About
K.A. Wiggins (Kaie) is an award-winning Canadian author of fantasy with an edge and dark speculative fiction for children, teens, and adults/all ages. Her work explores social movements, environmental crises, and identity issues through intricate, dreamlike tales of monsters and magic.
Born in Vancouver and raised all across Western Canada, Kaie has been creating urban legends about witches in the back wood and fairies in the snow melt since she was seven years old. She writes prickly misfits challenging the borders of the mundane, inspired by YA stars Brenna Yovanoff, Holly Black, and Laini Taylor, and fantasy legends J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Madeleine L'Engle.
With the encouragement of a series of incredible teachers (shoutouts to Greg Holowka of Angus McKay Elementary in Winnipeg, Lenora Esau of Mt. Slesse Middle, and Diane Turner of Sardis Secondary!), she started writing as a teen and gained recognition for her fiction and nonfiction in a variety of contests, most notably for her fable-like children's story, Hiding a Pearl.
She supplemented a Bachelor of Arts (English Language & Asian Area Studies) at the University of British Columbia with intensive workshops in editing and rewriting fiction and children's publishing with award-winning children's publisher Tradewind Books. For several years, she worked in corporate marketing and business analysis in Vancouver before launching a second career in writing and editing.
Her debut novel, Blind the Eyes, was recognized in multiple lists and awards, and her multi-awarded short fiction has been licensed for print, digital, translation, and audio adaptations by leading genre magazines and small presses including Fantasy Magazine, The Fairytale Magazine, The Earthian Hivemind, The NoSleep Podcast, Hungry Shadow Press, and Renaissance Press.
In 2019, she was honoured to be invited to present workshops for young writers and a masterclass for adults at Mumbai's first Children's Literature Fest, sponsored by ORCHIDS The International School, and discovered the only thing she loves (almost) as much as writing is speaking and teaching. She's since become known as an enthusiastic, engaging, and insightful speaker, teaching at workshops, camps, festivals, conferences, and institutes at home and abroad.
Kaie is the president of the Children's Writers & Illustrators of British Columbia (CWILL BC) Society, a director-at-large of Word Vancouver Festival of Readers & Writers, and a member of The Writer's Union of Canada. She also works with Creative Writing for Children Society teaching writing, storytelling, publishing, and creativity in term-length workshops and seasonal camps for grades 4 and up.
Licensing enquiries, speaking engagements, collaborations, and interview requests can be made directly via [email protected]. Please also feel free to reference the media resource centre for promotional images and content.
Milestones
2023-06-23 / Academic conference presentation debut at UBC Master's of Arts in Children's Literature (MACL) & iSchool (Re)Imagining Tomorrow Conference in Vancouver, BC
2023-04-30 / Elected to the board of Word Vancouver Festival of Readers & Writers as a director-at-large
2023-04-01 / Debut pro-market SFF short fiction (& debut audiobook adaptation) "Children of Earth" published by Fantasy Magazine in Issue 90/April 2023 edition.
2023-03-29 / Accepted as a member of The Writer's Union of Canada (Speaker's Profile)
2021-07-07 / Completed first series with the launch of Burn the Skies
2021-06-30 / Elected president of the Children's Writers & Illustrators of British Columbia Society
2021-09-25 / First professional achievement award: Literary Arts Winner in the 2021 Abbotsford Arts Council "Artys" Awards
2021-02-02 / Moderator/event "hosting" debut for Word Vancouver's World Read Aloud Day
2019-07-29 / Elected treasurer of the Children's Writers & Illustrators of British Columbia Society
2019-06-08 / Accepted as a member of the Children's Writers & Illustrators of British Columbia Society (Speaker's Profile)
2020-10-01 / First professional writing award: Page Turner Awards Book Spotlight Prize for Blind the Eyes
2019-09-13 / First small press & first anthology licensing deal: "A Song of Dark Things" to Fiction-Atlas Press for Unknown Realms
2019-05-28 / First magazine licensing deal: "On the Edge" to Enchanted Conversation, now The Fairytale Magazine
2019-04-18 / Public speaking/school visit/author talk debut: Orchids Children's Literature Fest, Mumbai, India
2019-02-07 / First translation licensing deal:"Lettera dalla fine del mondo" in Italian to Virgibooks, Inc.
