Early Life & Influences Michael Phillips was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on March 11, 1961—a city steeped in maritime history and known for its robust artistic community. Growing up amidst the echoes of shipbuilding traditions instilled in him a fascination with craftsmanship and storytelling, elements that would later permeate his work as both a film critic and novelist. His formative years were marked by exposure to diverse literary voices, shaping his understanding of narrative structure and character development—skills he honed during his undergraduate studies at Humboldt State Universit…