Karen Simpson Nikakis, known commonly as K. S. Nikakis, is an Australian fantasy author, writer and poet who lives at Melton,[1] who has written the fantasy novel The Whisper of Leaves (2007). She was nominated for an Aurealis Awards twice in 2020.
Karen Simpson Nikakis | |
|---|---|
 Nikakis, far left, 2017 | |
| Born | Mansfield, Victoria, Australia[citation needed] |
| Occupation | Novelist, lecturer in writing |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Period | 2007–present |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Notable awards | Australian Shadows Awards (2020 runner up, poetry) Aurealis Awards (2020, two nominations) |
| Website | |
| www | |
Early life
editNikakis was raised in the central Victorian town of Mansfield, surrounded by the mountains of the Victorian Alps.[citation needed] Her interest in fantasy occurred at age 19, when she read Tolkien's fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings. She has since written a number of published academic essays on myth and fantasy writing.
She has worked as a secondary teacher, a technical and further education teacher, and as a lecturer in business communications at Deakin University.[2][3] She completed a Master in Education in young adult literature with her thesis being on The Purpose of Dragons in Selected Children’s Literature in the Twentieth Century at Charles Sturt University[4] and went on to complete a PhD in 1997 in fantasy fiction from Victoria University with her thesis on The Use of Narrative in Order to Break the Masculine Domination of the Hero Quest.[5][6]
Writing
editDuring the 1980s, she started writing picture story books, which she also illustrated. Her first fantasy novel was published by Allen & Unwin in 2007 as The Whisper of Leaves, the first book in a fantasy series: the Kira Chronicles. A second book The Song of the Silvercades was released in July 2008.[1][7]
In 2008, she was appointed the foundation head of the bachelor's degree in Writing and Publishing for Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE.[1][8]
In 2020, she was a runner up for Australian Shadows Awards poetry award.[9] The same year her book I Heard the Wolf Call My Name was nominated for a Aurealis Awards for Young Adult Novel and her short story Glass-Heart was nominated for the Young Adult Short Story award.[10]
Works
editNovels
edit- The Whisper of Leaves: Book 1 of the Kira Chronicles (2007) Allen & Unwin, ISBN 0-8093-2480-6[11][12][13]
- The Song of the Silvercades: Book 2 of the Kira Chronicles (2008) Allen & Unwin[14]
- The Cry of the Marwing: Book 3 of the Kira Chronicles (July 2009) Allen & Unwin[15]
Short stories
edit- The gift in Aurealis #40, Chimaera Publications, Australia, 2008
- Redemption in Moondance – E-zine: USA[16]
- Lovers in Smokelong Quarterly – E-zine: USA[17]
- Song of the frog prince in Zahir #4: USA
References
edit- ^ a b c Amy Walker, Melton author spurs the imagination Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, 25 August 2008 Accessed 15 November 2008
- ^ "Karen Simpson Nikakis". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. The University of Queensland. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ Allen and Unwin Author Profile Archived 11 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Allen & Unwin website, Accessed 14 November 2008
- ^ Simpson Nikakis, Karen (1995), The purpose of dragons in selected children's literature in the twentieth century, Charles Sturt University, retrieved 24 March 2023
- ^ Nikakis, Karen Simpson (1997), The use of narrative in order to break the masculine domination of the hero quest, retrieved 24 March 2023
- ^ Karen Nikakis, K.S. Nikakis blog. Accessed 14 November 2008
- ^ Allen & Unwin, The Kira Chronicles Archived 29 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Publisher Promotional website. Accessed 14 November 2008
- ^ NMIT Meet the staff - Dr Karen Simpson Nikakis[permanent dead link], NMIT website, Accessed 14 November 2008
- ^ "2020 Australian Shadows Awards Winners". Locus. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "K. S. Nikakis". Science Fiction Awards Database. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ Smith, Craig (27 September 2002). "The Whisper of Leaves". Kirkus Reviews. 70 (15): 1083.
- ^ Sussex, Lucy (19 August 2007). "The Whisper Of Leaves". Sunday Age. Melbourne. p. 30. ProQuest 367291734.
- ^ Moore, Scott; Orchard, Shelley; Pedley, Derek; James, Stan (15 September 2007). "This week's selections". The Advertiser. Adelaide. p. W12. ProQuest 355196393.
- ^ Dempsey, Dianne (23 August 2008). "The Song of the Silvercades". The Age. Melbourne. p. 28. ProQuest 364056382.
- ^ "The Cry of the Marwing K.S. Nikakis Allen & Unwin: The Cry of the Marwing K.S. Nikakis Allen & Unwin". The Chronicle. Toowoomba. 28 November 2009. p. TW.5. ProQuest 251161600.
- ^ Karen Nikakis, Redemption, Moondance webzine, 2004. Accessed 14 November 2008
- ^ Karen Nikakis, Lovers Archived 5 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Smokelong Quarterly, Issue 5, August 2004. Accessed 14 November 2008
External links
edit- Official website
- Interview: Smoking With Karen Simpson Nikakis, Smokelong Quarterly, Issue 5, August 2004.
- K. S. Nikakis at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
