Ursula Vernon Explained

Birth Name:Ursula Vernon
Birth Date:28 May 1977
Alias:T. Kingfisher
Birth Place:Japan[1]
Nationality:American
Area:Writer, artist, webcomics creator
Notable Works:Digger, Dragonbreath series, Nettle & Bone
Awards:Ursa Major Award, Hugo Award, Nebula Award, Mythopoeic Award, WSFA Small Press Award

Ursula Vernon (born May 28, 1977) is an American freelance writer, artist and illustrator. She has won numerous awards for her work in various mediums, including Hugo Awards for her graphic novel Digger, fantasy novel Nettle & Bone, and fantasy novel Thornhedge, the Nebula Award for her short story "Jackalope Wives", and Mythopoeic Awards for adult and children's literature. Vernon's books for children include Hamster Princess and Dragonbreath. Under the name T. Kingfisher, she is also the author of books for older audiences. She writes short fiction under both names.

Career

Ursula Vernon grew up in Oregon and Arizona. She studied anthropology at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where she first took art classes.[2] 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, and then books for adults under the pseudonym T. Kingfisher.[3] [4] 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,[5] 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").[6] Vernon has published short fiction under both names, and has won a number of awards for them including the Hugo Award and Nebula Award.

She regularly attends conventions to exhibit and sell her work. She 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[7] 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.[8]

In June 2023, Vernon announced she had been diagnosed with breast cancer;[9] however, by December of that year, she announced that her treatment had been successful and she was "cancer-free".[10]

Works

Books for younger audiences

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

Dragonbreath series

Hamster Princess series

Other children's books

Books for older audiences

Written as Ursula Vernon:

Temple of the White Rat books

The following books were written under the name T. Kingfisher and take place in what Vernon calls "the Temple of the White Rat world."[11] [12]

The Sworn Soldier books

Under the pen name T. Kingfisher:

Other books for older audiences

Under the pen name T. Kingfisher:

Webcomics

Vernon is the author of the Eisner Award-nominated and Hugo Award-winning webcomic Digger.[13] A fantasy story featuring an anthropomorphic wombat,[2] [14] it is also available in six paperback books published between 2005 and 2011: Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4, Vol. 5, and Vol. 6, and as Digger: The Complete Omnibus Edition, 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".

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. 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.[15]

Her artwork titled The Biting Pear of Salamanca became an internet meme in the form of the "LOL WUT pear"[16] and has been made into a resin figurine due to its popularity.[17] She has also designed labels for a series of tea and soap products.[18] [19]

Awards and nominations

scope=col style="min-width: 10em" Awardscope=col Categoryscope=col Yearscope=col Workscope=col style="min-width: 7em" Resultscope=col class=unsortable
scope=row style="font-weight: normal" rowspan=2 British Fantasy AwardHorror Novelalign=center 2020The Twisted Ones
align=center 2021The Hollow Places
scope=row style="font-weight: normal" rowspan=3 Horror Novelalign=center 2020The Twisted Ones [20]
align=center 2021The Hollow Places [21]
align=center 2021A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking
scope=row style="font-weight: normal" rowspan=7 align=center 2012Digger [22]
align=center 2017"The Tomato Thief" [23]
align=center 2018"Sun, Moon, Dust" [24]
align=center 2019“The Rose MacGregor Drinking and Admiration Society” [25]
align=center 2021“Metal Like Blood in the Dark” [26]
Seriesalign=center 2022The World of the White Rat[27]
Novelalign=center 2023Nettle & Bone[28]
scope=row style="font-weight: normal" rowspan=7 Locus AwardFantasy Novelalign=center 2017The Wonder Engine
align=center 2022Paladin's Strength[29]
align=center 2020The Twisted Ones
align=center 2021The Hollow Places
align=center 2023What Moves the Dead [30]
align=center 2021"Fisher-Bird"
Young Adult Bookalign=center 2021A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking [31]
scope=row style="font-weight: normal" rowspan=3 Lodestar AwardYoung Adult Bookalign=center 2018Summer in Orcus
align=center 2020 Minor Mage
align=center 2021A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking
scope=row style="font-weight: normal" rowspan=3 Mythopoeic Awardalign=center 2012Digger [32]
align=center 2017Castle Hangnail [33]
align=center 2021A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking [34]
Nebula AwardNovelalign=center 2023Nettle and Bonealign=center [35]
Andre Norton Awardalign=center 2021A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking [36]
align=center 2015"Jackalope Wives" [37]
scope=row style="font-weight: normal" rowspan=1 World Fantasy Awardalign=center 2015"Jackalope Wives" [38]

Vernon has also received the following accolades:

External links

Personal websites

Socials

Catalogs

Publishers

Notes and References

  1. Web site: locusmag. April 12, 2021. Ursula Vernon: Shiny New Idea. April 14, 2021. Locus Online. en-US.
  2. Web site: Interview with Ursula Vernon. www.epilogue.net. Vernon. Ursula. Patrick Keith . September 2004. Digger, ... is a fantasy about a wombat . March 6, 2011.
  3. Web site: T. Kingfisher. October 20, 2020. Goodreads.
  4. http://www.redwombatstudio.com/portfolio/writing/books-for-adults Books for Adults
  5. Web site: Interview with Ursula Vernon. February 28, 2021. . January 6, 2015.
  6. Web site: Q&A: T.Kingfisher. February 28, 2021. www.thenerddaily.com. October 2020.
  7. Web site: Mythcon 45 – August 2014 – Mythopoeic Society. Mythopoeic Society. April 8, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140406192814/http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-45/. April 6, 2014. dead.
  8. Web site: Other media . Red Wombat Studio . July 28, 2019.
  9. Web site: Pixel Scroll 6/17/23 Whoever Lives in Glass Pixels Should Not Throw Scrolls . June 18, 2023 .
  10. Web site: Pixel Scroll 12/30/23 Always Cool To See A Reference To Big Pixel And The Scrolling Company. December 29, 2023.
  11. Vernon . Ursula . UrsulaV . 1227323130156388352 . You do not have to read the other books in the Temple of the White Rat world, this is a fine entry point! But if you like it, we have three other books that you may enjoy afterward in the same universe!.
  12. Vernon . Ursula . UrsulaV . 1227368617144127488 . Oh no obtuseness! No worries! Clockwork Boys & The Wonder Engine are a duology in the same universe. Swordheart stands alone but will eventually be a trilogy..
  13. Web site: The Webcomic Overlook #127: Digger. Cruz. Larry . July 16, 2010 . best known for Digger . February 17, 2011 .
  14. News: CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK; Comics Escape a Paper Box, and Electronic Questions Pop Out. Boxer. Sarah. August 17, 2005 . . March 6, 2011.
  15. Web site: Reiner Knizia's Black Sheep . . April 20, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717092354/http://new.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite_sec.asp?eidm=57&esem=1 . July 17, 2011. dead . mdy-all.
  16. Web site: The Biting Pear of Salamanca. Ursula Vernon. February 27, 2006. March 30, 2009.
  17. Web site: Biting Pear (AKA LOL WUT PEAR). www.patchtogether.com. April 20, 2010.
  18. Web site: Vernon . Ursula . June 5, 2008 . Tea! Tea! Tea! . March 11, 2022 . Red Wombat Studio . en-US.
  19. Web site: Vernon . Ursula . July 12, 2007 . Red Wombat Studio . March 11, 2022 . Red Wombat Studio . en-US.
  20. Web site: 2020 Recipients – The Dragon Award. September 14, 2021. Dragon Con.
  21. Web site: 2021 Recipients – The Dragon Award. September 14, 2021. Dragon Con.
  22. Web site: 2012 Nominees . April 7, 2012 . . World Science Fiction Society . April 7, 2012.
  23. Web site: 2017 Hugo Awards . December 31, 2016 . . World Science Fiction Society . April 7, 2017.
  24. Web site: 2018 Hugo Awards . March 15, 2018 . The Hugo Awards. World Science Fiction Society . July 28, 2019.
  25. Web site: T. Kingfisher Awards . . Locus Science Fiction Foundation . August 4, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210805040619/http://www.sfadb.com/T_Kingfisher . August 5, 2021 . live.
  26. Web site: Announcing the 2021 Hugo Award Winners . December 18, 2021 . . Macmillan.
  27. Web site: 2022 Hugo Awards . The Hugo Awards . September 13, 2022 . April 7, 2022.
  28. Web site: 2023 Hugo Award Winners . File 770 . October 22, 2023 . October 21, 2023.
  29. 2022 Locus Awards Top Ten Finalists . . May 10, 2022 . May 10, 2022.
  30. Web site: 2023 Locus Awards Winners . Locus Online . June 25, 2023 . June 25, 2023.
  31. Web site: 2020 Locus Award for Young Adult Novel. . June 26, 2021 . June 27, 2021.
  32. Web site: Mythopoeic Awards: 2013 Winners Announced . . June 15, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131006191940/http://www.mythsoc.org/news/mythopoeic-awards-201-winners-announced/ . October 6, 2013 .
  33. Web site: Mythopoeic Awards . . July 28, 2019.
  34. Web site: Mythopoeic Awards — 2021 . . October 17, 2021.
  35. Web site: March 7, 2023 . SFWA Names the 58th Nebula Award Finalists . Nebula Awards.
  36. Web site: 2020 Andre Norton Award. Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America . June 9, 2021.
  37. Web site: 2014 Nebula Award Winners Announced . June 6, 2015 . . June 8, 2015.
  38. Web site: World Fantasy Awards 2015 . . Locus Science Fiction Foundation . November 9, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151102162315/http://www.sfadb.com/World_Fantasy_Awards_2015 . November 2, 2015 . live.
  39. Web site: Award Winners 2003. Ursa Major Awards. April 20, 2010.
  40. Web site: Master Nominee List 2006 Eisner Awards . . April 20, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060614205557/http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners06nom.shtml . June 14, 2006. mdy-all.
  41. Web site: 2005 Results . Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards . April 20, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175132/http://www.ccawards.com/2005.htm . March 3, 2016. mdy-all.
  42. Web site: 2007 Results . Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards . April 20, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100204090116/http://ccawards.com/2007.htm . February 4, 2010. mdy-all.
  43. Web site: . WSFA Small Press Award Winner . October 12, 2015 . October 12, 2015.
  44. Web site: WSFA Small Press Award - The History . . October 2, 2021.