Having completed his BA in English at JMU with concentrations in British Literature and Creative Writing, Charles-Nicolas Owen calls Appalachia home. During his undergraduate experience, Charles went abroad to London and the French Riviera, studying manuscripts of the English Renaissance and the storied cuisine of France. His professional interests are the construction of fiction narratives and how form defines them. He was awarded JMU’s 2024 First Prize in Fiction for his short story, “The Garden Lich.”

Between academic pursuits, Charles worked at Lakeside Book Company, the largest book manufacturer in North America, while moonlighting as a sommelier in the Shenandoah Valley. In his free time, Charles is either writing, cooking, or hiking one of the many local trails.