Posts Tagged fiction

Interview with Author/Illustrator J.C. Phillipps

By on May 8, 2026   /   Articles, Author Interviews  
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.

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Storytelling Meets Science: Fantastical Middle Grade Novels That Teach Complex Ideas

By on January 29, 2026   /   Book Lists, Fiction  

Why Science Feels Easier When it Lives Inside a Story

Children are natural storytellers. They remember the hero’s journey, the twist at the climax, and the friendships forged along the way. Embedding scientific concepts inside a compelling narrative taps into that innate love of story and offers several learning advantages:

Contextualizes abstract ideas —> Instead of a dry definition of “orbital mechanics,” a protagonist who pilots a spacecraft experiences gravity wells firsthand.

Creates emotional hooks —> When a character’s survival depends on understanding a biological process, readers feel a personal stake in mastering that concept.

Encourages curiosity —> Plot‑driven mysteries (“What’s causing the strange lights?”) motivate kids to ask “why?” and seek answers beyond the page.

Promotes memory retention —> Information linked to vivid scenes, characters, and conflicts is far easier to recall than isolated facts.

Models problem‑solving —> Characters confront challenges, experiment, fail, and iterate—mirroring the scientific method in an accessible way.

Fantasy doesn’t have to be pure escapism. When the magic follows—or at least references—real scientific principles, it can spark curiosity, reinforce classroom learning, and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

The following seven middle grade novels incorporate scientific principles into their fantastical narratives

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

Physics of Light & Sound — using lenses, prisms, resonance, and wave interference to create protective barriers and weapons

Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths.

Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret–behind the mirage of the “death farm” there is instead a place called Artime.

In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it’s a wondrous transformation.

But it’s a rare, unique occurence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron’s bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

General Relativity & Higher‑Dimensional Geometry – concepts of spacetime curvature and extra dimensions

Late one night, three otherworldly creatures appear and sweep Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O’Keefe away on a mission to save Mr. Murray, who has gone missing while doing top-secret work for the government. They travel via tesseract–a wrinkle that transports one across space and time–to the planet Camazotz, where Mr. Murray is being held captive. There they discover a dark force that threatens not only Mr. Murray but the safety of the whole universe.

The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier

Engineering & Physics – building traps, catapults, and improvised weapons using principles of leverage, energy transfer, and material strength

Ever since the monster apocalypse hit town, average thirteen year old Jack Sullivan has been living in his tree house, which he’s armed to the teeth with catapults and a moat, not to mention video games and an endless supply of Oreos and Mountain Dew scavenged from abandoned stores. But Jack alone is no match for the hordes of Zombies and Winged Wretches and Vine Thingies, and especially not for the eerily intelligent monster known only as Blarg. So Jack builds a team: his dorky best friend, Quint; the reformed middle school bully, Dirk; Jack’s loyal pet monster, Rover; and the fiercest girl Jack knows, June. With their help, Jack is going to slay Blarg, achieve the ultimate Feat of Apocalyptic Success, and be average no longer! Can he do it?

Told in a mixture of text and black-and-white illustration, this is the perfect series for any kid who’s ever dreamed of starring in their own comic book or video game.

The Last Firehawk by Katrina Charman

Evolutionary Biology & Genetics – concepts of DNA, selective breeding, and adaptation

A terrible darkness is spreading across Perodia. Thorn, a powerful vulture, is using dark magic (and his dark army of spies!) to destroy the magical land. A young owl named Tag may be the only one who can save it! Tag dreams of one day becoming a brave warrior, but he is small . . . In this first book, Tag and his best friend — a squirrel named Skyla — meet the last firehawk. Together, the three friends learn about a magical stone. Could this stone be powerful enough to defeat Thorn? This action-packed series makes a great introduction to fantasy and quest stories for newly independent readers. Realistic black-and-white artwork appears on every page!

The Secrets of Droon by Tony Abbott Basic

Chemistry & Physics – many “spells” are really chemical reactions or physical effects (light, levitation via magnets)

When Neal and Julie agree to help Eric straighten up his basement, they never imagine that they’re in for more than getting a little dusty. But as the three kids follow a soccer ball into the small room under the basement stairs, the floor suddenly evaporates to reveal a rainbow staircase to another world!

Before they have a chance to look around, they are caught in the midst of a battle. Shiny red men riding giant lizards are shooting arrows straight at them. They are saved by Princess Keeah of Droon who tells them the red men are warriors for the evil Lord Sparr. She promises to help them get home if they will carry a message for her. The message is delivered successfully but the brave Keeah has been captured by Lord Sparr. Equipped with a cape of invisibility, a six legged camel/horse, and a talkative spider-troll named Max, the three children manage to sneak in and rescue Keeah. Astride a magic carpet, Julie, Eric, Neal, and Keeah fly to the stairs that will take the three “Upper World” children back home. The kids are astonished to discover that no time has passed back in their own world.

