Appalachian Cryptids and Creatures by David J Hardie (BOOK)

I wrote and illustrated my first (published) book!!!

You can order your own signed copy here and get 3 free stickers as well when you buy it directly from me!  Free Shipping to your Doorstep!

Over 44 new unique drawings and in-depth write ups about Cryptids and Creatures from all over the Appalachian region.  Think of this as a bestiary of some of the most interesting creatures.  If you are a seasoned Cryptid lover I guarantee you that you will encounter at least one critter that you weren't already familiar with! 

This is a DEEP DIVE!

Introduction:

“What’s a Mothman?” 

I remember asking that exact question over a decade ago at the Steel City Con where I was selling my shirts.  I had a very eclectic sampling of subject matter on my shirts, as I trying to carve out my own space in the noisy Pittsburgh Nerd Culture scene.   Until this point my most popular T-shirt had been a quirky “I BELIEVE” Bigfoot shirt that I had recycled from a custom T-shirt project that I had designed for my friend John’s summer camp.  That shirt kept selling and selling and while I had always had a moderate fascination with Cryptids and the supernatural, I would not have labeled myself a “Bigfoot Researcher.” Once I had thousands of Bigfoot shirts in circulation people would tell me all sorts of stories and ask me to draw other Cryptids that I had never heard of.  The name that people kept uttering was “Mothman.” 

I did a nominal amount of research (a quick google search) and after seeing a wide variety of options for this West Virigina legend I thought, “I could make that guy look pretty cool.”  I set out to draw a hyper detailed, imposing Mothman with large sprawling wings and claws that were reaching out to grab you.  Once I put that image on a shirt I realized how many people loved Appalachian cryptids.  I sold out again and again.  People kept asking for other creatures like the Flatwoods Monster, the Sheepsquatch and Pennsylvania’s saddest “mascot” the Squonk! 

I would debrief over Pizza with my sales team after each Con and each time I would ask them “which shirts do you think sold the best?”  I would always get the same answer “the Cryptid shirts, just keep doing cryptids!”  So I accepted my fate and I became “the guy who drew the coolest cryptids ever!!!”

After much success with various cryptid renditions on shirts Jeff Wamsley of the Mothman Museum said to me “have you ever thought about putting your drawings together in a book?”  When I told him that it was my lifelong dream to become a published author he said “let me introduce you to my publisher” and before I knew it this book was becoming a reality.

I had always been drawn to monsters.  In my early years I remember going to my local library and checking books out about Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.  I loved comic books my entire life and even at a very young age I knew that cryptids were the creatures that had inspired many of the heroes and villains of the silver age Marvel and DC comics.

My goal with this book was to try bring the varied eye witness accounts to life with a “comic book” spirit.  I wanted these creatures to jump off the page at you.  I sought to accentuate the coolest elements of each beast kickstart your imagination with all the possibilities as to their “true origins.”

A few ground rules to fully enjoy and appreciate this book:

1.      This is meant to be a fun/entertaining book for all ages.  I am not a cryptozoologist.  My goal is to present the “coolest rendition” of each creature as best I can.  I am aware that there are various camps and tribes in Cryptid culture…..and they all buy T-Shirts off of me. 

2.      I understand that the word “cryptid” carries various connotations.  I will be using the word as an umbrella term for undiscovered animals as well as (potentially) supernatural entities that appear the be “creaturely.”

3.      I am not endorsing these creatures as “good.”  Think of this book as a potential “rogue’s gallery” or bestiary of various creatures that probably don’t like human beings much. The reality is that we don’t have concrete evidence proving what they are.  In various accounts they have been vicious and even deadly.  If you ever encounter a cryptid, my suggestion is not to try and befriend it however;  please get us a “non-blurry picture or video.”

4.      I was an adult before I realized that I loved growing up in Appalachia.  This book is a love letter to the strange and odd world of Appalachian cryptids.  I love all the stories that people have shared with me.  The year-long deep dive that I have done into the sightings, legends and folklore has done nothing but deepen my love for this region.  I did include cryptids from neighboring regions that extend a tad beyond Appalachia.  This was intentional to capture the larger scope and story.

5.      I personally believe that some of these cryptids are real.  There are probably a handful that are misidentified bears and others that are folkloric amalgamations.  However, I firmly believe that there is an unseen realm, that Genesis 6 changes everything and that we are most assuredly being lied to by those in positions over us.  My guess at this juncture is that some Sasquatch are interdimensional, elemental fae creatures of some kind……orrrr they are an undiscovered ancient primate that has become really good at avoiding people.

I hope you enjoy the illustrations and descriptions and that all of this makes you more curious about the Cryptids and Creatures of Appalachia!

David J Hardie