Ursula Vernon

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Ursula Vernon
Ursula Vernon, at the Hugo Award Ceremony, Worldcon 2017 in Helsinki.jpg
Ursula Vernon accepting the Hugo Award for Best Novelette at Worldcon in Helsinki 2017.
BornUrsula Vernon
(1977-05-28) May 28, 1977 (age 44)
Japan[1]
NationalityAmerican
Area(s)Writer, artist, webcomics
Pseudonym(s)T. Kingfisher
Notable works
Digger, Dragonbreath series
AwardsUrsa Major Award; Hugo Award; Nebula Award; Mythopoeic Award; WSFA Small Press Award
redwombatstudio.com

Ursula Vernon (born May 28, 1977) is an American freelance writer, artist and illustrator. She is best known for her Hugo Award-winning graphic novel Digger (2003–2011) and for the children's books series Hamster Princess and Dragonbreath. Under the name T. Kingfisher, she is also the author of books for older audiences.[2] She also writes short fiction under both names. She has won awards, including the Hugo Award, Nebula Award, and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, for her work in various mediums.[3]

Career[]

Ursula Vernon grew up in Oregon and Arizona and studied anthropology at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota where she first took art classes.[4] She first became known for her webcomics and as a freelance artist, particularly for her works containing anthropomorphic animals. She then moved into writing and illustrating a number of children's books, her first being published in 2008,[5] and then books for adults under the pseudonym T. Kingfisher.[6] She decided to start using the pseudonym in order to avoid confusion amongst parents who were only familiar with her as a children's book author,[7] and chose it because she loves kingfishers (and as an homage to Ursula K. LeGuin, who once joked that the initials "U.K." could stand for "Ulysses Kingfisher).[8] She has published short fiction under both names, and has won a number of awards for them including the Hugo Award and Nebula Award. Vernon regularly attends conventions to exhibit and sell her work and has been a guest of honor at Midwest FurFest 2004 and 2009, and the Artist Guest of Honor at Further Confusion 2010. Vernon was the Author Guest of Honor for Mythcon 45[9] and a Guest of Honor at Eurofurence 20, both in August 2014. In 2017, she was the Author Guest of Honor at Arisia '17. Vernon podcasts with her husband, Kevin Sonney.[10]

Works[]

Books[]

Ursula Vernon is the author and illustrator of the Dragonbreath and Hamster Princess children's book series, published by Dial Books:

Dragonbreath series[]

No. Book Year ISBN
1 Dragonbreath 2009 0-8037-3363-1
2 Dragonbreath: Attack of the Ninja Frogs 2010 0-8037-3365-8
3 Dragonbreath: Curse of the Were-Weiner 2010 0-8037-3469-7
4 Dragonbreath: Lair of the Bat Monster 2011 0-8037-3525-1
5 Dragonbreath: No Such Thing as Ghosts 2011 0-8037-3527-8
6 Dragonbreath: Revenge of the Horned Bunnies 2012 0-8037-3677-0
7 Dragonbreath: When Fairies Go Bad 2012 0-8037-3678-9
8 Dragonbreath: Nightmare of the Iguana 2013 0-8037-3846-3
9 Dragonbreath: The Case of the Toxic Mutants 2013 0-8037-3847-1
10 Dragonbreath: Knight-napped! 2015 0-8037-3849-8
11 Dragonbreath: The Frozen Menace 2016 0-8037-3986-9

Hamster Princess series[]

No. Book Date ISBN
1 Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible August 18, 2015 0-8037-3983-4
2 Hamster Princess: Of Mice and Magic March 15, 2016 0-8037-3984-2
3 Hamster Princess: Ratpunzel October 18, 2016 0-8037-3985-0
4 Hamster Princess: Giant Trouble May 9, 2017 0-3991-8652-2
5 Hamster Princess: Whiskerella January 23, 2018 0-3991-8655-7
6 Hamster Princess: Little Red Rodent Hood September 25, 2018 978-0-39918-658-5

Other children's books[]

  • Nurk: The Strange Surprising Adventures Of A (Somewhat) Brave Shrew (ISBN 0-15-206375-7) was published by Harcourt in 2008[5] and released as an audiobook in 2009.[11] It was Vernon's first published children's book.[12]
  • Castle Hangnail (ISBN 978-0-803741-29-4) (April 21, 2015) Dial Books

Books for older audiences[]

The following books were written as Ursula Vernon and published by Sofawolf Press.

