Today we are interviewing Michael Okon, author of the action adventure, Monsterland.
MICHAEL OKON is a best-selling author and award-winning screenwriter whose compelling storytelling spans paranormal, horror, thriller, action-adventure, and self-help genres. With a BA in English and an MBA in Business and Finance from Long Island University, Michael merges his creative passion with entrepreneurial spirit to craft unforgettable narratives across his novels and screenplays.
Born into a family of avid writers and readers, Michael’s passion for storytelling runs deep—writing isn’t just something he does; it’s who he is. Ever since he first watched The Goonies as a kid, Michael has been captivated by the power of adventure, compelling characters, and the ability of stories to entertain and inspire. Whether crafting monster theme parks or penning insightful guidance in self-help, his goal remains the same: to create narratives that stick with readers long after they’ve turned the last page.
Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, a horrendous golfer, and a sucker for esoteric & self-help books. He lives on Long Island’s North Shore with his wife and children.
His latest book is Monsterland.
Connect with Michael on X and Instagram.
I’ve been writing from as far back as I can remember. Writing to me is
the most therapeutic thing I can do for myself. It transports me to
another world. I started writing screenplays seriously in college, and
then decided to convert them to novels. My writing career took off from
there. It’s been incredibly rewarding.
Your latest book, Monsterland, is an exciting action adventure novel that focuses on a teen who must save his date in a theme park whose main attractions are real werewolves, vampires and zombies. How did you come up with this idea?
I was watching Jurassic Park with my family, and I said to myself why isn’t there a zombie theme park? I called my brother right away and pitched him the idea of a zombie theme park. He said ‘NO – it has to be ALL the monsters.’ Monsterland was born that minutes and I started beating the character arcs that night.
Can you tell us more about the main character in your book?
Wyatt Baldwin is a nerdy teen, just looking to be accepted in his new
town. He has a crush on Jade, but she’s dating the brash high-school
quarterback. Everything changes when Wyatt and his two best friends are
invited to the opening of a new monster theme park opening in his town.
When all hell breaks loose – Wyatt must save Jade.
Who are the other main characters?
Monsterland is rich in characters. There is Melvin – Wyatt’s best friend
who is obsessed with werewolves. Howard Drucker – Wyatt’s other best
friend who’s obsessed with vampires. Jade – Wyatt’s crush. Keisha –
Howard’s crush. And Vincent Konrad – the evil doctor who opened the
theme park.
What is the very first line of your book?
The fire Billy created burned bright – rabbits roasted on a spit made of hickory.
What is the main reason people should read your book?
If you like Jurassic Park, Stranger Things, and anything monsters –
Monsterland will bring you back to the movies of the 80s and 90s.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Get off social media and go inward. Take up a practice that will make you happy. Stop chasing likes. Nothing good every comes from trying to get approval from other people. Make yourself happy first without being selfish.
About the Book
Wyatt Baldwin’s senior year is not going well. His parents divorced, and then his dad mysteriously died. He’s not exactly comfortable with his new stepfather, Carter Wright, either. An ongoing debate with his best friends, Melvin and Howard Drucker, 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 interact with vampires in Vampire Village, be chased by werewolves on the River Run, and walk among the dead in Zombieville.
With real werewolves, vampires, and zombies as the main attractions, what could possibly go wrong?
Read a sample here.
Monsterland is available at Amazon.
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