Kathleen Jennings (illustrator)

Kathleen Dolan Jennings
Born (1980-05-26) 26 May 1980
Brisbane, Australia
EducationUniversity of Queensland
(BA, MPhil, PhD)
OccupationsArtist and writer
Writing career
Notable awards
Websitekathleenjennings.com
tanaudel.wordpress.com

Kathleen Dolan Jennings (born 1980) is an Australian gothic and fantasy illustrator and author known for her silhouette illustrations and fantastical maps. Jennings is a self-taught artist.[1] As an artist, she won the Ditmar Award for Best Fan Artist annually from 2012 to 2016. She also won the 2020 World Fantasy Award for Best Artist, as well as the 2021 Sydney J. Bounds Award.

Early life and education

Jennings was born in Brisbane in 26 May 1980.[1] She has at least one sibling, a sister.[2] Jennings grew up on a cattle station in Western Queensland. Due to the station's remote location, Jennings completed much of her education through distance learning before attending a boarding school in Toowoomba for two years.[1]

She later studied at the University of Queensland, from which she received a Bachelor of Arts[1] and Master of Philosophy in English literature,[3] as well as a Doctor of Philosophy in creative writing.[4] Jennings's dissertation work was later adapted into her 2025 novel, Honeyeater.[5] As of 2026, she is in the Postgraduate Research Creative Writing Program at the University of Queensland.[6]

Career

Jennings started her career as a lawyer, working in private practice and for the government for five years each. She then transferred to focusing on writing and illustration.[1]

Jennings began her career in literature through book illustrations and cover art. She has worked with several notable authors, including Catherynne M. Valente (To Spin a Darker Stair, 2012; The Bread We Eat in Dreams, 2013),[7] Angela Slatter (The Bitterwood Bible and Other Recountings, 2014; The Tallow-Wife, 2021),[8][9][10] Jane Yolen (Finding Baby Yaga, 2018),[11] Margo Lanagan (Stray Bats, 2019),[12] Cassandra Clare (Chain of Iron, 2021),[13] and Holly Black (The Prisoner's Throne, 2024).[14] Her work as a cover artist and illustrator has gained her multiple award wins and nominations. Every year from 2012 to 2016, she won the Ditmar Award for Best Fan Artist.[15] In 2020, she won the World Fantasy Award for Best Artist.[16][17]

Jennings's written works include chapbooks, novellas, short stories, a short story collection, and a novel. Jennings published the novella Flyaway with Pan Macmillan in 2020. The work was well received by critics, with reviews published in BookPage,[18] Literary Hub,[19] Locus,[20] and Reactor,[21] among other venues. The novella won the 2021 Ditmar Award for Best Novella or Novelette,[22] and was a finalist for the 2020 Australasian Shadows Award for Novel,[23] as well as the 2021 Crawford Award and World Fantasy Award for Best Novella.[24][25] Jennings published her debut short story collection, Kindling, with Small Beer Press in 2024.[26][27] The collection includes short stories previously published in other venues. Kindling was a finalist for several awards for best collection, including an Aurealis Award,[28] Ditmar Award,[29] Locus Award,[30] and World Fantasy Award.[31][32] In 2025, Jennings published her first full-length novel, Honeyeater, with Pan Macmillan.[33][34] The novel was a finalist for the 2025 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel.[35]

Awards and honours

Artist

Awards for Jennings' collective work
Year Award Result Ref.
2010 Ditmar Award for Best Fan Artist Finalist [36]
2010 Ditmar Award for Best New Talent Finalist [36]
2011 Ditmar Award for Best New Talent Finalist [37]
2012 Ditmar Award for Best Fan Artist Won [38]
2012 World Fantasy Award for Best Artist Finalist [39]
2013 Ditmar Award for Best Fan Artist Won [40]
2013 World Fantasy Award for Best Artist Finalist [41]
2014 Ditmar Award for Best Fan Artist Won [42]
2015 Ditmar Award for Best Fan Artist Won [43]
2016 Ditmar Award for Best Fan Artist Won [44]
2016 World Fantasy Award for Best Artist Finalist [45]
2017 Ditmar Award for Best Fan Artist Nominated [46]
2018 Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist Finalist [47]
2020 Locus Award for Best Artist Finalist [48]
2020 World Fantasy Award for Best Artist Won [16][17]
2021 Locus Award for Best Artist Finalist [49]
2021 Sydney J. Bounds Award Won [50]
2026 Locus Award for Best Artist Finalist [51][52]
2026 World Fantasy Award for Best Artist in progress [53][54]