But even as they marvel at their adventure, they realize that Princess Keeah has left them a secret message: Your dreams will tell you to return!

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

Robotics, engineering, and ecology

Can a robot survive in the wilderness?

When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is–but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island’s unwelcoming animal inhabitants.

As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home–until, one day, the robot’s mysterious past comes back to haunt her.

Dragonback Series by Timothy Zahn

Symbiosis & Mutualism – the rider and Drake exchange nutrients, oxygen, and behavioral cues

Jack Morgan has been framed for theft. He’s hiding on a distant planet with the virtual presence of his deceased Uncle Virge, a con man who has been his only family since Jack’s parents died. Jack knows he must clear his name before the cops catch up with him. A firefight among ships in the skies above leaves a downed ship near Jack’s hiding place, with a single unlikely survivor. It looks like a dragon, and it must join with a human host within six hours or die. The only available host is Jack.

Draycos, Jack’s new “companion,” is a K’da, a dragon-like species that lives symbiotically with the humanoid Shontine. The attackers, determined to exterminate Draycos’s people, will find them if they don’t flee; so the pair works together to escape the planet and begin a search for the truth behind Jack’s frame-up and the identity of the attackers.

With Jack’s future hanging in the balance, as well as the future of billions of Draycos’s people, the pair must track down the people who framed Jack, and prevent the destruction of the remaining K’da and Shontine. They’ll also discover whether their union was mere coincidence, or a friendship written in the stars.

Mutualism and symbiosis–I love this concept. It also features heavily in the relationship between the two main characters in my own book The Whispering Fog!

How to Use Fictional Novels that Include Scientific Concepts in the Classroom or at Home

  • Classroom tie‑ins: Pair a reading assignment with a short experiment or demonstration that mirrors the scientific concept (e.g., build a simple lens to explore optics after The Unwanteds).
  • Reading circles: Have students discuss how the “magic” would work if it followed real physics, encouraging critical thinking.
  • Project ideas: Let kids design their own “scientific fantasy” short story, choosing a real scientific principle to embed in the plot.

By weaving real science into the fabric of imagination, we give young readers a compass that points toward curiosity, discovery, and the next great adventure. Happy Reading!

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Author Spotlight: Anh Do

By on September 18, 2025   /   Articles, Author Interviews  

If you haven’t heard of Anh Do, it’s for one reason, and one reason only: you haven’t spent time in Australia. There, he’s a beloved TV personality, stand-up comic, artist, memoirist, and yes…  bestselling children’s author. His wildly popular Wolf Girl series, which features Gwen, a plucky, slingshot-toting tween and her pack of furry and feathery friends, has sold over a million copies Down Under.

The second installment in the series, The Great Escape, is now available in the U.S. from Harper, along with Book 1, Into the Wild, which came out last year.

But first…

The Great Escape: A Summary

After spending four years alone in the wild, Gwen is overjoyed to see another human being. But all that changes when she’s thrown into the back of a van and taken to a remote prison camp. The situation looks dire. How will her pack of loyal animal friends find her? Where are her parents and sister? Are the other kids in the camp friends or enemies? And, above all, how will she escape?

And now, without further ado…

ANH DO!

MR: Welcome to the Mixed-Up Files, Anh! It’s an absolute pleasure to have you here!

AD: Thank you, Melissa. It’s a real joy to be here!

MR: Although American readers may not be familiar with the Wolf Girl series, the books have sold more than a million copies in Australia. What’s the secret to writing a series with such strong reader appeal? It’s no mean feat, especially in today’s competitive market.

AD: I have a super short attention span, which was a problem when I was a kid, sitting in class. But  now it’s my superpower. My books have to be fascinating to me, first and foremost, so my children’s books have truckloads of awesome things that happen. Every few pages there is something amazing, or moving, or surprising, or funny. I guess this keeps my readers totally engaged and delighted.

Anh’s Inspiration

MR: What was your inspiration for the series, and for your plucky protagonist, Gwen? She’s quite a force of nature.

AD: When I was a kid, my family owned a farm. We had seven dogs that helped keep foxes at bay and look after the other animals. They became like my little band of buddies. I spent entire days wandering around the forest with my pack of dogs.

About 30 years later, I was watching my three-year-old daughter, sitting with her soft toys and talking to her fluffy dog toys, when suddenly the idea of Wolf Girl popped into my head: a little girl who gets lost in the forest and befriends a wolf puppy and a bunch of adorable dogs. Over the years they become family, and the dogs teach her how to become more in tune with her senses and how to detect danger, the way dogs do. Some people have said that Wolf Girl is a bit like Tarzan but with dogs instead of apes, and a young girl instead of a muscle-bound man.