2019-01-31 / Debut (professional) short story published (Letter From the End of the World)
2018-06-13 / First "list" for Blind the Eyes, a "Summer 2018 B&N Press Presents" pick (later, a “20 Favourite Indie Books of 2018”)
2018-06-01 / Debut novel published (Blind the Eyes)
2004-05-01 / First (pre-professional/student) award & publication for "Hiding a Pearl", Law Society Week Short Story Contest 2004: First Place
Awards & Accolades
2023-04-10 / Writers of the Future Awards / 2023 Q1 Honorable Mention: "The Pink Slime's Appointment With Destiny"
2023-03-31 / Commonwealth Short Story Prize / Longlisted: "Children of Earth"
2022-09-26 / Writers of the Future Awards / 2022 Q3 Silver Honorable Mention: "Calloused"
2022-06-01 / Whistler Independent Book Awards / Shortlisted: Blind the Eyes
2022-05-19 / Writers of the Future Awards / 2022 Q1 Honorable Mention: "Children of Earth"
2022-03-09 / Reader Views 2021-2022 Literary Awards / Bronze in Children's Books Classics (pre-2021 releases) Blind the Eyes
2021-09-25 / Abbotsford Arts Council Arty Awards / Literary Arts Winner
2020-10-01 / Page Turner Awards / Book Spotlight Prize Winner: Blind the Eyes
2018-12-18 / Barnes & Noble Press / "20 Favorite Indie Books of 2018": Blind the Eyes
2018-11-15 / Kobo Cover Contest / SciFi/Fantasy Shortlist: Blind the Eyes
2018-07-15 / NetGalley / A Most Requested Fantasy: Blind the Eyes
2018-06-13 / Barnes & Noble Press / Handpicked as a Summer 2018 B&N Press Presents title: Blind the Eyes
2004-11-20 / Fraser Valley Regional Library "It's Happening Here" Teen Writing Contest / First Place (City), Second Place (Regional): "Incognito"
2004-05-01 / The Law Society of British Columbia Law Society Week Short Story Contest / First Place: "Hiding a Pearl"
Press, Interviews & Features
2023 / CWILL BC / Special Feature
2023 / Fantasy Magazine / Author Spotlight
2022 / Enthralled by Love / SPFBO 8 Author Spotlight: K.A. Wiggins with Blind the Eyes
2021 / K.R.R. Lockhaven / Humor in Books, and Other Places, Too!
2021 / Girl With Pen / Interview
2021 / Jazzy Book Reviews / Horror, but make it Fantasy
2021 / Books, Tea, Healthy Me / Interview
2021 / Gina Rae Mitchell / Interview
2021 / The Bookshelf Scout / Interview
2021 / StoreyBook Reviews / Read Spooky Not Scary!
2021 / Character Madness and Musings / Designing the Future
2021 / Westveil Publishing / Chasing Nightmares
2021 / Cover Lover Book Review / Interview
2021 / booking.with.janelle / Insta Interview
2021 / Giverny Reads / Monsters, Towers, and Lost Girls
2021 / Locks, Hooks and Books / Reclaiming Monsters and Magic
2021 / Splashes of Joy / Horror and Faith
2021 / CBC Interviews on Publishing Supply Chain Issues / blog/print / TV / radio
2021 / Andrea Law of Andrea's Book Corner / Author Q&A
2021 / B.A. Bellec / Cover Reveal & Author of the Month Video Feature
2020 / Abbotsford News / Award Shortlisted Article
2020 / Lois Peterson / Author Q&A
2019 / Amy Bernal of My Books-My World / Interview
Bibliography
2023-04-01 / Fantasy Magazine / "Children of Earth" in Issue 90/April 2023
2023-02-06 / Spectres of the Old World Part 3: Sedition & Sea Monsters (Threads of Dreams, spinoff)
2023-01-24 / Spectres of the Old World Part 2: Rattlesnakes & Nightmares (Threads of Dreams, spinoff)
2023-01-11 / Spectres of the Old World Part 1: Mud Monsters & Revelations (Threads of Dreams, spinoff)
2022-10-18 / Hungry Shadow Press / "Castoffs" in It Was Only A Dream: An Anthology Of Bad Horror Tropes Done Right
2022-06-01 / Threads of Dreams: The Complete Trilogy Collection
2021-07-07 / Burn the Skies (Threads of Dreams, 3)
2020-09-30 / Fiction-Atlas Press / "Boy With No Name" in The Devil You Know: A Fiction-Atlas Press Anti-Hero Anthology/Fiction-Atlas Press (Threads of Dreams, side story)
2020-08-26 / Black the Tides (Threads of Dreams, 2)
2019 / Under (Threads of Dreams, prequel, private release)
2019-10-28 / Fiction-Atlas Press / "A Song of Dark Things" in Unknown Realms: A Fiction-Atlas Press Anthology
2019-06-09 / The Fairytale Magazine / "On the Edge" (reprinted in Frozen Wavelets, The Earthian Hivemind, 2022)
2019-03-31 / Virgibooks, Inc. / Leterra dalla fine del mondo (Threads of Dreams, prequel, licensed translation)
2019-03-28 / The Unsought Light
2019-01-31 / Letter From the End of the World (Threads of Dreams, prequel)
2018-06-01 / Blind the Eyes (Threads of Dreams, 1)
2004 / “It’s Happening Here” FVRL Teen Writing Contest, First Place Municipal, Second Overall, reprinted in papers / "Incognito"
2004 / Law Society Short Story Contest, First Place, reprinted in papers / "Finding A Pearl"
Events & Appearances
2023-10-17 / BC Teacher-Librarians' Association Fall Conference / Read Local, Teach Local: New Releases by BC Authors & Illustrators! (Kwantlen Park Secondary School, Surrey, BC)