Works

Jennings's work has also received praise. Locus has regularly included Jennings's publications on their year-end list of the recommended reading, including "Skull and Hyssop" (2014), for the year's best novellettes,[55] "The Heart of Owl Abbas" (2018) for the year's best short stories,[56] Flyaway (2020) for the year's best novellas,[57] "Merry in Time" (2022) for the year's best novelettes,[58] Kindling (2024) for the year's best collections,[59] and Honeyeater (2025) for the year's best novels.[60] Reactor reviewer Molly Templeton also included Honeyeater on her list of the best publications of 2025.[61]

Awards for Jennings's individual works
Year Work Sponsor/Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2012 "Finishing School" Aurealis Award Best Young Adult Short Story Finalist [62]
Ditmar Award Best Artwork Won [63]
The Freedom Maze (cover art) Ditmar Award Best Artwork Finalist [63]
2013 Midnight and Moonshine (cover art) Ditmar Award Best Artwork Won [64]
To Spin a Darker Stair (cover art and illustrations) Ditmar Award Best Artwork Finalist [64]
2014 Eclipse Online (illustrations) Ditmar Award Best Artwork Finalist [65]
"A Small Wild Magic" Aurealis Award Best Graphic Novel / Illustrated Work Finalist [66]
2015 Black-Winged Angels (illustrations) Ditmar Award Best Artwork Won [67]
The Bitterwood Bible and Other Recountings (illustrations) Ditmar Award Best Artwork Finalist [67]
Phantazein (cover art) Ditmar Award Best Artwork Finalist [67]
2016 Cranky Ladies of History (cover and internal artwork) Ditmar Award Best Artwork Won [44]
Bloodlines (cover art) Ditmar Award Best Artwork Finalist [44]
"A Hedge of Yellow Roses" Ditmar Award Best Short Story Won [44]
2019 "The Heart of Owl Abbas" Ditmar Award Best Short Story Won [68]
Eugie Award Finalist [69]
2020 Flyaway Australasian Shadows Awards Novel Finalist [23]
2021 Crawford Award Finalist [24]
Ditmar Award Best Novella or Novelette Won [22]
World Fantasy Award Novella Finalist [25]
2022 "Merry in Time" Aurealis Award Best Fantasy Novella Finalist [70]
2023 "Science fiction for hire? Notes towards an emerging practice of creative futurism" Aurealis Award Convenors' Award for Excellence Won [71]
2024 Kindling Aurealis Award Best Collection Finalist [28]
2025 Honeyeater Aurealis Award Best Fantasy Novel Finalist [35]
Kindling Ditmar Award Best Collected Work Finalist [29]
Locus Award Best Collection Finalist [30]
World Fantasy Award Collection Finalist [31][32]
2026 Honeyeater Ditmar Award Best Novel Won [72]
Ditmar Award Best Professional Artwork
 Won [72]
Queensland Literary Awards Lord Mayor's People's Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award Finalist [73]

Publications

As author

  • Travelogues: Vignettes from Trains in Motion. Brain Jar Press. 2020. ISBN 978-1922479006.
  • Flyaway. Pan Macmillan. 2020. ISBN 9781250260499.
  • Kindling: Stories. Small Beer Press. 2024. ISBN 9781618732132.
  • Honeyeater. Pan Macmillan. 2025. ISBN 978-1250845887.

