A native of California, C. Mikal Oness is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the University of Missouri; his poems have appeared in numerous journals and his work has been awarded the Mahan Poetry Prize, an Academy of American Poets Prize, the Mary Roberts Rinehart Award, and a Wisconsin Arts Board Grant.

His book of poems Water Becomes Bone was published by New Issues Press in 2000 and was awarded the Posner Prize in Poetry by the Council of Wisconsin Writers. His most recent book, Oracle Bones, was selected for the Lewis & Clark Expedition Prize.

Oness is the founding editor and director of Sutton Hoo Press, a literary fine press producing hand-made limited editions of poetry and prose. He lives in rural Houston County with his wife, Elizabeth, and his son, Jensen.