Nina McConigley

State: Wyoming

Born in 1975 in Singapore to a multicultural family, Nina McConigley grew up in Casper, Wyoming. She earned her BA in English from Saint Olaf College, followed by an MA in English at the University of Wyoming and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Houston. McConigley writes fiction and plays that explore the complexities of the American West—particularly through the lens of immigrant and Indigenous experiences. Her acclaimed short story collection, Cowboys and East Indians, earned the 2014 PEN/Open Book Award and the High Plains Book Award. Known for her empathetic portrayal of rural communities and cultural identity, she also writes nonfiction and essays, contributing to outlets like The New York Times, Orion, and Virginia Quarterly Review. Her work resonates with both Wyoming’s past and its evolving present.

Genres: Contemporary

Audiences: Adult