Читать книгу The Legend of Bigfoot - T. S. Mart - Страница 9

INTRODUCTION

GROWING UP, MEL SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS DRAWING animals—and then turning them into monsters. One evening, when she was about eight, we were on our way to the drive-in, and a horsefly flew in the truck and bit her on the back. To divert her attention and help release the anger, I told her to draw me a picture of it. She wasted no time replicating the angry face of a horsefly, with horns and fangs. The world needed to know that horseflies were terrible monsters.

Not long after, Mel watched a documentary about Mothman. This was the first time she’d heard the story, and it scared her so badly she didn’t sleep well for several nights. It’s not that she believed he was real, but the what-if was enough to cause her overactive imagination to dream up countless scenarios of doom.

Mel had already learned to cope with her fears by studying the object of focus. So, she thought, why not research Mothman? The discovery blew her away. She had no idea there was an entire world of unknown animals called cryptids or that scientist called cryptozoologists existed. From then on, she learned everything possible about the varying cryptids while studying the anatomy and behavioral characteristics of scientifically known animals. In her illustrations, she often combined the two to create mythical yet realistic creatures. Because of his majestic size and historical context, Bigfoot became one of her favorite subjects.

Fast-forward a few years. To heal from a traumatic, life-changing event, Mel and I took a year off work to regroup. In that year, we coauthored our first novel. The project emerged from a short story I had written for Mel’s nineteenth birthday. At the time, Bigfoot occupied a permanent spot atop Mel’s favorite cryptids list, so he had been given a starring role.

Outside a few pop-culture familiarities, I didn’t know much about the cryptid. Writing that short story and then fleshing out the novel had been my first real encounters. As Mel and I visited popular Bigfoot sights and spoke with locals and individuals well versed on the topic, we found a mixture of people showing everything from serious Bigfoot intrigue to lighthearted skepticism. Interestingly, everyone (except those who claimed to have had a terrifying Bigfoot encounter) seemed to like the idea of a hairy hominid roaming the backwoods … as long as he stayed there.

With degrees in social work and communications, I had always been fascinated with the way experiences and behaviors shaped people. As I became familiar with the Bigfoot subculture, I was intrigued by the dynamic composition—researchers, entertainers, hunters, entrepreneurs, men, women, young, and old. There seemed to be a slice of Bigfoot pie for everyone who wanted it.

After reading many books, watching videos, listening to podcasts, attending conferences, and browsing hundreds of websites, Mel and I finished our novel, but a new idea emerged through the process. While we found books that dove deep into Bigfoot lore, scientific studies, and regional encounters, there was no single book offering a comprehensive, objective look at Bigfoot while tapping into the dynamics of the subculture.

This book is a product of what Mel and I found to be most compelling in the world of Bigfoot. It’s not a scientific or historical account, and it’s not a compilation of personal encounters, yet it contains facets of all three fused together in a way that respects believers and skeptics but entertains and communicates the best of America’s favorite cryptid. If you are a Bigfoot fan of any age, this book is your one-stop shop for all things Bigfoot. We hope you enjoy it.

T. S. Mart