N. K. Jemisin Biography: Books, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Height, Novels, Awards

N. K. Jemisin is a celebrated American author and writer renowned for her groundbreaking speculative fiction. Her works often tackle racism, cultural conflict, and systemic oppression.

In 2016, she became the first Black author to win the Hugo Award for Best Novel with The Fifth Season, the first book in her Broken Earth trilogy—a feat she repeated for each subsequent book.

Jemisin has also earned accolades for her shorter works, including a Hugo Award for Best Novelette in 2020 for Emergency Skin and another in 2022 for Best Graphic Story with Far Sector.

In 2020, she was awarded a MacArthur “Genius Grant” in recognition of her contributions to literature and culture.

Profile

• Full Name: Nora Keita Jemisin
• Stage Name: N.K. Jemisin
• Born: September 19, 1972
• Age: 52 years old
• Birthplace: Iowa City, Iowa, United States  
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: American author and writer.
• Height: Unknown
• Parent: Noah Jemisin and Janice Jemisin
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Unknown
• Children: Unknown
• Relationship: Unknown
• Net Worth: $1 million and $5 million

Early Life And Education

Nora Keita Jemisin was born on September 19, 1972, in Iowa City, Iowa, to Noah and Janice Jemisin, who were completing their master’s degrees at the University of Iowa.

While details about siblings remain unknown, Jemisin spent her formative years in New York City and Mobile, Alabama. This bicultural upbringing influenced her later works, which often explore themes of identity and societal structures.

Jemisin pursued her undergraduate education at Tulane University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1994. She furthered her studies at the University of Maryland, where she obtained a Master of Education in counseling.

  She is of mixed heritage. Jemisin has African ancestry, primarily from West Africa, as well as Creek/Muscogee Native American and European (likely Scots-Irish) roots. Her religious beliefs are not publicly documented.  

Career

N. K. Jemisin began her career by balancing a full-time job as a career counselor while pursuing her passion for writing. Her first published short story, Too Many Yesterdays, Not Enough Tomorrows, appeared in 2004, marking the start of her literary journey.

Participation in writing workshops and critique groups helped her refine her skills and build connections within the speculative fiction community. In 2010, she debuted with The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, the first novel in the Inheritance Trilogy, which earned critical acclaim and nominations for major awards like the Hugo and Nebula.

The trilogy’s success, with follow-ups The Broken Kingdoms (2010) and The Kingdom of Gods (2011), firmly established her as a significant voice in the genre. Jemisin achieved historic success with her Broken Earth trilogy, starting with The Fifth Season (2015), which explores themes of oppression and survival in a seismically unstable world.

From 2016 to 2018, each trilogy installment won the Hugo Award for Best Novel, making her the first author to win the award for three consecutive novels. In addition to her books, Jemisin contributed to publications such as The New York Times and launched a successful Patreon campaign in 2016, allowing her to transition to writing full-time.

Her later works include The City We Became (2020) and its sequel, The World We Make (2022), which explore urban identity and resilience through the lens of speculative fiction. Jemisin’s impact extends beyond her novels. In 2020, she was awarded the prestigious MacArthur “Genius Grant,” and in 2021, she was included in Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Sony’s TriStar Pictures acquired the rights to adapt the Broken Earth trilogy, with Jemisin herself writing the screenplay. Her works, which often examine race, power, and identity, have resonated with a global audience, solidifying her legacy as one of the most influential voices in contemporary speculative fiction.

Awards and Nominations

N.K. Jemisin has received numerous awards and nominations throughout her career:

Hugo Awards:

• Best Novel for The Fifth Season (2016)
• Best Novel for The Obelisk Gate (2017)
• Best Novel for The Stone Sky (2018) – first author to win three consecutive years.
• Best Novelette for Emergency Skin (2020)
• Best Graphic Story for Far Sector (2022)

Nebula Awards:

• Nominated for multiple works, including The Stone Sky (2018).

Locus Awards:

• Best First Novel for The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (2011)
• Best Fantasy for The Stone Sky (2018).

Other Awards:

• Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for The Broken Kingdoms (2010) and The Shadowed Sun (2012).

Social Media

N.K. Jemisin does not have any active social media accounts.

Personal Life

N. K. Jemisin has chosen to keep her personal life private, including details about her relationships or marital status. She prefers to focus on her writing and her role as a prominent advocate within the literary community. Her work speaks volumes about her dedication to storytelling and addressing critical societal issues.

Net Worth

As of 2022, N. K. Jemisin’s net worth is estimated between $1 million and $5 million. This reflects her achievements as a celebrated author, with multiple Hugo Awards and strong book sales. Her financial success is further bolstered by a lucrative deal with Sony to adapt her Broken Earth trilogy for film.