Silas Zobal

Silas Zobal is an Associate Professor of English & Creative Writing and Co-Department Head at Susquehanna University. Born in Bellingham, Washington, he pursued higher education at

• Doctor of Philosophy in English from Binghamton University (2005)
• Master of Fine Arts in Fiction from University of Washington (2001)
• Bachelor of Arts in English (Creative Writing concentration) from DePaul University (1997)

His research and creative work focuses on trauma narratives, post-war reintegration, and existential themes in fiction. His debut novel The People of the Broken Neck (2016) examines military trauma and family dynamics through a hybrid of thriller and philosophical fiction, while his short story collection The Inconvenience of the Wings (2015) explores metaphysical dissonance and human fragility.

His publications and presentations span topics like literary originality, creative process ethics, and 20th-century American literature, appearing in journals such as Missouri Review, Glimmer Train, and North American Review. Awards include

• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Fiction Fellowship
• Glimmer Train Fiction Open Winner
• Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference Scholar
• Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2015 recognition