Melissa Cristina Márquez (she/her) is a fiercely proud Hispanic marine biologist, wildlife educator, professional speaker, and presenter. She has given two TEDx talk on sharks and female scientists, and her work has been highlighted in NPR, Allure, Disney+, BBC, National Geographic, Good Morning America, and more. In 2021, Melissa was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30: Science list and the InStyle “50 Badass Women” list. Melissa holds a BA in Marine Ecology and Conservation from New College of Florida and an MSc in Marine Biology from Victoria University. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Mexico, Melissa aims to bring attention to the importance of diversity and inclusion with her writing.
Devin Elle Kurtz (she/her) lives in San Diego, California, with her dog, Kira, and her thirty-three houseplants. She's been painting in Photoshop since the age of two when her artist mom first offered her a tablet pen. This is her debut picture book as an illustrator! Visit her online at devinellekurtz.com
