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Were Greek Monster Myths Born in Our Imagination or Science?
New research debunking the mythical Griffin's origins rewrites the legend. Let's untangle myth from truth.
Unlike adult authors, children’s book authors experience a special kind of torment — school visits. If Hemingway had to convince fidgety, sticky-fingered, tear-prone tiny humans to buy his book, he would have drunk more absinthe and fought a heck of a lot more bulls.
Translation: School visits suck.
I once had such a visit at a local elementary school. Since my book is about the science behind famous monsters, I was prepared to educate young minds on how to survive a zombie apocalypse, spot a kraken, or feed Bigfoot. (Hint: He only eats annoying children.)
I was not prepared for what they taught me.
The children were all assembled in the library, seated cross-legged on a carpet that smelled vaguely of damp Cheerios and spilled apple juice. I had just read a passage from my book, something mildly educational and wholly ignored by my restless audience.
As I closed the book, I swallowed hard, and a flash of inspiration struck. What if I asked them to draw monsters? Surely, this would unleash their inner Picassos. Or at least keep them occupied…
