Naoya Imanishi, MEd, has been an educator in the Los Angeles Unified School District since 2000, serving as a third-grade teacher, math coach, and currently a school coordinator. He also works with the UCLA Mathematics Project as a teacher leader and coach for professional development in Cognitively Guided Instruction. While attaining his bachelor's and master's degrees in education at UCLA, he was one of the first producers of LCC Theatre Company and cofounder of Propergander, both Asian American theater companies with notable alumni. Naoya enjoys video editing and cooking for his wife, Jennifer, their sons, Kyle and Jordan, and their dog, Buddy.
Eloise Szaruga-Bolt is a UK-based illustrator and character designer. She studied at the Norwich University of the Arts and focuses on creating work that explores atmosphere, color, and world building. Eloise believes that every character is unique and has their own adventures to uncover. She adores mysteries, adventure, magic realism, plot twists, and tales of persevering friendship. With a passion for literary illustration, Eloise hopes to breathe life into stories, connecting them to their audience, leaving no reader left behind! Working with illustration for publishing, character design, and visual development, she is excited to see what future projects may hold.
