The Monster Under The Bed 10th anniversary... because kids love a scary story, read in a safe environment... as long as all is well in the end

The Monster Under The Bed - 10th Birthday on 31st January 2015

It's a title that grabs everyone's attention - it seems we all have a story to tell of the monster that lurks under our beds...

But it's also a title that makes people shy away  in case it frightens their children - hey, come on, it's a children's picture book - it was written to entertain, not give nightmares.

Children like a hint of something scary, read to them in a safe environment, as long as all is well in the end. The Monster Under The Bed has a surprise ending to make you smile... so go on, buy a copy... I dare you to!

  The Monster Under The Bed came out almost 10 years ago, and there's still a few first editions in my online bookshop.

It took it's place in Borders after my in store book signing:

 

It lead me to do a library opening and feature in Writers' News: 

 

The Monster Under The Bed was my first published book, and is now in second edition under my own imprint: Lost in a Book

Priceless: being told that a copy of The Monster Under The Bed has been read until it's shabby - it's been a loved book, just like a favourite teddy.  

First draft artwork, making a mess and MONSTERS!!

After a morning of messing around with paint, I've decided that I like that first dabble at the artwork for a new book - I suppose it's a bit like a first draft of a book, but the picture bit instead of the words. The point being it's a time to let the imagination run wild, accept that I'm going to make a mess, and just dive in and make a start...

It did cross my mind as I was painting the main character, that the fact that she's a girl is going to put off some customers; though why parents think they can't buy a book for boys just because it has a girl on the cover is beyond me... Her teddy bear is a boy - if that's any help...

Anyway if I haven't already put half the readers (or at least their parents) off by writing a story about a girl, then I'm going to really tip the rest over the edge by writing a story with monsters in... Yes - Monsters - arghhhh!

I stand by the belief that kids love monsters, especially when the character overcomes them - and they usually do you know, especially in kids books - we're not out to terrify them you know...

Monsters in kids books

Everyone loves a monster book right...?
The thrill of possible danger, while knowing deep down that the monster is trapped in the book, and all we have to do is slam the book shut and they're trapped there... till next time.

So why do so many parents shy away from a monster book, just from the mere mention of a monster in the title?

Picture books tackle all sorts of issues in a caring way, and no one is setting out to produce a book to give children nightmares, children enjoy the excitement of monsters in a story, and for many it can help them to overcome their fears.

In The Monster Under The Bed, now in it's 2nd edition there's a new twist on the traditional monster theme...

"Mum……Mum…..There's a monster under my bed."

Billy sits up in the dark, he can hear something moving around in his bedroom. When his mum puts the light on there's no monster to be seen. But when Mum goes back downstairs the noises start again...