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Lynette hid more than just herself behind the monsters.
WEIRD
One of Hollywood's few female monster-makers grows up believing everyone—even her parents—would prefer she never existed. Unknowingly she lives with severe Mental OCD, but the same fear-magnifying disorder that buries her under self-inflicted survival rules is invaluable to her career’s success.
WEIRD: A Monster-maker's Journey From Small Town to Hollywood With OCD
Lynette Eklund's memoir takes readers behind the scenes of the special effects industry, where she became one of Hollywood's few female monster-makers. From stop-motion miniatures to full-scale dinosaurs, Lynette has spent over three decades shaping the visual magic of beloved films and TV shows. With over 50 credits, her work includes iconic projects such as Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, Beetlejuice, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, The Stand, and Species. She's worked with the likes of Ben Kingsley, Jeff Goldblum, and Steven Spielberg, crafting effects that have left a lasting mark on cinematic history.
But Lynette's professional success is only part of the story. She reveals her lifelong struggle with severe OCD, a disorder that kept her trapped under an ever-growing pile of rules and fears. Unaware of the impact OCD had on her life, she pushed forward, finding unexpected strength and creativity in the face of her challenges.
In this powerful memoir, Lynette opens up about her personal journey of overcoming the pressures of neurodiversity, sharing how she turned fear into fuel for her artistic vision and career. From creating beloved characters like Teddy Ruxpin to working on Disney and Universal theme park projects, to major motion pictures, her story is a testament to resilience, perseverance, and the power of embracing what makes us unique.
A story of monsters, both imagined and real, and how embracing them can lead to unexpected triumphs.
What people are saying about WEIRD
"Fascinating, compelling, honest, and brave, I loved this book!"
"I can’t say which aspect of Lynette Eklund’s memoir WEIRD impresses me most: her incredible talent and achievements, or the fact that I knew her for decades without knowing she had OCD. Eklund relates what it was like for her growing up and ultimately making her way in Hollywood with so much grace and compassion, there were times I wanted to weep, and times I stood up and cheered. Her insider’s behind-the-scenes take on the film industry, combined with the coping mechanisms she developed from childhood that ultimately drove her success, make for an extraordinary story. Fascinating, compelling, honest, and brave, I loved this book!”
– Karen Dionne, #1 internationally bestselling author of THE MARSH KING’S DAUGHTER and THE WICKED SISTER
"The reader feels how it feels to be in this situation."
"This is spectacular! The reader feels how it feels to be in this situation. (I was right there, but I didn’t know how it felt to be her.) This wonderful book instantly places the reader in the middle of an otherwise obscure corner of the motion picture industry, shining a brilliant spotlight on the cares and feelings of the fascinating main character. I recommend it to anyone with an interest in showbiz and the people who make it all happen.
- Bill Bryan, GHOSTBUSTER's Marshmallow Man
"She shows that being “weird” is something to claim with pride."
"Lynette Eklund bravely chronicles not only her lifelong struggle with OCD, but also how to carve out a creative life. In alternating flashbacks with her time as one of Hollywood’s premiere special effects artists, she shows that being “weird” is something to claim with pride."
- Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE and THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD
"Lynette's writing is as spectacular as her FX creations."
"Heartfelt and brutally honest, Lynette's writing is as spectacular as her FX creations. WEIRD is a remarkable peek behind the curtains at the agony and the ecstasy of the film biz."
- Steve Johnson, Emmy award-winning makeup effects artist & owner of XFX.
"Lynette Eklund takes you on a journey of courage and focus"
"Lynette Eklund takes you on a journey of courage and focus, sharing how she drew a line in the sand to keep moving toward her goal - no matter what. She writes of sadness, fear, excitement, and triumph, sharing how to overcome some truly tough situations in an industry that is often very difficult, especially for a woman."
- Terri Hardin, Walt Disney Imagineer and Henson Puppeteer
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