Wikipedia

Marieke Nijkamp

Marieke Nijkamp is a Dutch New York Times bestselling author of novels for young adults.

Marieke Nijkamp
Marieke Nijkamp at Dublin Worldcon 2019
Marieke Nijkamp at Dublin Worldcon 2019
Born (1986-01-23) 23 January 1986 (age 38)
Zwolle, the Netherlands[1]
OccupationWriter
NationalityDutch
Alma materUniversity of Groningen
(BA and MARes)

Personal life

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Nijkamp was born in Zwolle and raised in Twente, the Netherlands. As a child, she[a] read the Dutch novel The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt and felt compelled to start writing too.[3]

Nijkamp holds degrees in philosophy, and medieval studies[4] from the University of Groningen.[5] She identifies as non-binary[6] and homoromantic asexual and is a Catholic[7] and autistic.[8]

Career

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In daily life, Nijkamp is a civil servant.[9] Her debut novel This Is Where It Ends was published by Sourcebooks Fire, an imprint of Sourcebooks, in January 2016.[10][11][12] She has since released two more novels: Before I Let Go (2018)[13][4] and Even If We Break (2020).[14]

Nijkamp has also written multiple media tie-ins, such as her first graphic novel The Oracle Code (2020) for DC Comics.[15] Nijkamp is the author of the five-issue miniseries Hawkeye: Kate Bishop, with illustrator Enid Balám, which stars the titular superhero. The first issue was released in November 2021 to coincide with the Hawkeye (2021) TV series.[16][17][18] Nijkamp is the author of the Critical Role prequel novel, Critical Role: Vox Machina – Kith & Kin, which was also released in November 2021.[19][20] In February 2023, Dark Horse, with Critical Role and Amazon Studios, announced a new interconnected prequel graphic novel series for the animated show The Legend of Vox Machina which will be written by Nijkamp with art by Tyler Walpole. The first book, The Legend of Vox Machina: Whitestone Chronicles—Ripley, is scheduled to published in April 2024.[21][22]

Reception

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In May 2015, This Is Where It Ends was announced as part of Publishers Lunch's selection of buzz books (Fall/Winter 2015:Young Adult).[23] Reviewing the book, Kirkus Reviews wrote,"This brutal, emotionally charged novel will grip readers and leave them brokenhearted."[24] Publishers Weekly stated that "A highly diverse cast of characters, paired with vivid imagery and close attention to detail, set the stage for an engrossing, unrelenting tale."[25] School Library Journal called it first purchase for libraries serving teens." The book entered The New York Times Best Seller list (Young Adult Hardcover) in March 2016.[26] It remained on the list for 67 weeks and was optioned as a film by Gotham Group in 2018 with Lysa Heslov attached as director.[27]

In 2020, The Oracle Code received positive reviews especially for Nijkamp's portrayal of Barbara Gordon's disability.[15][28] Publishers Weekly stated that "Nijkamp repeatedly explores the idea that people with disabilities needn’t be 'fixed,' along the way considering how stories can be used to reveal hard-to-communicate truths".[29] The Beat highlighted that "Nijkamp has written something for DC’s Young Reader books that feels like the Vertigo of yesteryear, mining innovative stories from the pillars of what it means to be a DC comic".[30] CBR stated that "Nijkamp's previous work, the widely acclaimed prose novel This Is Where It Ends, had provided an unflinching, heartbreaking look at high schoolers confronting horrific violence in their midst. While The Oracle Code is nowhere near as brutal as its predecessor, Nijkamp's first foray into the comic book medium similarly doesn't pull its punches when it comes to depicting the emotions experienced by its protagonist. [...] Nijhamp's first tale in the comic book medium is more accessible than her previous prose works, and she makes the transition between fields naturally".[31] On her next comics work, The A.V. Club wrote that "Nijkamp made her comics debut last year with DC’s YA graphic novel The Oracle Code, a compelling psychological thriller about a teenaged Barbara Gordon dealing with the recent trauma of a gunshot wound that left her paralyzed from the waist down. The script for Hawkeye: Kate Bishop doesn’t have that same level of emotional depth".[32]

In 2021, Nijkamp's handling of IP in Critical Role: Vox Machina – Kith & Kin was praised.[33][34][35] Jennifer Melzer, for CBR, highlighted that Nijkamp's "insight into these beloved characters made the story itself feel like the reader was there in Exandria, following closely behind the twins and growing ever closer to understanding exactly how they became who they were before joining forces with Vox Machina. Bailey and O'Brien's deep love for Vex and Vax shines through in every moment, as if their voices whispered in Nijkamp's ear while penning their adventure and expanding the canon lore".[33] Sam Tyler, for SFBook Reviews, commented that "Nijkamp wrote a contained story that works for new readers. Nijkamp takes to writing fantasy within this IP brilliantly. The author has taken on all the information from the Critical Role team but brings their own sense of what makes good fantasy".[34] Ed Fortune, for Starburst Magazine, wrote: "Nijkamp has perfected the art of tie-in fiction as both a way to promote and elevate a franchise".[36]

Publications

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Young adult fiction

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  • This Is Where It Ends, Sourcebooks, January 5, 2016 (ISBN 9781492622468)
  • Before I Let Go, Sourcebooks, January 23, 2018 (ISBN 9781492642282)
  • Even If We Break, Sourcebooks, October 12, 2020 (ISBN 9781492636113)
  • Critical Role: Vox Machina – Kith & Kin, Del Rey Books, November 30, 2021 (ISBN 978-0-593-49662-6)[19][37]
  • At the End of Everything, Sourcebooks, January 25, 2022 (ISBN 9781492673156)

Short story collections (edited)

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Comics and graphic novels

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Notes

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  1. ^ Nijkamp uses all personal pronouns.[2] This article uses feminine pronouns for consistency.