Book Date ISBN
It Made Sense at the Time: Selected Sketches November 18, 2004 978-0-971267-06-0
Black Dogs Part 1: The House of Diamond March 1, 2007 0-9769212-4-3
Black Dogs Part 2: The Mountain of Iron January 2011 978-1-936689-03-3

The following table lists books written as T. Kingfisher.

Book Date Publisher
Nine Goblins (Goblinhome Book 1) October 27, 2013 Red Wombat Tea Company
The Seventh Bride November 24, 2015 47North
Bryony & Roses May 18, 2015 Red Wombat Tea Company
The Raven & The Reindeer February 7, 2016 Red Wombat Tea Company
Summer in Orcus[13] (web series) September 2016 Red Wombat Tea Company
The Halcyon Fairy Book January 13, 2017 NESFA Press
Clockwork Boys (Clocktaur War Book 1)[14] November 21, 2017 Red Wombat Tea Company
The Wonder Engine: Clocktaur War Book 2 February 27, 2018 Red Wombat Tea Company
Swordheart[15] November 2018 Argyll Productions
Minor Mage[16] July 29, 2019 Argyll Productions
The Twisted Ones[17] October 1, 2019 Simon & Schuster
Paladin's Grace (The Saint of Steel Book 1) February 11, 2020 Red Wombat Studio
A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking July 21, 2020 Argyll Productions
The Hollow Places October 6, 2020 Simon & Schuster
Paladin's Strength (The Saint of Steel Book 2) February 28, 2021 Red Wombat Studio

Webcomics[]

Vernon is the author of the Eisner Award-nominated and Hugo Award-winning webcomic Digger.[18] A fantasy story featuring an anthropomorphic wombat,[4][19] it is also available in six paperback books published between 2005 and 2011: Vol. 1 (ISBN 0-9769212-2-7), Vol. 2 (ISBN 0-9769212-6-X), Vol. 3 (ISBN 0-9791496-3-0), Vol. 4 (ISBN 0-9819883-3-4), Vol. 5 (ISBN 0-9819883-9-3), Vol. 6 (ISBN 1-9366890-6-5) and as Digger: The Complete Omnibus Edition (ISBN 1-936689-32-4) published in 2013. She is also the writer and illustrator of the webcomic Irrational Fears and the short stories Little Creature and Little Creature and the Redcap, all available online at Webcomics Nation.[20]

Illustrations and art[]

Before becoming a published children's book author Vernon was primarily a freelance artist and illustrator and she still regularly produces new works of art. Her work includes the creation of digital art as well as the use of more traditional mediums such as watercolour and acrylics, with much of her more recent work being mixed media. Most of her art work is available as prints and Vernon has also taken commercial commissions such as book covers and game art.

The game Black Sheep designed by Reiner Knizia and published by Fantasy Flight Games uses art by Vernon on its playing cards.[21] Her art work titled The Biting Pear of Salamanca became an internet meme in the form of the LOL WUT pear[22] and has been made into a resin figurine due to its popularity.[23] She has also designed labels for a series of tea and soap products.[citation needed]

Awards and nominations[]

Award[a] Category Work Result Ref.
Hugo Award Graphic Story Digger (2011) Won [24]
Novelette "The Tomato Thief" (2016) Won [25]
Short Story "Sun, Moon, Dust" (2017) Nominated [26]
“The Rose MacGregor Drinking and Admiration Society” (2018) Nominated [27]
“Metal Like Blood in the Dark” (2020) Nominated [28]
Locus Award
Horror Novel The Twisted Ones (2019) Nominated [27]
The Hollow Places (2020) Nominated [27]
Short Story "Fisher-Bird" (2020) Nominated [27]
Young Adult Book A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking (2020) Won [29]
Mythopoeic Award Adult Literature Digger (2011) Won [30]
Children's Literature Castle Hangnail (2016) Won [31]
A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking (2020) Nominated [32]
Nebula Award Andre Norton Award[b] A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking (2020) Won [35]
Short Story "Jackalope Wives" (2014) Won [36]
World Fantasy Award Short Fiction "Jackalope Wives" (2014) Nominated [37]

Vernon has also received the following accolades:

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Awards are listed in alphabetical order.
  2. ^ In 2019, SFWA announced that the Andre Norton Award is considered a Nebula category.[33][34] It is awarded for middle grade or young adult science fiction or fantasy (or related genre), including graphic novels.

