​​FERNANDA LAZZARO, author

The Swarm that Swarmed is Fernanda's first published children's book. In the past, Fernanda wrote human interest stories for her university newspaper. She has also worked as a reporter for a local TV station, and as a producer/co-host for a Canadian fitness lifestyle program. Her love of bees began in the concrete jungle of her elementary school yard in Toronto. The only flowers that existed bordered the school fence and there she was, a lonely honey bee going about her business. It captured Fernanda's attention. She has since become a beekeeper. Fernanda is still fascinated with bugs and how their small existence has a huge importance on our eco-system. ​​​​

QI ZHAN, illustrator

Qi has been working as a freelance illustrator now for over three years. She discovered she had a talent for illustration in her last year of university while in China. Until then, she merely had an interest in art. She did her research and discovered that watercolours would be her preferred medium. Qi has worked on many projects from designing postcards to creating artwork for other children's books.
You can view her work on her website: www.qizhan.ca.
Purchase her work at her online store.
Or learn to draw your own watercolour masterpieces from Qi's online instructions. ​

MIKE GALIC, poet​

Mike's appreciation for music introduced him to the art of poetry at the young age of four. In his eyes, poetry is short-form story telling, with the added bonus of rhythm; not unlike musical lyrics. Mike surrounds himself with humour, so it's no wonder he enjoyed writing "Welcome to Tillsonbug!". As the series' resident poet, he looks forward to future books and sharing his amusing poetry to help set the tone of each story. When Mike is not writing, he works on refurbishing old dressers, creating unwanted items into unique vanities and cupboards. And he creates interesting hot sauces with peppers grown from his own organic garden. ​​​