On Nov. 3, Lemont High School students were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to listen to best selling author Peternelle van Arsdale in discussing her novel, “The Beast is an Animal.”

The novel is mainly based on monsters and scary creatures. In the novel, people live in a frightening time and everytime you look around you see monsters. Readers are able to make their own decisions on who the monsters are.

“We are full of good and bad and everything in between,” said Arsdale.

Arsdale also stated that she is a big fan of fiction. “I love fiction because we can enter into other people’s world.”

Studies show that people who read more fiction have more empathy.

During her visit, Arsdale also discussed how she got to where she is today. She explained how she found inspiration to write. “Inspiration to write fiction novels came from movies and I loved Dracula and Creepy and Ark.”

Advice that Arsdale give to aspiring authors is to read.

“Really read interesting books because as a book editor for a long time, it was still hard to write my first book, in addition to reading it is important to write so keep writing,” said Arsdale.

She also stated that all aspiring authors have a different time period at when it will all work out. So never give up.

Peternelle van Arsdale novel “The Beast is an Animal” is being made into a film.