Shane ‘Jose’ Townsend’s "The Boy From ‘Kill the Cat.’" This little diamond of a tale is just over two pages long. They are two pages everyone in the world should read.”

—Dan Close, Novelist
Shane is a hard worker who, as a writer, will not be satisfied until his editor is satisfied… It is no coincidence when more than one editor keeps going back to a writer; it is because Shane is dependable and creative.

Glenn Sapir, Editor
He is painstaking in his craft, though the effortless joy of the ride for his readers is a delight all should experience - repeatedly.

Paulo Gregory, Inventor, Storyteller, Community Leader