I had a difficult time selecting a header image for this website. I knew that I wanted to feature a mountain scene, since my story is about a young boy who endeavors to climb a mountain. The problem was that I had too many of these photos saved on my laptop to pick from. Here’s why I chose the one you see above.
This particular photo was taken from the driveway of my wife’s childhood home in Corinne Bottom, West Viginia. Her father was fond of sitting behind his house, watching birds and taking in the natural beauty. It’s easy to see why.
These rugged mountains provided inspiration for my first children’s book: The Can’t Monster. While visiting my father-in-law, I’d look out the window and see these steep hills rising in any given direction. I knew that, had I grown up there, I’d have found the urge to climb them irresistible. That impulse gave birth to Will, the main character in The Can’t Monster.
I wrote much of Will’s story from Corinne Bottom in early 2021. By that point in time, my father-in-law was sick. We were there to both visit and take care of him. He lost his battle with cancer that July. In doing so, he traded his quiet slice of “almost heaven” for the real thing. The Can’t Monster is dedicated to his memory.
Chris
Buy your copy today via Amazon or Barnes & Noble. FYI: the paperback measures 6.5″ square, whereas the hardcover edition is 8″ square.
The Can't Monster 
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