Matilda Szydagis was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago to Polish immigrant parents. Her work includes three award-winning short horror films (The Hoosac, The Ruins, The Dam), one-act plays, essays, short stories, and a book inspired by her family’s immigrant experience. She is currently writing a feature horror film, Residue, a picture book series called Hennie the Mystical Kitty, and All Gnomes Speak Polish. Her picture books include All Cats Speak Polish, Penguin and the City,and Krasnoludek: a gnome tale. She is an award-winning actress who plays Zelda on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. B.A., Anthropology, University of Chicago. She lives in New York City. Member of HWA and SCBWI.