Histria Books proudly announces the release of Weird: A Monster-Maker’s Journey from Small Town to Hollywood with OCD by Lynette Eklund, published under Histria A&E, the imprint dedicated to outstanding works in arts and entertainment.
A groundbreaking memoir of creativity and courage, Weird takes readers behind the scenes of Hollywood’s creature shops, where Lynette Eklund became one of the few women shaping monsters for the big screen. From stop-motion models to full-scale dinosaurs, her artistry has brought life to more than 50 iconic films and television shows, including Beetlejuice, Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, The Stand, and Species.
But behind the masks and movie magic was a deeper battle. Eklund reveals her lifelong struggle with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)—a hidden monster that dictated her world. Through humor, candor, and unflinching honesty, she shows how embracing her “weirdness” became the key to both creative success and personal freedom.
“Heartfelt and brutally honest, Lynette’s writing is as spectacular as her FX creations,” says Steve Johnson, Emmy Award-winning makeup effects artist and owner of XFX. “Weird is a remarkable peek behind the curtain at the agony and ecstasy of the film biz.”
“Lynette Eklund bravely chronicles not only her lifelong struggle with OCD, but how to carve out a creative life,” adds Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue and The Children’s Blizzard. “She shows that being Weird is something to claim with pride.”
Part Hollywood memoir, part personal odyssey, Weird is an inspiring reminder that sometimes the monsters we face, both on screen and within ourselves, can lead us to our greatest triumphs.
