Today, please join me in giving a hearty Mixed-Up welcome to author and illustrator
J.C. Phillipps. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, J.C
. took art lessons at the Toledo Museum of Art and went on to get degrees in art and theater from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and Emerson College in Boston.
More recently, J. C. has been working as an artist, author, and illustrator in West Hartford, Connecticut. She has written and illustrated four published picture books as well as the graphic novel series
Pacey Packer Unicorn Tracker. Her latest graphic MG novel,
The Ghost in Cabin 13, has been praised by Kirkus as “A coming-of-age journey worth sharing around a campfire” and is out now from Penguin Workshop.
The Ghost in Cabin 13: A Summary
Twelve-year-old Leah is nervous to attend Camp Cottontail for the first time. She’s worried about meeting new friends, sleeping out in the woods, and being away from her family. But Leah didn’t expect to be freaked out about the ghost in Cabin 13. It’s a good thing she brought her beloved doll, Beverly, for comfort. But after getting picked on by the older girls in her cabin, participating in a séance gone wrong, and befriending—and then ditching—a possessed doll, Leah’s experience at camp goes from anxiety-ridden to straight-up spooky. Will she survive or hightail it home?
Interview with J.C. Phillips
MR: Welcome to the Mixed-Up Files, J.C! (May I call you Julie?)
JCP: Absolutely! Thank you so much for having me.
It Started with Inktober
MR: I read that the inspiration for this book came from your participation in a month-long drawing challenge called Inktober. Can you tell MUF readers more about this?
JCP: Sure. Inktober is a 31-day drawing challenge that takes place in the month of October. Each day there is a one-word prompt, like Salty or Bluff, and artists all over the world draw their interpretations and post them on their Instagram pages with the hashtag #inktober and details like the year and prompt. In 2022, one of the prompts was Uh-oh. I thought back to my childhood when my friends and I would play spooky games at slumber parties, and I drew a séance gone wrong. Four poor girls are startled by a Victorian ghost that they have accidentally summoned. I loved the memory of having fun being scared and developed that feeling into the story of The Ghost in Cabin 13.
What a Doll!
MR: Leah, the doll-toting, 12-year-old protagonist, is an extremely sympathetic character. Did you share traits with Leah at that age? Also, did you go to sleepaway camp? If so, what was your experience like? Did you encounter any ghosts? 🙂
JCP: I absolutely shared (and still share) character traits with Leah. Leah is nervous with new people. My nightmare is a party where I only know one person. Leah wants to be part of the group but she’s afraid of being teased and rejected. I think most of us feel that way. At the end of the day, I think we all want to be around people who like us for who we are. But sometimes it’s hard to find those people, so we pretend we don’t really need them. I’m no different.
As for personal camp experience, I had a one-night sleepover camp during my Girl Scout years and I used to be a counselor for a day camp called Camp Seafaring in the Boston area. (That camp was a major influence on Book 2 in the Cabin 13 series.) I’ve never encountered a ghost, and I’m okay with that. I prefer them in fiction. 🙂
Portrait of an Artist
MR: In addition to writing the novel, you created the illustrations. What was the process like for you? Did you do both at the same time or add the illustrations later? Also, how does being an artist influence your writing and vice-versa?
JCP: I write the story first. Sometime in the first draft I might start to draw the main characters. Knowing what they look like helps me capture their voice. I probably go through two or three drafts of writing before I get serious about illustrating. And I will intentionally over-write scenes knowing that I will cut them down when I start sketching out the pages.
It’s easy to write a long conversation, but once you start to draw it, it becomes visually boring if the characters stay in the same place for too long. It’s great to be both the writer and illustrator because I can choose what I want to say visually. Maybe I want a character to respond with a scowl. Or maybe I want a panel where someone’s jaw drops open in disbelief. I can visualize those moments as I’m writing and just make myself a little illustration note in the text. I call them Notes to Future Julie because I might not draw that scene for months.
Pacey Packer, Unicorn Tracker
MR: In addition to The Ghost in Cabin 13, you have written and illustrated the popular Pacey Packer, Unicorn Tracker series. How did your experience crafting The Ghost in Cabin 13 differ from your creation of Pacey Packer? What was similar?
JCP: The writing of both projects was similar, although I remember having more difficulty in finding the right tone for Pacey Packer Unicorn Tracker. It took me a long time to figure out how evil or silly the unicorns were going to be. But for The Ghost in Cabin 13 I knew what vibe I was going for, so I had an easier time developing that plot.
