(pronounced “Cat Akino”, they/them/siya)

is a 26-year-old queer Filipino author with ADHD. Champion of the Rose (co-created and illustrated by Dominique Duran) is their debut book.

Cat was born and raised in Manila but currently lives in London, where they edit fantasy and horror novels for teens and adults at Daphne Press. They hold an Erasmus Mundus International Master degree in Children’s Literature, Media, and Culture from the University of Glasgow, Aarhus University, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Tilburg University, Wroclaw University, and the University of British Columbia with a distinction and specializations in justice, anti-colonialism, trauma, and memory in children’s and young adult books and media.

Beyond books, Cat loves sunlight, kickass sword fights, anime and manga like Fullmetal Alchemist, Witch Hat Atelier, and Blue Period and exploring Europe and Southeast Asia.

Photo by Wei Zhang