Texas Overrun by Zombies, Aliens and Hairball’s From Outer Space

Meet the man Responsible: Kirk Scroggs

An interview with M. Alberto Rivera & Isabella Rivera

Author Kirk Scroggs

I was intrigued when I stumbled upon the title Dracula vs. Grampa at the Monster Truck Spectacular. Any book which made me laugh this hard sight unseen had to be amazing. I was not disappointed. Chock full of humorous illustrations and a Grampa who’s sense of responsibility is skewed at best, the book is laugh out loud funny and worthy of repeated readings. Each of the subsequent titles in the Creature Feature series has maintained the same wit throughout. The books are set inGingham County,Texas, and each chronicles an adventure, planned or otherwise between Grampa, his grandson, Wiley, and Granma, along with a cast of supporting characters.

My daughter, Isabella, fell under the spell of these books as well. At age 5, I read them to her. At 6, we read them together. Now at 7, she reads them on her own. No greater testimony to how truly engaging these stories are through and through.

Author and illustrator Kirk Scroggs is a native Texan, who by his own admission unsettled his teachers with the constant doodling of monsters when he should have been paying attention in class. Combining his love of drawing with a generous overexposure to monster movies, eventually led to the development of Wiley and Grampa and all of their subsequent adventures.  Mr. Scroggs was good enough to take a few minutes to discuss his various projects, past, present and future, and answer Isabella’s and my questions.

M.Alberto Rivera: What was the initial inspiration for the Creature Feature series?

Kirk Scroggs: My own Granddad, Harold, inAustinand a generous, if unhealthy, serving of monster movies. I’ve always thought kids and old people sometimes just don’t get taken seriously by us boring “grown ups.” In the Grampa books, kids and old people not only take center stage, they save the world from alien hairballs, half men/ half crawdads, and rivers of mutant eggnog.

MAR: From the story to the artwork, on average how long does it take you to complete a book?

KS: The first few Grampa books took a while get just right, but I’ve gotten it down to about four months from inception to the last drop of Coyote mucus.

MAR: As a kid did you have a favorite scary book or film?

KS: Jaws was always my favorite scary movie and I’m proud to admit I ripped it off mercilessly in Monster Fish Frenzy. As far as books go, I have to say James and The Giant Peach gave me some serious nightmares. Those evil Aunts getting squished and the escaped Rhino at the beginning and just about any scene from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory– I think Roald Dahl took glee in tormenting children.

MAR: What scares you now?

Grampa's Zombie BBQ

KS: Unrest in the world– just kidding. I’m pretty easily scared ‘fraid to say. I just saw Paranormal Activity 3 and I was a quivering mess afterwards. I’m reading The Devouring by Simon Holt right now and it’s a goosebumply yarn if ever there was one. I think a good old-fashioned ghost story is hard to beat.

MAR: You’re latest book is “Tales of a Sixth Grade Muppet” in which the main character is Gonzo obsessed. Why pick Gonzo?

KS: Gonzo is the free-spirited, innocent, daredevil kid in all of us. He’s brave, hilarious, fearless, innovative, a little insane, and adorable without even realizing it. As a kid I would sit and watch The Muppet Show waiting with baited breath for Gonzo’s big stunt , which often involved cheese and chickens.

MAR: Are you ever surprised at how well the Muppets (the show, movies and characters) have held up after all these years?

KS: I rank The Muppets up there with The Looney Tunes, Mickey Mouse, and The Simpsons and I actually think they have even more power to appeal to each new generation. Even if a kid has never heard of The Muppets, if you set them down in front of a scene of Beaker being tormented by Dr. Honeydew, or Animal eating his drums, they’ll be hooked for life.

MAR: Have you retired Wiley and Grampa or are you just taking a break from those characters?

KS: On the contrary. I’m happy to report that I am working with one of the producers of Johnny Test on developing an animated Wiley and Grampa series! We’re in the earliest stages but, hopefully, we won’t be Grampa’s age by the time we some monster action. I would love to write more Creature Features as well. There are so many more mutated critters for Wiley and Grampa to vanquish.

MAR: Is there one book or joke of yours that still cracks you up when it comes to mind?

KS: I still love Merle the cat licking the pork cracklin’ crumbs off Gramma’s chair in Dracula vs. Grampa.

MAR: What advise would you offer to aspiring writers and artists?

If you’re a kid, keep reading, writing, and doodling as much as possible. Just don’t doodle quite as much as I did during Ms. Dodson’s class– she thought I was mentally unhinged for drawing so many monsters and called my parents.

MAR: If you’re older and trying to get published, be sure and write as a kid instead of writing for kids. Children of all ages can sniff out moralizing and don’t like to be talked down to.

MAR: Is there any chance we can expect an animated version of any of your stories in the near future?

KS: Oop! I answered this one too soon.
Isabella’s Questions for Kirk Scroggs:

Isabella Rivera: Which is your favorite character to draw?

KS: Hi Isabella! I think my favorite characters to draw would have to be Wiley and Grampa’s arch enemies, Hans Lotion and his grandson Jurgen. Hans’ spiky hair is too cool. Merle is also a blast to draw.
IR: Why is Grandma’s butt so big?

KS: Gramma is the sturdy foundation of that family and I believe every foundation should have a wide base.

IR: Did you have a cat like Merle?

KS: My mom had a cat named Chowder that looked like Merle. In fact, I was going to name the character Chowder but that crazy cartoon came out and used the name first!

For all things Kirk Scroggs, visit www.wileyandgrampa.com