IIWAA (He/They) is a Piipaash and Quechan performer, songwriter, and recording artist representing District 7 of the Gila River Indian Community. They are the recipient of the 2022 Viola Award for Excellence in Music for their debut EP, Dysphoria. IIWAA has been featured on Native America Calling, the CBC, and recognized by the Grammys Recording Academy.
Meet Eileen Pieczonka, an award-winning author for Blueberry Bear. Her therapy dog Jamie was her inspiration to write Blueberry Bear. They visited libraries to help children enhance their reading skills, which fueled her passion for children’s literacy. Eileen is Co-Founder of Loving Literacy Authors, Board Member for the Artists of the Superstitions, a freelance writer with a degree in Photo Offset and a reading tutor. On the fun side, Eileen is a wannabe cowgirl who loves surf music, hiking with her dogs, and loves traveling. She is a volunteer for Tommy Two Shoes Literacy Project for Children and SW Human Development. As an animal-assisted therapy team, Eileen volunteers for East Valley Hospice and Pawsitive Friendships working with special needs children and adults. Eileen supports rescue shelters as well as children’s organizations by donating raffle baskets that include her Blueberry Bear books.