Recent Posts
The Fourteenth of May
In The Can’t Monster, the young protagonist (Will) embarks on his ill-fated quest on “the fourteenth of May.” Objectively speaking, Will’s misadventure could’ve taken place on pretty much any day of the year. In my mind, though, it simply must take place on this specific day. You see, May 14, 2005, was the day I … Continue reading The Fourteenth of May
More about Monsters
THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM THE CAN’T MONSTER, SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ THE BOOK FIRST. The monster in The Can’t Monster isn’t real. Will, the young boy who encountered the titular monster, realizes later in the story that the monster was all in his head. (How’s that for a spoiler?) In a previous … Continue reading More about Monsters
Mountains, Monsters, and Metaphors
The Can’t Monster is a story about a boy who attempts to climb a mountain, fails, comes to terms with his failure, and tries again. Along the way, he encounters a monster that [SPOILER ALERT] turns out to be imaginary. The mountain and the monster are both plot devices with a symbolic meaning worth exploring. … Continue reading Mountains, Monsters, and Metaphors
To My Chagrin
Merriam Webster defines chagrin as “disquietude or distress of mind caused by humiliation, disappointment, or failure.” It’s a useful word, to be sure, but it doesn’t seem to belong in a children’s picture book. Yet, that’s the word I chose to describe my protagonist’s emotional state, following his failed quest. Why? It’s pretty simple, really: … Continue reading To My Chagrin
The Can't Monster 