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.
In medieval France, a plague of voracious insects is destroying the crops. To stop the resulting famine, one young girl must call upon her courage—and upon the Blessed Virgin Mary—for nothing short of a miracle. In this poignant legend, learn how the ladybug came to have its name as you share in the faith journey of Brigitte, a child who has so much to give despite all that she has lost.
The legend as told by Maria Illich leads the reader though this period of history, the ladybug’s role in saving the people, and the courageous faith a of a young girl. The Legend of the Ladybug will capture the hearts of all who read it and endure for years to come.