Janet and the Dark

Story by Amadiora Vera Cruz | Published in Moody Mysteries Anthology

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Janet and the Dark follows a young detective named Ivy on the trail of a missing girl and a mystery thick with suspense. Written by an imaginative 11-year-old author, the story is part of Moody Mysteries—an anthology of short mysteries created by youth writers.

For this piece, I created a full-page illustration that captures the eerie, cinematic mood of the story, along with a spot illustration to anchor the scene. I leaned into dramatic lighting, moody tones, and subtle details to reflect the tension and curiosity woven through Ivy’s journey. It was important to me that the illustrations matched the emotional tone of the writing while also honoring the young author’s voice and vision.

This project was part of a collaboration with Chapter 510, a youth writing and publishing nonprofit based in Oakland, where young voices lead the narrative and artists bring their stories to life.