Alex Ilaoa

Alex was raised in Atlanta, Georgia and has recently relocated to charming St. Simons Island, Georgia, where her family is embracing the joys of nature and island-paced life!

As an architect, Alex’s daily life revolves around creative-thinking and the design process. She was recently captured by the world of children’s books after becoming a mom, and in her new mission to explore bookshelves, read rhymes and study illustrations, she realized that a picture book is not unlike an architectural project. All buildings begin with a story: What is the big idea? Who is the user and how do we want to make them feel? What visual tools convey the concept? Both worlds revolve around storytelling.

Alex studied architecture at Texas A&M University, earned her Master of Architecture from Georgia Tech, and began her career in Colorado (the mountains called!) prior to landing back home in Georgia. On her favorite days, you’ll find her hiking with her family and freckled pup Obie, enjoying wine and live music at a North Georgia winery, or recharging at the beach.

Her son Stern is the inspiration behind her new venture, Bow & Stern Books, and she is excited to apply the creative skillset she’s built throughout her career to this new passion. Bizzy the Carpenter Bee is her debut book.