About

William Burtch is an author and writer of fiction and essays.

William’s award-winning creative work spans magazine, journal and anthology publications. A historical biography he co-authored with sibling Donna Burtch was published by Sunbury Press in May 2022. https://wgthebook.com/ 

His new short story collection, Otherwise Wretched, was released March 4, 2025 by Catamount Press, an imprint of Sunbury Press. Kirkus Reviews calls the Collection “…gruesomely saturnine and comic…sharply limns the bleaker aspects of rural life.” https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/william-burtch/otherwise-wretched/

Midwest Book Review states of the Collection “…sterling, startling language…these are hard-hitting literary works.” http://midwestbookreview.com/

Following a childhood that spanned the Allegheny Mountains of northwestern Pennsylvania to the West Coast, he has lived in central Ohio since his teen years. After graduate school at Miami University of Ohio, he worked many years in the investment business.

Similar to writers such as Denis Johnson, Breece DJ Pancake, and Brad Watson, his writing often gravitates toward the experiences and struggles of the rural characters, as well as themes of survival in a culture of addiction. Beyond his 2025 collection release, he at work on a novel, a screenplay and a documentary project.

William lives in Columbus, Ohio.