Niki Smith

Niki Smith is an American author and cartoon artist. Her books include The Deep & Dark Blue (2020), The Golden Hour (2021) and Midsummer Sisters (2026), among others. The Deep and Dark Blue was a finalist for the 2021 Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature, and Crossplay was a finalist for the 2019 Lambda Literary Award for Erotica.[1]

Although Smith was raised in Kansas, as of 2026, she lives with her wife in Germany.[2]

Select works

The Deep and Dark Blue (2020)

The Deep & Dark Blue is Smith's debut middle-grade graphic novel, published January 7, 2020, by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.[3][4] The novel centers twins Hawke and Grayce as they escape from their cousin Mirelle, who has staged a coup in their kingdom. The twins seek refuge with the Communion of Blue, where Grayce finds comfort, though Hawke becomes restless. The story features Grayce coming out as transgender.[5]

The Deep and Dark Blue was well received by critics, including a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal,[5][6] with Kirkus naming it one of the best middle grade books of 2020.[7] In 2021, the American Library Association included it among the top ten on their Rainbow Book List,[8] and the Young Adult Library Services Association named it among the year's Great Graphic Novels for Teens.[9] It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature.[10]

The Golden Hour (2021)

The Golden Hour is a middle-grade graphic novel published November 23, 2021, by Little, Brown and Company. The novel was a finalist for the 2022 Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature.[11]

Midsummer Sisters (2026)

Midsummer Sisters is a middle-grade graphic novel published June 9, 2026, by Graphix.[12]

Publications

Adult novels

  • Smith, Niki (2018). Crossplay. Iron Circus. ISBN 978-1-945820-14-4.[13][14]

Children's novels

  • Smith, Niki (2020). The Deep & Dark Blue. Little, Brown and Co. ISBN 978-0-316-48598-2.
  • Smith, Niki (2021). The Golden Hour. Little, Brown and Co. ISBN 978-1-546-12894-6.
  • Garcia, Karina; Panetta, Kevin (2023). Slime Shop. Illustrated by Niki Smith. Versify. ISBN 978-0-358-44645-3.[15][16]
  • Vaughn, Sarah (2023). Ruined. Pencils and colors by Sarah Winifred Searle, with inks and flats by Niki Smith. First Second. ISBN 978-1-250-76935-0.[17][18][19]
  • Bakes, Julie (2025). Sea Legs. Illustrated by Niki Smith. Graphix. ISBN 978-1-338-83586-1.[20]
  • Smith, Niki (2026). Midsummer Sisters. Graphix. ISBN 978-1-546-12894-6.

Short story collections

  • Your Hair (2012)

Anthologies

  • Yuri Monogatari: Volume 5 (2007)
  • Best Erotic Comics 2009 (2009)
  • Smut Peddler (2014)
  • Beyond: the Queer Sci-Fi & Fantasy Comic Anthology (2015)
  • Love in All Forms: The Big Book of Growing Up Queer (2015)
  • Food Porn: A Recipe for Pure Delight (2016)
  • Enough Space for Everyone Else (2017)
  • Mine!: A Comics Collection to Benefit Planned Parenthood (2017)
  • Oh Joy Sex Toy, Vol. 4 (2017)
  • Score!: A Hot Line-up of Erotic Sports Comics (2018)
  • Come Together: A European Anthology of Erotic Comics (2019)

References

  1. ↑ Talusan, Meredith (March 7, 2019). "Announcing the 2019 Lambda Literary Awards Nominations". them. Archived from the original on November 1, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  2. ↑ "About". Niki Smith. Archived from the original on January 1, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  3. ↑ "The Deep & Dark Blue". Booklist. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Children's Book Review: The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "THE DEEP & DARK BLUE". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  6. ↑ Gile, Kelley. "The Deep & Dark Blue". School Library Journal. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Best of 2020". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Rainbow List: 2021". Booklist. March 15, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  9. ↑ "2021 Great Graphic Novels for Teens". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 5, 2021. Archived from the original on January 1, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  10. ↑ "The US-Based Lambda Literary Awards Program Names Its 2021 Finalists". Publishing Perspectives. March 15, 2021. Archived from the original on January 1, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  11. ↑ "'Himawari House' Wins 2022 Kirkus Prize for Young Readers' Literature". School Library Journal. October 28, 2022. Archived from the original on February 7, 2026. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Midsummer Sisters". Booklist. May 1, 2026. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Crossplay by Niki Smith". Publishers Weekly. March 5, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  14. ↑ Cornog, Martha (April 1, 2018). "Crossplay". Library Journal. Archived from the original on November 12, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Slime Shop by Kevin Panetta, Karina Garcia". Publishers Weekly. June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Slime Shop". Kirkus Reviews. May 9, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  17. ↑ Greenberg, Karin (December 1, 2023). "Ruined". School Library Journal. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  18. ↑ Krohn, Suzanne (December 1, 2023). "Ruined". Shelf Awareness . Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Ruined by Sarah Vaughn". Publishers Weekly. October 19, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  20. ↑ Reviews:
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