As illustrator

  • Mudge, Faith; Valente, Catherynne M. (2012). To Spin a Darker Stair. FableCroft Publishing. ISBN 9780980777062.
  • Valente, Catherynne M. (2013). The Bread We Eat in Dreams. Subterranean. ISBN 9781596065826.
  • Slatter, Angela (2014). The Bitterwood Bible and Other Recountings. Tartarus. ISBN 9781905784653.
  • Yolen, Jane (2018). Finding Baby Yaga. Tor. ISBN 9781250163875.
  • Lanagan, Margo (2019). Stray Bats. Small Beer. ISBN 9781618731753.
  • Clare, Cassandra (2021). Chain of Iron. McElderry. ISBN 9781481431903.
  • Slatter, Angela (2021). The Tallow-Wife. Tartarus. ISBN 9781912586240.
  • Black, Holly (2024). The Prisoner's Throne. Little, Brown & Co. ISBN 9780316592710.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kathleen Jennings: Raised by Wolves". Locus Online. 21 January 2019. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "A conversation with Kathleen Jennings". State Library of Queensland. 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 14 December 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  3. ↑ Jennings, Kathleen (1 March 2019). Flyaway: Visual evocation of the beautiful sublime in Australian Gothic fiction (MPhil thesis). The University of Queensland. doi:10.14264/uql.2019.205. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Jennings, Kathleen (20 August 2024). Honeyeater: a novel method of creative observation (PhD thesis). doi:10.14264/78a875a. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "Kathleen Jenning's PhD novel, Honeyeater is shortlisted for the Aurealis Awards". University of Queensland. 3 August 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Our writer profiles". University of Queensland. 26 October 2018. Archived from the original on 20 April 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "The Bread We Eat in Dreams by Catherynne M. Valente". Publishers Weekly. 2 September 2013. Archived from the original on 13 December 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "The Bitterwood Bible and Other Recountings by". Publishers Weekly. 10 November 2014. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Guran, Paula (16 May 2021). "Paula Guran Reviews The Tallow-Wife and Other Tales by Angela Slatter". Locus. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "The Tallow-Wife by". Publishers Weekly. 22 February 2021. Archived from the original on 28 March 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Finding Baby Yaga". Kirkus Reviews. 29 July 2018. Archived from the original on 6 September 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Stray Bats by Margo Lanagan". Publishers Weekly. 21 October 2019. Archived from the original on 14 December 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Chain of Iron". Kirkus Reviews. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 10 June 2026. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "The Prisoner's Throne". Kirkus Reviews. 5 April 2024. Archived from the original on 14 November 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  15. ↑
  16. 1 2 "Awards: World Fantasy, Goddard Social Justice Winners". Shelf Awareness . 2 November 2020. Archived from the original on 5 March 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  17. 1 2 "World Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus. 2 November 2020. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  18. ↑ Gujarathi, Chika (10 July 2020). "Flyaway". BookPage. Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Kathleen Jennings on the Grim Genre of the Australian Gothic". Literary Hub. 13 November 2020. Archived from the original on 13 October 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  20. ↑ Coldiron, Katharine (29 August 2020). "Katharine Coldiron Reviews Flyaway by Kathleen Jennings". Locus Online. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  21. ↑ Brown, Alex (28 July 2020). ""Nothing else in the world beyond but trees": Flyaway by Kathleen Jennings". Reactor. Archived from the original on 30 September 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  22. 1 2 "2021 Ditmar Awards Winners". Locus. 23 November 2021. Archived from the original on 18 May 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  23. 1 2 "2020 Australian Shadows Awards Winners". Locus. 11 June 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  24. 1 2 "Nghi Vo Wins Crawford Award". Locus. 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  25. 1 2 "2021 World Fantasy Award Winners". Locus. 7 November 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  26. ↑ Pierce, Alexandra (4 May 2024). "Alexandra Pierce Reviews Kindling by Kathleen Jennings and Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart by GennaRose Nethercott". Locus. Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  27. ↑ Martin, Alice (19 January 2024). "Kindling". Shelf Awareness . Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  28. 1 2 "2024 Aurealis Award Winners". Locus. 5 May 2025. Archived from the original on 5 August 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  29. 1 2 "2025 Ditmar Awards Winners". Locus. 8 October 2025. Archived from the original on 30 April 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  30. 1 2 "2025 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. 22 June 2025. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  31. 1 2 Templeton, Molly (3 November 2025). "Here Are the 2025 World Fantasy Awards Winners". Reactor. Archived from the original on 3 November 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  32. 1 2 "World Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus. 2 November 2025. Archived from the original on 15 January 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  33. ↑ Pierce, Alexandra (29 October 2025). "Honeyeater by Kathleen Jennings: Review by Alexandra Pierce". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 4 March 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  34. ↑ Templeton, Molly (30 September 2025). "A Town, A Creek, A History: Honeyeater by Kathleen Jennings". Reactor. Archived from the original on 12 March 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  35. 1 2 Strangman, Alice (23 February 2026). "2025 Aurealis Awards Winners". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 24 April 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  36. 1 2 "2010 Ditmar Awards". Locus. 3 September 2010. Archived from the original on 9 January 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  37. ↑ "Ditmar and Other Australian Awards". Locus. 25 April 2011. Archived from the original on 20 January 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  38. ↑ "2012 Ditmar Award Winners". Locus. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  39. ↑ "World Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus. 4 November 2012. Archived from the original on 2 August 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  40. ↑ "2013 Ditmar Award Winners". Locus. 2 May 2013. Archived from the original on 15 December 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  41. ↑ "World Fantasy Awards Winners 2013". Locus. 3 November 2013. Archived from the original on 17 May 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  42. ↑ "2014 Ditmar Award Winners". Locus. 10 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  43. ↑ "2015 Ditmar and Other Australian Awards". Locus. 6 April 2015. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  44. 1 2 3 4 "2016 Ditmar and Other Australian Awards (Corrected)". Locus. 28 March 2016. Archived from the original on 22 December 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  45. ↑ "2016 World Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus. 30 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  46. ↑ "2017 Ditmar Award Ballot". Locus. 10 April 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  47. ↑ "2018 Hugo and Campbell Awards Winners". Locus. 20 August 2018. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  48. ↑ "2020 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. 27 June 2020. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  49. ↑ "2021 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. 26 June 2021. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  50. ↑ "2021 British Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus. 27 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  51. ↑ "2026 Locus Awards Winners". Locus Online. 31 May 2026. Archived from the original on 31 May 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  52. ↑ Templeton, Molly (1 June 2026). "Here Are the Winners of the 2026 Locus Awards". Reactor. Archived from the original on 9 August 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  53. ↑ Strangman, Alice (4 August 2026). "2026 World Fantasy Awards Finalists". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 10 August 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  54. ↑ Templeton, Molly (5 August 2026). "Here Are the 2026 World Fantasy Award Finalists". Reactor. Archived from the original on 6 August 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  55. ↑ "2014 Locus Recommended Reading List". Locus. 1 February 2015. Archived from the original on 18 December 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  56. ↑ "2018 Locus Recommended Reading List". Locus. 1 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  57. ↑ "2020 Locus Recommended Reading List". Locus. 1 February 2021. Archived from the original on 13 November 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  58. ↑ "2022 Recommended Reading List". Locus. 1 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  59. ↑ "2024 Recommended Reading List". Locus. 1 February 2025. Archived from the original on 11 August 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  60. ↑ "2025 Recommended Reading List". Locus. 1 February 2026. Archived from the original on 19 February 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  61. ↑ Templeton, Molly (9 December 2025). "Reviewers' Choice: The Best Books of 2025". reactor. Archived from the original on 2 July 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  62. ↑ "2011 Aurealis Awards Finalists". Locus. 19 March 2012. Archived from the original on 19 December 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  63. 1 2 "2012 Ditmar Award Winners". Locus. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  64. 1 2 "2013 Ditmar Award Winners". Locus. 2 May 2013. Archived from the original on 15 December 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  65. ↑ "2014 Ditmar Award Winners". Locus. 10 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  66. ↑ "2014 Aurealis Awards Winners". Locus. 13 April 2015. Archived from the original on 20 January 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  67. 1 2 3 "2015 Ditmar and Other Australian Awards". Locus. 6 April 2015. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  68. ↑ "2019 Ditmar Awards Winners". Locus. 10 June 2019. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  69. ↑ "Heller Wins 2019 Eugie Award". Locus. 3 September 2019. Archived from the original on 15 December 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  70. ↑ "2022 Aurealis Awards Winners". Locus. 5 June 2023. Archived from the original on 15 December 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  71. ↑ "2023 Aurealis Award Winners". Locus. 20 May 2024. Archived from the original on 12 December 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  72. 1 2 "Ditmar Awards 2026". The Adelaide Fan Review. 10 June 2026. Archived from the original on 28 July 2026. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
  73. ↑ "The Lord Mayor's People's Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award". Brisbane Writers Festival. Retrieved 14 August 2026.

Further reading

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