Lighthouse Ladies: Shining a Spotlight on Hardy Heroines

KLiC: What sparked your interest in doing Lighthouse Ladies? 

I appreciated Kris Coronado's approach to non-fiction. I enjoy learning about niche topics, and I love storytelling. Kris’s writing offers the best of both worlds in a captivating and fun way. Lighthouse Ladies shares four incredible lives, but you only get a glimpse before the wind and waves whisk you away to the next. It leaves the reader wanting more, which I think is always a good sign in non-fiction. I wanted to be part of that magic. 

KLiC: Please tell us about your art process? 

All of Lighthouse Ladies was illustrated digitally using Procreate. This was my first time lifting scenes directly from the text to inform the artwork. Because I understood what each spread was asking of me, most of my process involved finding fun and adventurous ways to approach each scene. These lighthouse keepers were always on the move, and I wanted readers to feel that energy with every page turn. 

KLiC: What kind of research did you do for Lighthouse Ladies? 

By the time I was invited to join the project, Kris had already done extensive research, including providing reference images. I was set up for success thanks to her and our wonderful art director, Kate O'Sullivan, before I even began. 

KLiC: What are your favorite illustrations in the book?

There are many illustrations I’m proud of throughout the book, but the one I want to highlight is the opening image of Venus Parker. As a Black woman living in the late 1800s, there are no documented images of her. I had plenty of visual references for the other women, but here was the only one of them who was a person of color—and she was faceless. I had to create an image for her based on historical research about how a woman in her time might have looked, and I did so with the greatest care I could offer. At times, this book felt like an act of preservation. In the case of Venus Parker, that feeling hit tenfold. I’m proud of her spread. 

KLiC: What's next for you? 

​I have two other picture books coming out this year: Sunshine Baby, Bofrot Cheeks by Bernard Mensah in July, and Come Catch a Dream by Brittany J. Thurman in November. Please look forward to those as well! ​

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Islena Mil is an Afro-Latina Illustrator based in NYC, specializing in conceptual problem-solving and thoughtful storytelling. Her work is easily recognized by her use of engaging composition, detailed line-work, texture, and vibrant color. She aims to transport her readers to another world.

isleniamil.com
IG: isleniamil

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Name: Islenia Mil 
Author: Kris Coronado 
Book Title: Lighthouse Ladies: Shining a Spotlight on Hardy Heroines 
Publisher Name: Harper Collins 
Date published: May 27th 2025 
Illustrator full name: Islenia Milien (but professionally known as Islenia Mil)