Letters to Barley


When done right, dogs not only become our best friends but members of our family. It only stands to reason, then, that those who know us best — in this case, our beloved pets — have the whole story.

Enter Letters to Barley: Personal Stories My Dog Should Know (available at The Bookworm in Omaha and on Amazon).

The letters written to Barley, Wendy Townley’s West Highland White Terrier, cover a wide terrain of topics: a renewed appreciation of Nebraska’s natural beauty, a rediscovery of faith and appreciation for family, a recounting of personal trauma, and a little bit of dog humor for good measure.

Nebraska native Wendy Townley has been writing personally since the third grade, professionally since 1997. Her first book, Nerdy Thirty, was published in 2010.

With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism and communication, respectively, from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, she serves as executive director of the Omaha Public Library Foundation. She also teaches part-time for the University of Nebraska at Omaha School of Communication.

Barley was born March 6, 2011, to parents Chip and Cookie. He enjoys tennis balls, chasing rabbits, belly rubs, green beans, and popcorn. Barley can’t read or write, but he loves a good story.


2019 Events


To schedule a speaking engagement or book signing, contact Wendy Townley at wendy@wendytownley.com or (402) 547-7543. Learn more on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Barley photograph by Chris Holtmeier of foton-foto; wardrobe by Matt Tompkins (2019)