Interview: Melissa F. Olson Discusses ‘Project Cryptid’ #5 And Researching
by Benjamin Hall
Melissa F. Olson is one of the writers of Project Cryptid. This title is the first continuing series to see publishing by Ahoy. It features various stories of cryptids. Olsen mainly writes in the genre of Urban Fantasy. Olson’s previous work includes the books Dead Spots (2012) and Old World War (2022).
Benjamin Hall: How does it feel to be writing for Ahoy’s first continuing series?
Melissa F. Olson: As a reader, I love that the stories in Project: Cryptid are self-contained and showcase so many different voices and talents—this anthology is sort of like a sampler platter to check out different writers and artists. As one of those writers, I deeply appreciate that editor Sarah Litt and the AHOY team are going out of their way to make a place for veteran comic writers and people like me, who have been trying to find a way into this world. The whole attitude and vibe at AHOY are just so welcoming; I can tell I’m actively being ruined for all other comic book publishers.
Hall: What about the concept of cryptids interests you the most?
Olson: That’s a great question, because the answer has definitely changed since I started working on this project. I used to see the whole concept of cryptids as an amusing exercise in “what if?” Over the course of researching and writing my story, though, I started see other reasons why people have told and re-told these stories. Some cryptids are more like fairytales than monster tales. I can now describe the entire history of European settlers in Wisconsin through the tale of the hodag, which I plan to deploy someday at a con bar.