I did have a hurdle at the beginning, because in the first draft there was no summer camp. Leah and her parents went to an AirBnB with their extended family. Instead of a cabin of teen girls, Leah was being teased by her teenage cousins who made TikTok videos. But the story focused too much on the relationship between Leah and her mom and it wasn’t as very fun. I had to figure out how to get rid of Mom. Once I landed on sending Leah to summer camp, things really came together.
The biggest difference between the creation of both books was in the illustrating. Pacey Packer Unicorn Tracker has only one color, purple. The Ghost in Cabin 13 is in full-color. I’m so glad Pacey was only in purple. It was the first time I’d worked digitally and it was a lot for me to learn Photoshop, Procreate, and the fundamentals of paneled storytelling without having to deal with color theory. Now that I know how to use the digital tools, I can spend more time working on the color palette and how to use color to help with the mood and tone of the story, especially the spooky parts!
Picture Books vs. MG
MR: Besides being a middle-grade author and illustrator, you have written and illustrated several picture books. What was it like for you to take the leap to middle grade? Were there any specific challenges creating stories and illustrations for an older audience?
JCP: If anything, the jump from picture books to graphic novels was a little easier. Writing for a middle-grade audience suits my sense of humor a bit more. I can be a little more snarky. A little more myself. Picture books are shorter, but that doesn’t mean they are easier. The ideas and the execution of those ideas have to be clear and concise in picture books. In graphic novels, I have more time to explore character arcs, include a small side plot, or even develop some of the supporting characters.
In Pacey Packer Unicorn Tracker I was able to develop a comic relationship between two unicorn guards. In The Ghost in Cabin 13, I had space to give more details to the counselors and Camp Leader. I think those small details are so much fun! In picture books, I might have been able to sneak some extra details into the art, but there was never space in the text. The biggest challenges for me in creating a middle-grade horror story was staying within the boundaries of what is acceptable spooky fun for the age group without overdoing it. I want the readers to have the thrill of being scared without any nightmares.
Path to Publication
MR: Can you tell us a bit about your path to publication? Was it smooth sailing or bumpy seas?
JCP: Arg! I think, relatively speaking, it was smooth sailing, but it was a roundabout path to get there. I never planned on being an author/illustrator. I got a Bachelors Degree in Art and Theater and a Masters Degree in Theater Education. I wanted to teach college-level theater. After I had graduated from Emerson College, I got a job teaching for a K-1 classroom at an afterschool program, and every day I would read picture books to the class. This was the first time I was looking at picture books as an adult. I looked at the art and knew I could create illustrations. And I looked at the stories, similar to plays, and I knew I could write them. So I shifted my focus to creating literature for children.
I read some books on the craft and joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. One day, they had an Illustrators Day in New York City. I attended workshops while agents and editors looked at my portfolio. On the Greyhound bus back to Boston, I looked at my responses (the agents and editors left cards in my portfolio) and saw that an agent was interested in me. About a year later, I had a contract for my first picture book, Wink the Ninja Who Wanted to Be Noticed.
Julie’s Writing Routine
MR: What is your writing and illustrating process like? Do you have a specific routine or word-count goals? Also, are you a plotter or a pantser?
JCP: I wish I was a plotter! I’m such a type-A person that it would make sense if I was a plotter, but no, I love to sit down with an idea and just type away and see what happens. I’m a pantser through and through.
I always compare writing with pottery. The first draft is making clay. At the end of that draft you just have a big pile of clay in front of you. Then, in revisions, you shape it, remove excess, and it starts becoming a clear story with characters, plot, theme. I usually write in the mornings when my head is clear. I don’t have word-count goals when it comes to writing. For me, the writing process is most successful when I allow myself to be organic and free-flowing.
However, illustration is completely different. I absolutely set goals for myself. Usually it’s one spread (two pages) per day. That can take 4-6 hours depending on how detailed the drawing is. I ink (in Procreate) the entire book then submit it to the editors for notes. Once the ink drawings are approved, I move onto the coloring process. Again, I have a goal of one spread per day, but sometimes I can go faster and get 3-4 pages done per day. Making a graphic novel is a marathon-type project. I have to set a pace for myself that I can maintain for a year. Sometimes it can feel long, but, all in all, I like the routine of it.
Successful Author Visits
MR: Rumor has it you enjoy doing author visits at schools. What is your secret sauce for a successful visit?
JCP: This is where my theater degree gets put to use. I trained as an actor in my undergraduate program. I do not fear a stage. I can project my voice. And I enjoy interacting with young people. When I’m creating a school visit presentation, I build in games, quizzes, and different ways I can interact with the audience. I think of it as an audience-participation show. My goal is to give a 50-minute presentation that informs and entertains, that the students can be a part of.
