TOTW: All I Really Need to Know I Learned From Monsters

In keeping with the spookiness of this month, I wanted to offer a timely topic: monsters. But instead of the scary monsters, creepy monsters, monsters under the bed, monsters out of nightmares or monsters that keep us up at night, I'd like to talk about some of the monsters that help us keep in touch with our ourselves by their unique quality of being unlike, and yet completely recognizable as, you and me.

We allow readers and viewers to look at themselves through a fuzzy (often furry) lens to see things we may have forgotten, things that are universal, or things that are may be hard to look at and make us squirm in our seats but are important--maybe even moreso--because it's tough to do. Those are our beloved monsters and we are grateful to them for showing us what's most important about being human.

Whether it's how to be kind

Or unabashedly silly

Staying in touch with our wild side

Or what it's like to have a best friend

To care for others more than ourselves

Or supporting one another and overcoming challenges (from physical to forgiveness)

We need our monsters to show us the good as well as the bad, in ourselves, in the world, and in each other. And the best place to find the monsters we know and love is in a good book!

Be sure to visit a bookstore, library or secure cage nearest you! Who are your favorite, lovable monsters? Do you know what you learned from them? As a fantasy writer? An artist? A fellow human being?