OLGA HERRERA
Children's Book Author & Illustrator
Line Bio (17 words)
Olga Herrera is an Author/Illustrator and co-host of the podcast ILLO CHAT.
Debut picture book:The Unwelcome Surprise.
Short Bio (49 words)
Olga Herrera is an Author and Illustrator of Children's books.
The Unwelcome Surprise (Macmillan 2023). Alice Alone (Amicus 2025), A Light For Lucinda (Charlesbridge 2026)
Olga is co-host of ILLO CHAT, a podcast about Illustration. She is also an illustration and writing Instructor. She lives in Maryland and is bilingual.
Medium Bio (102 words)
Olga Herrera is an Author and Illustrator of Children's books.
The Unwelcome Surprise (Macmillan 2023). Alice Alone (Amicus 2025), A Light For Lucinda (Charlesbridge 2026)
She co-founded Illo Chat, a podcast about Illustration and kidlit publishing.
She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), serves as a writing/illustration mentor, and has won several illustration competitions.
Olga is multicultural, Cuban Ecuadorian, and bilingual in Spanish and English. She earned her BFA from the Ringling College of Art and Design with a major in Illustration.
She lives in Maryland with her husband, two children, and too many pets.
Long Bio (244 words)
Olga Herrera is an Author and Illustrator of Children's books.
The Unwelcome Surprise (Macmillan 2023). Alice Alone (Amicus 2025), A Light For Lucinda (Charlesbridge 2026)
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One of her passion projects is the podcast she co-founded, Illo Chat. It is about the journey into professional Illustration and the world of children's book publishing.
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She is a long-time member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), serves as a writing and illustration mentor for her regional chapter (MD/DE/WV), and has won several illustration competitions.
Olga earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Ringling College of Art and Design, majoring in Illustration. She is multicultural, Cuban and Ecuadorian, and is bilingual in Spanish and English. She was born in Miami, Florida, and grew up in Ecuador, a beautifully diverse country that remains close to her heart. As a teenager, she returned to the United States, where she began her interest in the arts.
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Between book projects, Olga teaches art at senior centers in her community. She also assists upcoming authors and illustrators globally through mentorships and classes.
She is a visual storyteller, often reaching for a napkin and pen to jot down a fantastic idea that will disappear in the blink of an eye.
She lives in the picturesque state of Maryland with her husband, two children, and too many pets who patiently listen to her ideas.
You can find her on Instagram @olgachildrensillustrator, and @olgaherrera.bsky.social on Bluesky.
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Her website is www.OlgaHerrera.me