References

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  1. ^ "Marieke Nijkamp". HarperCollins Holland. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Press kit » Marieke Nijkamp". www.mariekenijkamp.com. Retrieved 2022-11-06. pronouns: she/they/any
  3. ^ "Een Tukker met een New York Times bestseller". RegioTwente (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Spotlight On Marieke Nijkamp". PublishersWeekly.com. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  5. ^ van Schaik, Job (29 April 2017). "Marieke Nijkamp staat al een jaar op de bestsellerlijst". DVHN.nl. Dagblad van het Noorden. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  6. ^ Nijkamp, Marieke. "faq". Marieke Nijkamp. Retrieved 17 April 2023. I am white, non-binary, queer, and disabled.
  7. ^ Nijkamp, Marieke [@mariekeyn] (2 July 2015). "I'm Marieke, I'm Catholic, I identify as homoromantic asexual and, I guess, not-always-binary. She/her. #reliqueer" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 April 2023 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Duyvis, Corinne; Nijkamp, Marieke (29 April 2015). "Interview with Marieke Nijkamp of We Need Diverse Books". Disability in Kidlit. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  9. ^ Vinckx, Yaël (23 December 2016). "'Mam, ik sta op de New York Times bestsellerlijst!'". NRC. NRC Handelsblad. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Rights Report: Week of January 13, 2015". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  11. ^ "The On-Sale Calendar: January 2016 Children's Books". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  12. ^ Abrahams, Frits (February 2016). "Signeren". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  13. ^ "Exclusive Excerpt + Cover Reveal: Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp". Paste. 2017-05-13. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  14. ^ Canfield, David Canfield (February 25, 2020). "Exclusive: Marieke Nijkamp returns with deadly new novel 'Even If We Break'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  15. ^ a b Leiderman, Deborah (2020-07-24). "28 Movies, Books, TV Shows (and More) That Explore Disability Culture". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  16. ^ Lapid, Alyssa (August 18, 2021). "The New 'Hawkeye: Kate Bishop' Comics Begin With The Revamped West Coast Avengers". Bustle. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  17. ^ a b Terror, Jude (November 19, 2021). "Hawkeye: Kate Bishop #1 Preview - Synergy w/ Disney+, Rennerbronies". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  18. ^ "10 Perfect Marvel Comics To Read This November". CBR. 2021-11-06. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  19. ^ a b "All the New Fantasy Books Arriving in November!". Tor.com. 2021-11-01. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
  20. ^ Stretch, Andrew (November 16, 2021). "Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith & Kin Review". TechRaptor. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  21. ^ Alverson, Brigid (February 7, 2023). "Dark Horse, Amazon Announce New 'Critical Role' Graphic Novels". ICv2. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  22. ^ a b Radulovic, Petrana (2023-08-30). "A new Critical Role graphic novel explores Dr. Ripley's rise to power". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  23. ^ "The Complete Buzz Books Honor Roll - Publishers Lunch". Publishers Lunch. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
  24. ^ "THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS by Marieke Nijkamp | Kirkus Reviews". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  25. ^ "Children's Book Review: This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp. Sourcebooks Fire, $17.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-4926-2246-8". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  26. ^ "Best Sellers - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  27. ^ Busch, Anita (8 February 2018). "'This Is Where It Ends,' Bestselling YA Novel, Optioned By Gotham Group For Lysa Heslov". Deadline.
  28. ^ "'The Oracle Code' book review: An empowering story of recovery". Hypable. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  29. ^ a b "The Oracle Code". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  30. ^ Okay, Arpad (2020-04-01). "REVIEW: Sunken horrors and haunted houses in THE ORACLE CODE". The Beat. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  31. ^ "REVIEW: The Oracle Code Brings a More Grounded, Raw Look at Barbara Gordon". CBR. 2020-03-11. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  32. ^ Sava, Oliver (December 15, 2021). "Hawkeye: Kate Bishop is a step backward for the new MCU hero". The A.V. Club. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  33. ^ a b "REVIEW: Critical Role Novel Vox Machina - Kith & Kin Provides a New Way to Explore Exandria". CBR. 2021-11-19. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  34. ^ a b Tyler, Sam (November 30, 2021). "Book review of Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith and Kin by Marieke Nijkamp". SFBook Reviews. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  35. ^ Crumlish, Callum (2021-11-29). "Critical Role: Vox Machina - Kith and Kin review: A dexterous fantasy epic". Daily Express. Retrieved 2021-11-30. Marieke has done an incredible job - not just in writing a Critical Role story, but a straight-up fantasy novel.
  36. ^ Fortune, Ed (November 30, 2021). "Critical Role: Vox Machina – Kith and Kin [Review]". Starburst Magazine. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  37. ^ Whitbrook, James (2021-03-25). "Critical Role's Sibling Tag Team Is Getting Its Own Prequel Novel". io9. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  38. ^ Nijkamp, Marieke (2018-09-18). Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR). ISBN 978-0-374-30651-9.
  39. ^ "Hawkeye: Kate Bishop (2021) #5 | Comic Issues | Marvel". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  40. ^ "Hawkeye: Kate Bishop (Trade Paperback)". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
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