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Monroe the Moat Monster book series
"The Legend of Monroe, the Moat Monster" is the first in a series of children’s books by American author, Connie Smalls (1948 - ) and was published by KadyBug Publishing in Newport News, Virginia. “Monroe” is a fictitious creature that was born near the moat waters on Fort Monroe, Virginia, one of the oldest stone forts in the United States and the only one with a moat.

The moat monster is not a new concept. It has been a legend at the fort since the early 1800s when it was reportedly seen in spirit by residents of Fort Monroe, as reported in “The Ghosts of Fort Monroe,” by Jane Polonsky.

This first book is not a typical children’s book. It fulfills a dual role in introducing a lovable character named after the fort while setting the stage of the story’s origin in pictures. The story which begins with a soldier finding an old, wooden box on the fort’s Chesapeake Bay’s shoreline is written for a child’s imagination, but the reading level is up to young adult. Photographs on every page show the imposing old, stone moat walls and the beauty that surrounds the entire installation. The book became an instant souvenir for tourists and served as a preview for future visitors to the Hampton Roads area.

The story introduces Monroe, the Moat Monster while acquainting readers with Fort Monroe, a fort located on a site where English settlers landed in 1607. The fort, now a designated Historical Monument since November 1, 2011 is steeped in history. From its shores, Americans fought off British warships in the 1770s, to the Civil War when it provided a foothold for Union troops as they fought to preserve the union, Fort Monroe has earned the name, “Gibraltar of the Chesapeake.” Because of the fort’s rich history and the author’s goal of entertaining and educating children, one page in every book will highlight a site on post with a description and photograph. The Old Point Comfort Lighthouse is featured in the first book.

Inspiration

Smalls retired from civilian service at Fort Monroe in 2004. Over a 16-year period as the editor of the post newspaper, she had heard that ghosts inhabited almost every site on the installation. From the Casemate Museum to the Chamberlin Hotel and dozens of other locations, it seemed that everyone had a ghost story to tell. One in particular conjures up knights, castles and tales of fire-breathing dragons – the moat monster.

Its purported existence was written about in “The Ghosts of Fort Monroe,” by Jane Polonsky. According to one account in the book, the moat monster appeared to a colonel who lived in a duplex on Ingalls Road that is backed by the moat. The colonel was walking his dog late one night when his attention was drawn to something in the moat waters. The thing was big and swimming back and forth across the moat. The colonel followed its progress to the footbridge which was closed for repairs at the time. It was there that the thing vanished.

The moat monster’s ghost became legendary and a writer’s dream to bring it to life. As a journalist and newspaper editor for more than 30 years it was tempting for Smalls to create the character just for the fun. As a mother of four boys and five grandchildren, what could be better than a green moat monster to share adventures with and possibly learn from?

Characters

Monroe the Moat Monster

The story opens with Monroe’s unusual mode of transportation – an old, wooden box that drifted from distant waters to the Chesapeake Bay along the shoreline of Fort Monroe, Virginia. Not yet hatched from a brown-spotted egg cushioned by seaweed inside the box, the little moat monster was an immigrant coming to America. A soldier on guard duty in 1823 found the box, retrieved the egg and put it in the soft mud of the moat that surrounded the old fort. When Monroe hatched he was light green with dark green scales and yellow-orange fins that started at the top of his head to the end of his long tail. He was gentle in nature and had inherited a famous name from his mother’s side and magical powers from his father’s ancestors.

Professor Tortoise The old, brown tortoise, also known as Prof. Tort, discovered Monroe just minutes after the little moat monster was born. He became like a father to Monroe and taught him about the moat, insects, animals, birds and everything about life and nature. Marcia the Mermaid

She lived in the Chesapeake Bay and was like a sister to Monroe. He loved her very much. He saved her life one time and, later in the book series, found out that she was responsible for his box washing up on the shore of Fort Monroe.

McGillicutty (Mac) the Pelican

Mac was Monroe’s best friend that was small for his size, but made up for it with attitude and humor. He had a number of fears – one being afraid of the dark.

Sea Witch

The Sea Witch lived under a coral reef by the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. She kept life interesting for the many creatures that inhabited the beaches and waters around Fort Monroe.

Publication history

The first edition of “The Legend of Monroe, the Moat Monster” was published by KadyBug Publishing, 24 Williamson Park Drive, Newport News, Virginia in December 2013. It was printed in the U.S.A. by Apollo Press, Inc., 270 Enterprise Drive, Newport News, Virginia. KadyBug Publishing is dedicated to publishing books that entertain and educate. The second book in the moat monster series will be printed in the fall of 2014.

Response

Fort Monroe’s history is well known in the Hampton Roads area and locals are delighted and amused to have Monroe the Moat Monster as a mascot that symbolizes the one feature that the installation is most known for. The Casemate Museum's gift shop at Fort Monroe has “The Legend of Monroe,the Moat Monster” books for sale, in addition to posters. Books, posters and other merchandise will be available in various gift shops in Virginia, as well as online at http://www.monroethemoatmonster.com.