A monster with a whole lot of love for the world will be unleashed in Footscray next week.
Footscray writer and educator Richard McLean says Grogan the Monster in… What Do You Love? grew out of a project that formed part of his master of education studies at Victoria University.
McLean is a mental health advocate best known for his autobiography Recovered, Not Cured, A Journey Through Schizophrenia.
He said the creative process helped him through a difficult period of study by putting him in touch with his inner child.
“A lot of my artwork is very dark or morose or moody and this was an opportunity to digress from all of that,” he said.
“Grogan is a very grateful little monster, focusing on gratitude, positive feelings and love. He’s a little bit cheeky, I think it’s a fun book for both kids and adults.”
The book took nearly two years to put together, each illustration painstakingly created via computer tablet. But the labour of love is in aid of a good cause: 25 per cent of all sales will go to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
The book, available online at www.creativemusings.com.au, will be launched at Dancing Dog Cafe, 42A Albert Street, Footscray, at 5.30pm on Thursday, October 9.
