Monster Gallery

The first book I ever wrote was a second grade project called Monster Gallery. Every week, we had to write a new story about a classic monster, and this project sparked my love of writing.

Growing up in poverty meant I didn't have access to paper at home, so I cannibalized my least favorite stories for the paper. Sometimes for homework, so my little brother would have something to draw on, and sometimes for other stories. I wish I still had all of the stories I tore out of this book, but I'm glad I have the ones that still exist. I have a vampire, werewolf, mummy, even a bride of Frankenstein among a few others.

Seeing Monster Gallery next to Between Safe and Real--my first set of short stories next to my first published novel--fills me with joy and reminds me of just how far I've come.