1. Why write aboutWhy write about
monsters?monsters?
“Follow your Bliss,”
Joseph Campbell
once said. My bliss
was found in the
world of fairy tales,
make believe, and
long ago.
I read about it and
5. These interests have led me to a love of reading and writing, which has shapedThese interests have led me to a love of reading and writing, which has shaped
my life. I have always read and always written. In fact, my first story was aboutmy life. I have always read and always written. In fact, my first story was about
a mermaid.a mermaid.
I couldn’t write, of course, when I was five years old.
My mother wrote down my words and I drew
pictures.
6. ??
I wanted to get kids to
read.
As a teacher, and a mother, I soon found out that not everybody liked to read. In
fact, they hated reading.
My brothers
son
son
son
Many of my
students
7. Monsters-Real and pretend?Monsters-Real and pretend?
One thing EVERYBODY is interested in are monsters.
I decided I had to write a book about them. That would get
anybody to read.
8. How did this brainstorm evolve toHow did this brainstorm evolve to
become a book?become a book?
There were lots of books aboutThere were lots of books about
mythical, pretend monsters. So Imythical, pretend monsters. So I
checked to see if there were anychecked to see if there were any
books about real monsters.books about real monsters.
Books In Print (BooksInPrint)
I went to all of these websites
and typed in the word
“monster.” Then I checked
what books were listed that
appealed to middle grade
readers.
9. These were some of the books I found. None of
them were the type of book I wanted to write.
10. I was advised that the way to “break in” wasI was advised that the way to “break in” was
to get a fat resume. I published in magazines, newspapers and won writingto get a fat resume. I published in magazines, newspapers and won writing
contests.contests.
Competitions
Magazines
Local Newspapers
12. Studying, or parsing, what I wantedStudying, or parsing, what I wanted
to be published in was necessary.to be published in was necessary.
Publisher’s
Weekly Fall
and Spring
Catalogue
13. Research-I searched internet with search engines,Research-I searched internet with search engines,
asked the local librarian for help, made phoneasked the local librarian for help, made phone
calls.calls.
I used these:
JSTORR
Questia
Duck DuckGo
I got help from
these internet
site:http://www.t
eachthought.co
m/technology/1
00-search-
engines-for-
academic-
research/
14. I wrote on weekends,I wrote on weekends,
summer breaks (I’m asummer breaks (I’m a
teacher) and finallyteacher) and finally
3 years later3 years later
I had finishedI had finished
my first draftmy first draft
15. My students from Lincoln Junior High (in Naperville, IL) were my FIRST editors.My students from Lincoln Junior High (in Naperville, IL) were my FIRST editors.
These were the notes
I wrote as the kids
critiqued what they
read.
16. I sent it to Seven housesI sent it to Seven houses
All AmericAn
BeAsts
I sent it to seven publishing houses with this title.
I thought it was quite clever, the title reminiscent of a
sports team. Plus, all my monsters came from North
America.
17. 6 months later, Christy Ottaviano of6 months later, Christy Ottaviano of
Henry Holt sent me a letter ofHenry Holt sent me a letter of
encouragement and advice.…encouragement and advice.…
18. I went through manyI went through many
revisions…revisions…
19. Finally, I received aFinally, I received a
ContractContract
20. I had 6 months to get the bookI had 6 months to get the book
ready.ready.
Copy editingCopy editing
Checking each fact,Checking each fact,
three timesthree times
(using library(using library
resources, makingresources, making
phone calls,phone calls,
documenting)documenting)
Updating informationUpdating information
And sightingsAnd sightings
21. How much Control did I have in the making of the book?
Title was changed
All American Beasts…………became………………Monsters and Water Beasts
Cast of characters
Loup Garou,Hodag, Hag,Plat Eye,Flathead Lake Monster and more………….
Deleted (They made the book TOO LONG)
The “first” stories of all the creatures
Researched, revised and added………………………………..Then Deleted
Because they made the book TOO LONG
Illustrator
Chosen…………………………………by the editor AND he was amazing!I
His artwork fit my book perfectly.
22. This is the artist:This is the artist:
Sergio
Ruzzier
23. In the months before publication, he sentIn the months before publication, he sent
me illustrations of the monsters.me illustrations of the monsters.
24. Finally,Finally, HenryHenry Holt presentedHolt presented
Thousands of kids have read it and that is
exactly what I wanted, kids reading.
25. If you have any questions on monsters,If you have any questions on monsters,
writing, publishing or,kids’ bookswriting, publishing or,kids’ books
contact me atcontact me at
coco karenhokansonmiller.comkarenhokansonmiller.com
Or on Pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/karenemilymille/