References[]

  1. ^ locusmag (April 12, 2021). "Ursula Vernon: Shiny New Idea". Locus Online. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  2. ^ Books for Adults, by Ursula Vernon, at RedWombatStudio.com; retrieved October 20, 2020
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ursula Vernon Awards". Science Fiction Awards Database. Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Vernon, Ursula; Patrick Keith (September 2004). "Interview with Ursula Vernon". www.epilogue.net. Retrieved March 6, 2011. Digger, ... is a fantasy about a wombat
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Harcourt Children's Books Spring-Summer 2008 Catalog" (PDF). Harcourt Books. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
  6. ^ "T. Kingfisher". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  7. ^ "Interview with Ursula Vernon". apex-magazine.com. January 6, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  8. ^ "Q&A: T.Kingfisher". www.thenerddaily.com. October 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "Mythcon 45 – August 2014 – Mythopoeic Society". Mythopoeic Society. Archived from the original on April 6, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  10. ^ "Other media". Red Wombat Studio. Red Wombat Studio. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  11. ^ "Nurk". www.fullcastaudio.com. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  12. ^ "Comics Panel: June 13, 2008". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
  13. ^ "Summer in Orcus". Red Wombat Studio. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  14. ^ Clockwork Boys title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database. ISBN 1614504067.
  15. ^ Swordheart title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database. ISBN 978-1-61450-522-8.
  16. ^ Minor Mage publication contents at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database. ISBN 9781614505006.
  17. ^ The Twisted Ones title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database. ISBN 9781534429567.
  18. ^ Cruz, Larry (July 16, 2010). "The Webcomic Overlook #127: Digger". Retrieved February 17, 2011. best known for Digger
  19. ^ Boxer, Sarah (August 17, 2005). "CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK; Comics Escape a Paper Box, and Electronic Questions Pop Out". The New York Times. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  20. ^ "Ursula Vernon's Comics". Webcomics Nation. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
  21. ^ "Reiner Knizia's Black Sheep". Fantasy Flight Games. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  22. ^ Ursula Vernon (February 27, 2006). "The Biting Pear of Salamanca". Retrieved March 30, 2009.
  23. ^ "Biting Pear (AKA LOL WUT PEAR)". www.patchtogether.com. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  24. ^ "2012 Nominees". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. April 7, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
  25. ^ "2017 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. December 31, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  26. ^ "2018 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. March 15, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "T. Kingfisher Awards". Science Fiction Awards Database. Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  28. ^ "2021 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. January 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  29. ^ "2020 Locus Award for Young Adult Novel". Locus. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  30. ^ "Mythopoeic Awards: 2013 Winners Announced". Mythopoeic Society. Archived from the original on October 6, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  31. ^ "Mythopoeic Awards". Mythopoeic Society. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  32. ^ "2021 Mythopoeic Awards Finalists". Locus Magazine. August 3, 2021.
  33. ^ "Nebula Rules". Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. October 2011. Archived from the original on July 1, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  34. ^ Levine, David D. (April 10, 2019). "I am now officially a Nebula Award winner!". daviddlevine.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  35. ^ "2020 Andre Norton Award". Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  36. ^ "2014 Nebula Award Winners Announced". Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. June 6, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  37. ^ "World Fantasy Awards 2015". Science Fiction Awards Database. Locus Science Fiction Foundation. Archived from the original on November 2, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  38. ^ "Award Winners 2003". Ursa Major Awards. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  39. ^ "Master Nominee List 2006 Eisner Awards". San Diego Comic-Con International. Archived from the original on June 14, 2006. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  40. ^ "2005 Results". Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  41. ^ "2007 Results". Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards. Archived from the original on April 21, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
  42. ^ "WSFA Small Press Award Winner". Locus Online News. October 12, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  43. ^ "2020 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society. April 7, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.

External links[]

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