Nidhi Chanani is a renowned author, freelance illustrator, and cartoonist, who creates with the hope of bringing happiness to others. Born in Calcutta and raised in suburban southern California, Chanani studied literature at the University of California at Santa Cruz before pursuing a career in nonprofits. However, her passion for art eventually led her to enroll in art school and start the project "Every Day Love," where she created one illustration per day for three years. This project marked the beginning of her art career and business.
Chanani's work has received significant recognition, including being honored by the Obama Administration as a Champion of Change in 2012. Her debut graphic novel, "Pashmina," was released in fall 2017 and received starred reviews in several prestigious publications such as the School Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and the New York Times. The film adaptation of "Pashmina" with Netflix was announced in March 2019, with Gurinder Chadha set to direct. Her second original graphic novel, "Jukebox," was released in June 2021 with glowing reviews. Chanani has also worked with notable clients such as Disney, ABC, Airbnb, Sony, Microsoft, and State Farm Insurance.
Chanani's other notable works include "Jasmine’s New Pet," "Shubh Raatri Dost/Good Night Friend," "I will be fierce," "Binny’s Diwali," and "Kong and Me." Her non-fiction comics have appeared in the Nib, and her products are sold in retail shops across the country, including the San Francisco International Airport, Books Inc., and Therapy stores. Chanani is an instructor in the Master of Fine Arts, Comics program at the California College of Arts and is currently working on her next original graphic novel, "Super Boba Cafe," as well as unannounced picture books and graphic novels. She resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, daughter, and their cat.