Guillermo del Toro was born October 9, 1964 in Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico. He is a Mexican director, producer, screenwriter and designer. On June 2, 2009 he released his first novel, The Strain, which he co-authored with Chuck Hogan. It is intended to be the first book in a vampire trilogy. del Toro studied at the Instituto de Ciencias, University of Guadalajara, with his future wife, Lorenza Newton. He lives in Wellington, New Zealand, with his wife and his two daughters, Mariana and Marisa.