- James Austin, Author -
James was born and raised in sunny San Diego, California. As an adopted child, growing up came with personal identity challenges and obstacles that lead him to develop feelings of inadequacy and being different. Over time, he has come to realize that being different from his friends made him unique and special. This is one of the core themes of the book that resonated through James. Franky the Firefly is his first children's book and he has aspirations to continue writing more books in the near future. James received a business degree with a minor in marketing from San Diego State University. He also completed his MBA from Ohio University.
- Izel Tamayo, Illustrator -
Izel is a nonbinary Mexican-American illustrator, comic artist, and character designer currently living in Los Angeles. They love sharing stories about their culture and family with others. They hope to continue to provide a space for the underrepresented to feel seen in the stories and characters they create. Whether it’s at the park, family events, or parties, you can always find Izel with a sketchbook and pen in hand.