Monday, April 25, 2011

HEX KITTENS GO TO COLLEGE: AN INTERVIEW WITH SHANNON CUMMINGS By Punkin Nightshade

Hey there! This here is Petronella Nightshade, what am called Punkin. I swan if things ain't happenin mighty fast round here--Mr. John our Mad Doctor is finishin up his second book of our adventures, what's due soon, and now me and the other MonsterGrrls will be part of a college thesis!

For them that don't know, a thesis is a paper what college
students must write to prove to their teachers that all that learnin paid off and they should get their degree. We was called up by a young lady named Shannon Cummings, what is from up in Virginia and is goin to college up there, and since she is a MonsterGrrls fan she was askin if Mr. John would talk to her about his book for her paper. So I decided to do some talkin to her of my own, to see what she was about, and so here is a few quick questions what I asked her. (Matter of fact, I think she might be wantin to be a witch her ownself!)

Howdy do! Can you tell us a little bit about who you are and what you're doin?
Well, Punkin, I am a yogini pursuing a Masters in Children’s Literature at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, and on her way to an English Literature Ph.D program at University of Louisiana at Lafayette! 

Well, that sounds excitin! But we hear you are writin a thesis which our book is part of. How did MonsterGrrls become part of your thesis?

Well, I am particularly interested in the notion of the Female Gothic and how it relates to the adolescent female in contemporary Gothic novels. MonsterGrrls kinda fell into my lap and I couldn’t be more grateful!


What will your thesis be about, and what are you majorin in up at college?


I specifically study Children’s Literature, but my interest is the Gothic in Child Lit and all those lovely creepy aspects of it and how children seem so innately attracted to it. My thesis approaches this, but specifically with the female as I have created a “Girl Gothic” model to kind of be a filter from the adult Female Gothic to the Young Adult.


Sounds interestin, but I suppose Bethany would know more about Gothic than I would. But are you interested in writin, or
thinkin of becomin an author yourself?

I would indeed love one day to have a YA book, written specifically about Halloween. Punkin, do you think you or any of the Grrls would help me draft one day?! If anybody knows anything about Halloween, it’s gotta be you guys!

Why, sure! But who is your favorite writer?

My favorite author is E. B. White.

What are you plannin to do with your degree?


Hopefully to teach, write books, and have enough money to decorate my home to the nines on Halloween!


So that is my interview with Miss Shannon. If you are hankerin for somethin to read and have not read our first book, all you got to do is click on our title link above, and it will take you to that Amazon so's you can get your very own copy, and go round tellin folks that you are readin important literature.
I shall see you all again soon, cause there is first one thing and then another goin on at the Monster Shop and I do not know whatever next. Until then, blessings be on you!

Sincerely,
Petronella "Punkin" Nightshade