Hello Michael! Welcome to the flock. We love monsters and movies and books around here so you might not ever want to leave. We’ve reviewed one of your books, Witches Protection Program, written under your pen name Michael Phillip Cash. Got 4 ½ sheep…
Sharon: You have a new book coming out, Monsterland. Awesome cover by the way. What age group is Monsterland for? Why the new pen name?
Michael: Thank you for having me Sharon! I wanted the cover to convey the promise of the premise – werewolves, zombies, and vampires. Monsterland is really a four-quadrant book. It’s primary target is Young Adult, 15 and up, however it’s for adults too. Actually, Michael Okon is my real name. My entertainment attorney advised I dropped the Michael Phillip Cash moniker and introduce my books to the world as the real me. Hello world.
Sharon: If you could be a monster, which would it be?
Michael: The invisible man. I’m a sucker for old horror movies, and nothing freaked me out more than someone who cannot be seen. There is something psychological about it. Not even a ghost, but a man who can touch, feel, see and hear, and not have any matter to him.
Sharon: Tell us about the main character, Wyatt Baldwin. What kind of music does he like? Is it similar to yours?
Michael: Wyatt is my main protagonist of the book Monsterland. He’s a smart kid, good-looking, but never really quite fits in with the cool kids – even though he’s cool. Wyatt is very similar to me when I was in high school. All Wyatt wants to do is prove he’s not a child, and he does it quite well. Regarding music, he’s definitely not mainstream. His tastes are very similar in what he likes in a friend – a little offbeat. When I was writing Monsterland, I was listening to a lot of Primus, Melvins and Clutch. Wyatt definitely listens to these bands. Again, their not mainstream, they’re well known, but they’re out there in terms of music.
Sharon: With three kids, I bet Halloween is/was a lot of fun at your house. Do your kids share your love of monsters? Do you dress up for Halloween? If so what are you going to be this year?
Michael: I have two kids – a 9-year old boy and a 5-year old girl. We love Halloween, and yes we dress up. My son has been a tremendous help when it comes to the research and development of my monster universe. My son loves monsters, my daughter on the other hand is a bit scared, but she has actually been quite comfortable about my monster talk around the house. Last year for Halloween, my son was Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks. My daughter was Rapunzel – as she was the year before that and the year before that. As for me, I like dressing up as a writer. So my outfit consists of a comfortable T-shirt and jogging pants. I like dressing up as a writer every day, so Halloween is 365 days per year for me.
Sharon: What recent movie release (in the last couple of years) really impressed you?
Michael: That’s a very insightful question. I’ve been disappointed in films recently. Nothing has captured my attention like it has in the past. I watch a lot of children’s movies with my kids. I can easily say Spongebob Squarepants, The Smurfs, The Simpsons, and Madagascar movies have all been very clever and well written. I’ve been watching lots of horror films from 40s, 50s, and 60s. Dracula, Frankenstein, The Blob, old zombie movies, Creature From the Black Lagoon, and The Invisible Man have really stood out in the last two years. Additionally, I’m a big Disney guy. I love everything Disney and really thought all the Princess, Marvel, Pixar and Lucasfilm movies were really well done. Moana was probably my favorite movie this past year.
Sharon: Will Monsterland be a series?
Michael: Oh yes. Monsterland 2 is completed and will be released to the world on my birthday, May 26, 2018. I’m already knee deep in Monsterland 3. Plus, I’m currently beating out Monsterland 4 and 5. I’m planning to get up to 8 books in Monsterland.
Sharon: If you could make one fictional character real, who would it be?
Michael: It’s not one fictional character, but I want to see an actual monster theme park named Monsterland come to life. How cool would that be? The place would be packed.
Sharon: Do you collect anything? (pics would be great)
Michael: I have been collecting shot glasses and casino chips for 25 years. Wherever I go, I try to buy a shotglass.
Sharon: What artist dead or alive would you commission to paint your portrait?
Michael: Drew Struzan, the artist who drew the posters for Star Wars, The Goonies and Back to the Future.
RAPID FIRE: pew-pew
Sharon: DC or Marvel?
Michael: Marvel – all day.
Sharon: *high-fives* Welcome to the club!
Sharon: Left-handed or right-handed?
Michael: Right-handed.
Sharon: Coke or Pepsi?
Michael: Neither, I drink water, not poison.
Michael: Truth!!
Sharon: turned into a vampire or werewolf
Michael: Werewolf.
Sharon: eat a worm or eat a spider?
Michael: Worm.
Sharon: *makes call to dungeon* Abort! Abort! Change the spiders to worms!
by Michael Okon
October 13, 2017
Pages: 232
Genre: Monsters
Welcome to Monsterland—the scariest place on Earth.
The last couple years of high school have not been fun for Wyatt Baldwin. His parent's divorce, then his dad mysteriously dies. He’s not exactly comfortable with his new stepfather, Carter White, either. An on-going debate with his best friends Howard Drucker and Melvin over which monster is superior has gotten stale. He’d much rather spend his days with beautiful and popular Jade. However, she’s dating the brash high-school quarterback Nolan, and Wyatt thinks he doesn’t stand a chance.
But everything changes when Wyatt and his friends are invited to attend the grand opening of Monsterland, a groundbreaking theme park where guests can rock out with vampires at Vampire Village, be chased by actual werewolves on the Werewolf River Run, and walk among the dead in Zombieville.
With real werewolves, vampires and zombies as the main attractions, what could possibly go wrong?
Book Excerpt:
What did these strangers want? Billy fought the urge to scream.
This is our home. Humans don’t belong in the swamp.
The moon continued to rise, the familiar agony beginning in his chest. A full moon, a dangerous moon, Billy fought the demons churning within his body, feeling the pain of metamorphosis.
He curled inward, hunching his shoulders, the curse of his nature making his spine pull until his tendons and muscles tore from their human positions to transform into something wicked.
A howl erupted from his throat, followed by another, and then another. Grabbing handfuls of dirt, he tried to fight the awful change, but, as the sun set, the moon took control of his life, and the unnatural force tore through his unwilling body.
Reason fled; his heart raced. Falling on his hands and knees, Billy let loose a keening cry as his face elongated, his body changing into a canine, fangs filling his mouth. He raced in a circle in a demented dance, knowing his fellow pack members did the same thing.
Slowing, he regulated his labored breathing, forcing the icy calmness he needed to keep some semblance of reason. He peered through the dense brush. Lights from the search party bobbed in the distance. The odor, the stench of humanity, filled the clearing. The enemy had arrived.
About the Author:
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Michael Okon is an award-winning and best-selling author of multiple genres including paranormal, thriller, horror, action/adventure and self-help. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in English, and then later received his MBA in business and finance. Coming from a family of writers, he has storytelling is his DNA. Michael has been writing from as far back as he can remember, his inspiration being his love for films and their impact on his life. From the time he saw The Goonies, he was hooked on the idea of entertaining people through unforgettable characters.
Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, and a sucker for self-help books. He lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.
Michael Okon is giving away 2 autographed copies of MONSTERLAND!
Terms & Conditions:
By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
Two winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive a copy.
This giveaway ends midnight December 29.
Winner will be contacted via email on December 30.
Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!
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