Kij Johnson, born as Katherine Irenae Johnson on January 20, 1960, in Harlan, Iowa, is a prominent American writer known for her compelling works in fantasy and science fiction. A notable figure in the literary world, Johnson has held various influential positions in the publishing industry, including managing editor for Tor Books and Wizards of the Coast/TSR, collections editor for Dark Horse Comics, project manager for the Microsoft Reader, and managing editor of Real Networks. Beyond her editorial pursuits, she has made significant contributions to the academic community as the Associate Director for the Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas, and as a final judge for the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award.

Johnson's literary talent has been recognized with numerous awards throughout her career. She has captivated readers with her adaptations of Heian-era Japanese myths and her original storytelling. Her accolades include the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, which she received for her novelette "Fox Magic" published in Asimov's magazine. She has also won the Nebula Award three times (2010, 2011, and 2012), the World Fantasy Award (2009, 2017, and 2019), and the Hugo Award (2012), among others. Her work has also been honored internationally with the French Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire (2017).

Her bibliography boasts an impressive range of works, from short stories to novels. Notable titles include The Fox Woman, Fudoki, At the Mouth of the River of Bees, The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe, and The River Bank, a sequel to Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. In addition to her solo projects, she collaborated with Greg Cox on the Star Trek: The Next Generation book Dragon’s Honor. Her short stories, such as "26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss," "Spar," "Ponies," and "The Man Who Bridged the Mist," have earned her critical acclaim and a diverse international audience, with her work being translated into seventeen languages and optioned for Hollywood adaptations.

With a career spanning several decades, Johnson has sold more than fifty shorter works of fiction, poems, nonfiction, and game materials, showcasing her versatility and depth as a writer. She resides in Lawrence, Kansas, with her cat, Jurat, continuing to inspire and captivate with her imaginative and evocative storytelling.