The Ghost in Cabin 13: What’s Next
MR: The Ghost in Cabin 13 is the first in a series. Would you mind sharing a bit about what readers can expect in the books that follow?
JCP: Cabin 13 is an anthology series, so every book is its own individual story. Different characters. Different camp. Different ghosts/monsters. But they are all spooky and there’s always a Cabin 13. I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to say about Book 2, but here’s a clue: Arrr, mateys!
When my editor and I were discussing book 2 of the series, we debated continuing Leah’s story or expanding the world of the books beyond Camp Cottontail. I figured I could extend Leah and Beverly’s story for one more book, but it would be challenging after that. Then I started brainstorming all the fun ideas for new monsters in new camps, and that seemed a lot more exciting. Plus, after the series is built up a bit, readers can choose any book in any order, which also appealed to me. I also like the idea of having many main characters so readers can hopefully find themselves reflected in one of the books.
Merch!
MR: Last question. You have the most incredible selection of artistic merch on Redbubble, including T-shirts, mugs, notebooks, phone cases, and more. What inspired you to branch out in this way? Also, will you have merch available for The Ghost in Cabin 13?
JCP: Okay, business talk. As an artist, it’s good to have multiple revenue streams. I love making books, but sometimes I don’t have a book under contract. So, I also have art in several local galleries and gift shops. I do art fairs. I teach paint-n-sip watercolor classes for adults. I do author visits. And I upload my art to print-on-demand sites like TeePublic and Redbubble.
I started uploading work to Redbubble about ten years ago. I liked being able to print my work on bags, T-shirts, and stickers so I could sell them at my art shows. But it’s also a good way for people to find my art online. If, say, someone in Chicago who follows me on Instagram likes a painting, they could buy a print on Redbubble. Or, sometimes people tell me they like one of my Inktober drawings and ask if I’ll post it on Redbubble so they can buy a print. I’m happy to do that. Right now there are two Cabin 13 designs in my Redbubble shop, so if you wanted to check them out, you’d go to Redbubble.com and search JCPhillipps Cabin13.
Lightning Round!
MR: No MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so…
Preferred writing snack? Pretzels.
Coffee or tea? Iced coffee.
Zombie apocalypse: Yea or nay? In fiction, Yea – all the way. I love zombies. In reality, I think the zombies would eat my brains pretty quickly. Surviving a zombie apocalypse isn’t in my skill set.
Favorite camp activity? I’d be a theater girlie: painting sets, sewing costumes, making puppets. The show must go on!
Favorite ghost story? This is a tough one. The first thing that comes to mind isn’t a ghost story, but rather a scary, creepy story and it’s Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado. It’s a story about cold, calculated revenge. My favorite ghost movie is The Sixth Sense, where a little boy can see ghosts, many of whom don’t know they are ghosts. He’s scared at first, but then he learns that he can help them. Neither of these stories are for kids, although I think I read The Cask of Amontillado in high school. I love Edgar Allan Poe.
Superpower? Teleportation. I love being places, but I hate getting there. I’d love to blink my way to Paris!
Favorite place on earth? Buck Island. It’s a small uninhabited island off the coast of St. Croix. If you go on a snorkeling trip, a boating company will take you out there, you can snorkel for an hour then spend about 20 minutes on the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen. The sand is soft and white. The water is warm. It’s so peaceful and lovely. If I need to calm down, I just take a deep breath.
MR: Thank you for chatting with me, Julie, and congratulations on the publication of The Ghost in Cabin 13! I thought it was a lot of fun, and I know readers will think so, too!
JCP: Thank you so much. What great questions! I really hope your readers enjoy The Ghost in Cabin 13.
Bio
Originally from Toledo, Ohio, J. C. Phillipps took art lessons at the Toledo Museum of Art. She went on to get degrees in art and theater from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and Emerson College in Boston. More recently, J. C. has been working as an artist, author, and illustrator in West Hartford, Connecticut. She has written and illustrated four published picture books as well as the graphic novel series Pacey Packer Unicorn Tracker. Learn more about J.C. Phillipps on her website and follow her Instagram.
Melissa Roske is a writer of middle-grade fiction. Before spending her days with imaginary people, she interviewed real ones as a journalist in Europe. Upon returning to her native New York, Melissa contributed to several books and magazines, selected jokes for Reader’s Digest, and received certification as a life coach from NYU. In addition to her debut novel Kat Greene Comes Clean (Charlesbridge), Melissa’s short story “Grandma Merle’s Last Wish” appears in the Jewish middle-grade anthology, Coming of Age: 13 B’Nai Mitzvah Stories (Albert Whitman). Learn more about Melissa on her Website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
