T. Kingfisher is a pen name for well-known children’s book author Ursula Vernon. She publishes adult-oriented fantasy and horror under the pen name to avoid confusion with the children’s books published under her own name. Ursula Vernon grew up in Oregon and Arizona, earning a degree in anthropology before turning her attention to art, which eventually led to writing and illustrating children’s books. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and several chickens (“About the Author.” Red Wombat Studios, 2023).

Ursula Vernon is the author of 19 children’s books, including the Dragon Breath and Hamster Princess series, and Hugo Award-winning webcomic series Digger. As T. Kingfisher, she published a series of fantasy novels set within her “Temple of the White Rat” Universe, including The Clockwork Boys and Paladin’s Grace. These novels combine fantasy elements with romance and Kingfisher’s signature humor. She has also published horror novels as Kingfisher, including The Twisted Ones, The Hollow Places, and What Moves the Dead. The Twisted Ones and The Hollow Places won the Dragon Award for Best Horror Novel in 2020 and 2021, respectively. What Moves the Dead won the 2023 Locus Award for Best Horror Novel in 2023. Her work is lauded for its mix of slow-rising tension, imaginative horror, fantastical elements, and humor.