Katje van Loon was born in Canada to immigrant parents in the Before Times, marking her as one of the fabled Elder Millennials. Growing up a child of two worlds, Katje spent her early years learning a lot about theatre and storytelling, and originally wanted to be a filmmaker. She indulges that parallel universe version of herself by consuming independent horror movies like they’re filet mignon — a sometimes treat, because there’s not enough time in the day otherwise.
Her books Bellica (now Chosen of Kore) and Stranger Skies were both nominated for some awards, which apparently is important, for some reason, and that’s why it’s in the author bio. What’s more important to Katje is crafting a story readers enjoy. Or at least one that she enjoys, as she is the first reader of all her stories and it seems important she likes what she’s writing.
When she’s not writing, or doing writing-adjacent activities like figuring out choreography or reading romance novels at an unhealthy rate, Katje is knitting, crocheting, or committing pixel homicide. She lives in British Columbia with her spouse, Mr. Katje, her mother, Kaimana Wolff, and the world’s biggest Border Collie, Sirius Li.
Katje describes herself alternately as a wild witch trapped in the big city and two raccoons & a corvid in a trench coat. Neither of these descriptions is wrong, and she’d like it on record that she’d happily fight a god for half a bagel.
Katje’s dream is to move to a small town, live in a big house with enough room for the husbeast and other assorted beasts, and become the village wise woman, doling out potions and spells in exchange for muffins or the occasional firstborn.
Publications
Neither a woman nor a man, just “other” — Katje’s article in the August 2022 issue of Powell River Living.
Why I Invented Non-Binary Day — BBC Feature, July 14th, 2022. Ghost-written from an interview Katje gave on the subject.