LYNN — A local author and illustrator has added another entry to the subgenre of Boston-based children’s books.
Marblehead resident Chris Cuddy self-published his third book, “Boston The Monkey,” in June.
“It’s exhilarating when you see something you create out of thin air come to life,” Cuddy, who is originally from Lynn, said. “It’s hard to explain.”
The book is based on an urban legend Cuddy heard about monkeys living in the old Boston Garden after escaping from a circus in the 1930s. The rumor came from a mummified monkey that was uncovered when the arena was demolished in the late 1990s.
“I just said, ‘That’s a crazy story,’” Cuddy said.
Cuddy’s book was inspired by the story, although it leaves out the morbid aspect of mummification. It follows the main character, ‘Boston the Monkey,’ through the city after the old Boston Garden is torn down.
Cuddy described the monkey’s journey, which takes him to several Boston landmarks, as a “love letter” to the city.
Cuddy is a member of the Lynn Classical High School Class of 1992 and now works as a creative director at Kelly Automotive Group. He works on projects like his books in his spare time.
“I’d like it to be my day job,” Cuddy said. “I’d like a world without spreadsheets and meetings… I think that’s what we all want.”
He described illustrating and writing the book as therapeutic, compared to his daily workload, and important to his mental health.
“I turned to art as a way to improve myself and get better,” Cuddy said. “It’s very fulfilling.”
Cuddy said he is a completely self-taught artist and spent years working on his illustrations before self-publishing his first book in 2017.
“Raw talent is one thing, but you have to improve yourself every day,” he said.
He said he hopes that others see his work and get inspired to take on goals outside of their day jobs.
“Someone may see this and say ‘I could do this,’” Cuddy said. “You need something that inspires people to do things.”
He added that he wants to serve as an example that even in a smaller city like Lynn, it is possible to find creative artists.
“I think art helps compliment the lifestyle of any city,” Cuddy said. “Art is a component of any healthy community as far as I’m concerned.”