She regularly attends conventions to exhibit and sell her work. Vernon has published short fiction under both names, and has won a number of awards for them including the Hugo Award and Nebula Award. LeGuin, who once joked that the initials 'U.K.' could stand for 'Ulysses Kingfisher'). She decided to start using the pseudonym in order to avoid confusion amongst parents who were only familiar with her as a children's book author, and chose it because she loves kingfishers (and as an homage to Ursula K. She then moved into writing and illustrating a number of children's books, her first being published in 2008, and then books for adults under the pseudonym T. She first became known for her webcomics and as a freelance artist, particularly for her works containing anthropomorphic animals.

She studied anthropology at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where she first took art classes. Ursula Vernon grew up in Oregon and Arizona. She writes short fiction under both names. Kingfisher, she is also the author of books for older audiences. Vernon's books for children include Hamster Princess and Dragonbreath.

She has won numerous awards for her work in various mediums, including the Hugo Award for her graphic novel Digger, the Nebula Award for her short story ' Jackalope Wives', and Mythopoeic Awards for adult and children's literature. Ursula Vernon (born May 28, 1977) is an American freelance writer, artist and illustrator. Ursa Major Award, Hugo Award, Nebula Award, Mythopoeic Award, WSFA Small Press Award

Digger by Ursula Vernon