Mari Toscas, MFA,

is a published poet, artist, and mother of five, three of whom have autism. Inspired by her son, Phoenyx, who has severe nonverbal autism, Mari sought to create a world where Phoenyx lives and thrives: a mystical, ethereal, raw, macabre, gothic – sometimes facetious – but beautiful and kaleidoscopic world for us to join in.

Mari is the author of four books: Raising a Phoenyx, I'm Never Going to Financially Recover from This, Cornelia and The Pine Torch, and Wings in the Land of Feet. 

Originally inspired to create artwork for apparel through her retail company, The Pine Torch, Mari wanted to be able to reach her audience in a more multi-dimensional way, through poetry and visual imagery, creating books that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.