[Interview_2] Mark Adam Kaplan
Mark Adam Kaplan is a school teacher, a novelist and a screenwriter. His first novel, A Thousand Beauties , was published by BeWrite Books in 2009. His second novel, Down , has just been picked up by Bewrite Books, and will be released soon. In this interview, Mark Kaplan talks about his first picture book, Monsters Do Ugly Things . How would you describe Monsters Do Ugly Things ? Monsters Do Ugly Things contains 36 illustrations about all things monstrous. It is a satire of social norms and common behaviors. Most of all, it's fun. It is about inappropriate social behavior. Our monsters pick their noses, eat when they talk, make messes, etc. They also do 'pretty' things, like have friends, and share. How did you come up with the idea for the book? This book has been gestating in my mind for years. After the birth of my children, it just gelled. But the book is nothing without Glenn Scano's brilliant illustrations. I'd written the book and it sat