Kindness in the Face of Adversity

MR: In The Great Escape, Gwen is taken to a prison camp, where children are forced to work as unpaid laborers. There, she meets Rupert, a fellow inmate who shows compassion to Gwen by sneaking her food. What were you trying to say about the nature of kindness, particularly in the face of adversity?

AD: I think human beings are innately kind. Of course there are exceptions, but whenever you see a natural disaster, like a hurricane or fire, people will help other people who are total strangers. I have found that in my childhood. I grew up very poor and was raised by a single mum. Many people, young and old, helped me and I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for their kindness.

Animal Friends

MR: Gwen shares the spotlight with a pack of heroic animal friends: a wolf, four dogs, and an eagle who serve as her protectors. As Gwen says, “If not for my animals, I don’t know if I would have survived.” Can you elaborate?

AD: Gwen is about eight years old when she befriends the lost animals and they become her family. The dogs and eagle help her hunt for food and provide her with warmth when she curls up amongst them. But they also provide her with emotional comfort. The animals mean that she is not totally alone.

Vietnam to Australia

MR: While we’re on the subject of survival, your 2010 memoir, The Happiest Refugee, chronicles your family’s perilous journey by boat from war-torn Vietnam to Sydney, Australia. How did that experience shape you as a writer and influence your books?

AD: Yes, I am a refugee and my family lived through the Vietnam war. In fact, my father and uncles fought alongside American soldiers, so I grew up with stories told at the dinner table every night. Every story was life and death, kindness and betrayal, love and loss and danger. All these things are now deeply infused in my books.

Renaissance Man

MR: Switching gears, I think it’s fair to say that you’re the true definition of a Renaissance man. Not only have you written dozens of books for children and adults, but you’re also a stand-up comic, an actor, an artist, and have even competed on Dancing with the Stars! Is there anything you’re not good at, Anh?

AD: I can’t swim. Tried loads of times but I sink really quick!

MR: As a follow-up, with so many things going on in your life—including a multi-city comedy tour—how do you juggle it all?

AD: I love everything I do, so it doesn’t feel like work. It feels like pursuing a hobby. When something stops feeling like fun, I drop it pretty quick; otherwise it will sap my energy.

MR: Rumor has it that Wolf Girl is being adapted into a film, with actress Rose Byrne as the producer. Can you tell us more? Also, will you be in it? 🙂

AD: I can’t tell you too much, except to say that I am super excited about Wolf Girl as well as many of my other titles being turned into TV or film adaptations!

Anh’s Writing Routine

MR: What does your writing routine look like, Anh? Do you have a particular time during the day when you prefer to write? Any habits or rituals?

AD: I write everywhere, on planes, in taxis, even whilst shopping. If an idea pops into my head when I’m shopping, I stop and type the idea into my phone to capture the idea before it flies off with the wind. I was once in a gift store and I saw a statue of the three monkeys who are blocking their eyes, ears. and mouth. You might’ve seen this kind of statue before. Suddenly an idea popped into my head: imagine a trio of villains called ‘Senseless’ who can walk into a bank and make everyone in the bank momentarily lose their sight, hearing, and verbal ability? Wouldn’t that be a scary trio of villains? So they are now the main villains in my series Skydragon.

The Secret Cave

MR: The final book in the Wolf Girl trilogy, The Secret Cave, is coming out in March 2026. Can you give readers of taste of what’s to come? (No spoilers, of course! 🙂)

AD: The Secret Cave has an Indiana Jones kind of adventure vibe. By the way, Book 3 is not the final Wolf Girl book. In Australia, Wolf Girl is up to 14! The series is a sweeping tale told over many years and there is heartbreak and family reunions and betrayal and love and loss and everything in between!

MR: What are you working on now, Anh?

AD: Another 100 books. I’ve released over 100 books in Australia. Now for the next hundred.

Lightning Round!

MR: And finally, no MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so…

Preferred writing snack? Nuts

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Superpower? Laughter

Best piece of writing advice? Do whatever it takes to get really, really good.

Favorite joke? Why is 6 scared of 7? Because 789.

Favorite place on earth? Tuscany

If you were stranded on a desert island with only three things, what would they be? A nice yacht, a helicopter, and a submarine

MR: Thank you for chatting with me, Anh—and congratulations on the publication of The Great Escape. I can’t wait to read book #3, when it comes out next year!

AD: Thank you, Melissa. It’s been so much fun!

Author Melissa Roske smiling and signing a book at a bookstore event. She is seated at a wooden table in front of bookshelves, wearing a sleeveless purple dress.

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. In London she landed a job as an advice columnist for Just Seventeen magazine. Upon returning to her native New York, Melissa contributed to several books and magazines, selected jokes for Reader’s Digest (just the funny ones), and received certification as a life coach. 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.

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