Maria Illich

Maria Illich is an educator and writer who resides in Houston, Texas, with her husband Greg.  In addition to The Legend of the Ladybug, she authored The Morcant Twins & the Curse of the Griseum, a Young Adult novel nominated for a CYBILS Award as well as a Silver Falchion Award.  Maria is a graduate of the University of Saint Thomas in Houston where she was the first recipient of the Susan T. Scanlon Award for Creative Writing.  In addition, she earned an undergraduate degree in English and graduate degree in education from UST.  She currently teaches middle school English and literature at St. Francis de Sales Catholic School.

The Legend of the Ladybug is the 2021 Press Women of Texas Communications 1st Place winner in Children’s Books, Fiction. It also was the 1st Place winner in Children’s Books, Fiction for the National Federation of Press Women Communications. It is also a finalist for the Texas Institute of Letters Best Children’s Picture Books.

Illustrator

Katherine Illich is a 2D animator, illustrator and conceptual design artist.  After graduating from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston Texas, Katherine earned a degree in fine arts from the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design in Denver, Colorado.  In addition to The Legend of the Ladybug, Katherine also illustrated the cover art for The Morcant Twins & the Curse of the Griseum. Katherine resides in Denver, Colorado.