Tomas Hijo was born in Spain. He is an illustrator and a professor of illustration at the University of Salamanca in Spain. He has illustrated more than seventy books and written ten of them, most of which are related to legends and folklore, from ancient legends to creepypasta, from medieval miracles to a brief history of magic. This interest has led him to collaborate frequently with well-known Spanish radio and TV shows about Forteana and paranormal phenomena. With printmaking as his technique of choice, his works belong to private collections all around the world, including Guillermo del Toro's and Mike Mignola's. His work has been exhibited in many galleries through Europe and the United States. His interest in the works of H. P. Lovecraft led to the birth of Nictonomicon, a collection of prints that has attracted the interest of the most important people in the field. Hijo received the Best Artwork Award from the Tolkien Society in 2015 in recognition of his works about J. R. R. Tolkien's books. Guillermo del Toro is the acclaimed director of The Shape of Water, Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim, and Crimson Peak. His Strain novels are international best sellers. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, kids, dog, cat, and rat.