Who is Jake Maddox? Athlete, author, world-traveler – or all three? He has surfed in Hawaii, scuba-dived in Australia, and climbed the mountains of Peru and Alaska. His books range from the most popular team sports to outdoor activities to survival adventures and even to auto racing. His exploits have inspired numerous writers to walk in his footsteps – literally! Each of his stories is stamped with teamwork, fair play, and a strong sense of self-worth and discipline. Always a team-player, Maddox realizes it takes more than one man (or woman) to create a book good enough for a young reader. He hopes the lessons learned on the court, field, or arena and the champion sprinter pace of his books can motivate kids to become better athletes and lifelong readers. After graduating from the Institute for Cinema and Television in Rome, Italy, in 1995, Guiliano started working as an animator, layout artist, and storyboard artist, collaborating on several TV series and TV games for RAI TV. He went on to illustrate for the comic magazine Lupo Alberto, one of the most famous characters in Italy, and for Cuore, a satirical weekly magazine. Guiliano continues to work as an animator and illustrator for advertising companies and educational publishing.