2023-09-17 / Write on Bowen Festival of Readers & Writers / Choosing a Publishing Path (Bowen Island, BC)
2023-08-02 / StoryStudio Teen Summer Writing Studio / TBA
2023-06-23 / University of British Columbia (UBC) Master of Arts in Children's Literature (MACL) & iSchool / After 'The End': Building Brighter Futures in Apocalyptic, Dystopian & Speculative YA presentation based on the Threads of Dreams series during "The Good, The Bad, and The Imaginary: Utopias and Dystopias in Speculative Fiction" panel of creative presentations at (Re)Imagining Tomorrow: Agency and Possibility in Literature and Media for Children and Young Adults Graduate Student Conference in Children's & Young Adult Literature, Media & Culture (Vancouver, BC)
2023-06-07 / British Columbia Museums Association / Collaborating with BC Children's Authors & Illustrators webinar
2023-04-13 / British Columbia Library Association Youth and Children's Services Youth Services Institute / Read Local: Bringing BC Kid-Lit Creators & Books Into BC Libraries
2023-03-15 / Abbotsford Arts Council / Canva for Creatives, a two-part series on marketing and cover graphic design for professional development "digital content library"
2023-02-08 / Abbotsford Arts Council / Workshop Wednesday: Paths to Publishing two-hour intensive webinar for professional development "digital content library"
2023-02-01 / Word Vancouver Festival x Surrey Libraries / World Read Aloud Day School Visit/Author Visit Field Trip Moderator: The Science of Boys with Emily Seo (Surrey City Centre Library, Surrey, BC)
2023-01-14 to 2023-06-17 / Creative Writing for Children Society / Depth in Storytelling 20-week novel-writing intensive teen workshop (Creative Writing for Children, Douglas College, Coquitlam, BC)
2022-10-21 / BC Teacher-Librarians' Association Fall Conference / 2022 BC Books + Intro to Collaborating with Local Authors (New Westminster, BC)
2022-09-25 / Word Vancouver Festival / Panel Moderator: Writing & Illustrating Kids' Books on YouTube (Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre, Vancouver, BC)
2022-09-24 / Word Vancouver Festival / Panel Moderator: Twists & Turns (Surrey City Centre Library, Surrey, BC)
2022-09-22 / Word Vancouver Festival / Panel Moderator: Finding the Way In Your City on YouTube
2022-09-11 / Boneheads Weekly / Panelist: Ep. 247 It Was All A Dream: a New Novel and Its Authors on YouTube | Soundcloud (strong language/adult content warning)
2022-08-02 / StoryStudio "Imaginary Island" Summer Camp 2022 / Writing Short Fiction
2022-06-04 / Weeknight Writers Storycrafting Sessions: Fantasy / Panellist on Urban Fantasy: Layering Another World Over Our Own
2022-04-14 / British Columbia Library Association Youth and Children's Services Youth Services Institute / Collaborating With Local Authors
2022-02-20 / StoryStudio Guild of Young Writers / Writing Speculative Fiction
2022-01-14 to 2022-05-27 / Creative Writing for Children Society / Engineering Magic & Story Alchemy 20-week novel-writing intensive tween workshop (Virtual/East & SE Asia)
2021-09-11 to 2021-12-18 / Creative Writing for Children Society / Fur, Feathers & Fangs 15-week kids' short story/anthology-writing workshop (Douglas College, Coquitlam, BC)
2021-09-10 to 2021-12-17 / Creative Writing for Children Society / Fur, Feathers & Fangs 15-week kids' short story/anthology-writing workshop (Virtual/BC, East & SE Asia)
2021-07-18 to 2021-07-29 / Creative Writing for Children Society / The Art of Feedback & Short Fiction 2-week teen short story/anthology-writing camp (Virtual/BC & South Korea)
2021-02-02 / Word Vancouver Festival x CWILL BC / Moderator: Virtual World Read Aloud Day School Visit/Multi-Author Reading
2021-01-09 to 2021-06-12 / Creative Writing for Children Society / Story Alchemy 20-week novel-writing intensive tween workshop (Virtual/East & SE Asia)
2020-07-20 to 2020-07-24 / Creative Writing for Children Society / Shipwreck second out of a 2-week children's creative writing camp (Virtual/China)
2020-07-06 to 2020-07-10 / Creative Writing for Children Society / Shipwreck second out of a 2-week children's creative writing camp (Virtual/BC)
2020-01-16 to 2020-03-12 / Creative Writing for Children Society / Creativity in Storytelling 10-week kids' short story/anthology-writing workshop (White Rock, BC)
2020-02-03 / Vancouver Public Library x CWILL BC / Panellist: Writing & Illustrating Kids Books: The Inside Story (VPL Central Branch, Vancouver, BC)
2019-04-18 to 2019-04-20 / Orchids Children's Literature Fest / Getting Started as a Young Writer, Worldbuilding for Storytellers, Magic & Monsters, Masterclass: From Scribbles to Print (Mumbai, India)