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Q&A with Kelly Milner Halls
It's unusual for there to be three authors for one book. How did
you get involved in the project and what did you do?
Rick Spears and I have collaborated on a number of books in the past and
had always thought about doing a sea monster picture book. We're still thinking
about that, in fact. But we adapted the original idea to cover LOTS of
mysterious animals so the book would be a kid's introduction to the world of
cryptozoology, not just one cryptid.
We pulled Roxy in because she's been a "mysterious entity" fan all her
life, and we needed that background to help assure we didn't miss too many
creatures. We still missed some, but I think she helped us keep it together.
Her expertise was invaluable.
As for the writer breakdown, I wrote and researched most of the book up to
the cryptidictionary, then Roxy took over. That was her baby, apart from some
minor edits I did. I also wrote the "Imagine" passages, but they were Rick's
idea. I think a great idea, in fact. Rick came up with lots of ideas to
improve the text of the book, so he got writer credit too.
Why did you undertake this topic? What was it about cryptozoology
that inspired you?
I wrote about cryptids because I've always been drawn to them. You know
what I mean. When a Loch Ness Monster documentary is on the Discovery Channel,
I can't walk away. I have to watch it. When I hear "Bigfoot" on the news, I
stop what I'm doing and listen to the news flash. I'm so curious about these
mysteries. I guess I hope some of them are real.
Are you telling young readers that Bigfoot and sea monsters and
other cryptids are real in this book?
Absolutely not. But we're not telling them they ARE NOT real either. We
set out to create a journalistic effort for young readers that fairly presented
the pros and the cons about the existence of cryptids so THEY could analyze the
date and form their own ideas and opinions. We wanted to lay out the facts, as
we could find them, and leave it to the reader to decide. Now, we did make
careful note if we KNEW a cryptid was a hoax -- like the Feejee Mermaid. And we
did report it if a mysterious animal had been proven real -- like the giant
squid. But if we didn't have proof, one way or the other, we just presented the
facts.
What has been your favorite response to the books so
far?
I do a lot of school visits, so my favorite responses come from the kids.
Last year, I had a rough print out of the book in progress I brought to share,
so the kids could see what I was working on. A boy named Russell asked me what
would happen to that rough copy when the real one came out. I said it would
land in some dusty box and be forgotten, eventually. He said, "Can I have it
instead?" I said yes. I took his name and the school's address and promised to
send it as soon as the real book was in print. His friend said, "Why does HE
get it?" I said, "Because he asked." I love that he wanted it, and that he had
the courage to say so. I'm honored. I sent him the print out and a finished
copy in September of 2006.
What is your favorite section in or element of the book and
why?
I still love the albino Sasquatch section, because of my other book ALBINO
ANIMALS. I like that I was able to secretly tie the two books together that
way. Sneaky, huh? I also love Rick's illustrations. I think he has a magic
that shows in every drawing he creates. And I think Roxy's cryptidictionary
will be THE most popular part of the book with kids.
Who do you think will want to read CRYPTIDS most and
why?
I think reluctant readers will be first in line for CRYPTIDS. I have
talked to so many kids, and I often admit I was a reluctant reader when I was a
kid, which is true. Then I say, "I wasn't reluctant because I couldn't read.
I just didn't like my choices. When I started writing kids' books, I wrote the
books I would have read, way back when. Again and again, today's kids come up
to me after I present and say, "Yeah, you get it. It's not that we don't want
to read. It's that we want to read about subjects we LIKE." They'll really
love this book.
Are you skeptical about any of the unproven cryptids?
Why?
I'm skeptical about most of them. I tend to be a "prove it" kind of gal.
I want facts, evidence, proof. It's just the science freak in me. So I'm
pretty skeptical about most of them. That doesn't mean I don't believe they're
possible. I do believe they MAY be real. I'm just skeptical and will remain a
skeptic until more facts are gathered.
Do you believe any of the unproven cryptids might be real?
Why?
I tend to believe there are large ape-like creature -- Sasquatch, Yowie,
Yeti, etc. -- quietly living in remote parts of the world. I didn't start the
book with that belief, but as I researched the evidence, it was hard not to
believe. I still want proof, but the evidence is pretty compelling. I WANT to
believe there are "sea monsters." But we'll have to wait and see.
What's next for you, book wise?
I just finished a book on mummies I LOVED writing. I'm researching a book
on horses. Rick and I are working on a dinosaur book for 3 to 6 year olds
called DINOSAUR PARADE. I HOPE I get to write a sequel to ALBINO ANIMALS called
ALBINO ANIMALS, TOO in the not too distant future too. LOTS of projects lining
up. I need a clone.
Do you do school visits? Why or why not?
I do and LOVE doing school visits. Writing is solitary. I'm locked in my
office during about 80% of my waking hours...my hamster cage, as I call it. So
it's pure joy when I get to meet with kids to talk and laugh about the work I
do. I do them because I love doing them. But the extra income does help. Hey,
I'm a single mom. Extra money helps.
What do you hope kids get out of reading CRYPTIDS?
I hope kids walk away from reading CRYPTIDS full of questions and a fire to
find the answers that go with them. Curiosity is a magical thing. I hope
everything I write inspires kids to ask more questions, then find answers of
their own.
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