His latest, \u201cChasing North American Monsters,\u201d is a compendium featuring monsters and folklore creatures stretching from Greenland and the Arctic Circle down to Panama. The book is the second in his \u201cChasing Monsters\u201d series. After Offutt authored \u201cChasing American Monsters\u201d in 2019, his publisher encouraged him to write similar books. He plans for the third book in the series to be published next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor anyone who has played \u2018Dungeons and Dragons,\u2019 it\u2019s sort of a real-life monster manual,\u201d he said. \u201cI hope they (readers) just have fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
The book, released Sept. 8, came easily to Offutt as he has always had a heavy interest in monsters. Growing up in small-town Orrick, Missouri, he gravitated toward books about creatures such as the Loch Ness Monster or television shows about Bigfoot. He also remembers reading \u201cThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer\u201d as a child and wanting to be an author ever since.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe unknown has always fascinated me, and it still does,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve never grown out of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Jason](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/251008jason-offut-pportrait-fall2025-lc-008.jpg\")
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Jason Offutt, pictured in his Wells Hall office, teaches coursework in Northwest’s School of Communication and Mass Media. (Photo by Lilly Cook\/Northwest Missouri State University)<\/p>\n
After a successful 17-year career in journalism, Offutt decided to share his expertise by becoming an instructor and joined the Northwest faculty in 2005. He teaches courses in Northwest\u2019s School of Communication and Mass Media<\/a> related to reporting, opinion writing, communication law and ethics, and photojournalism.<\/p>\n He uses his own writing and researching practices as real-world examples for his students.<\/p>\n \u201cGood writing is good writing,\u201d he said. \u201cThe methods of putting words together I use in my work are the same I teach in class. As for research and interviewing, I teach those same skills I use in my books. There are good sources and bad sources. I teach my students which are which.\u201d<\/p>\n His lighthearted, informative, easy-to-read writing style has led Offutt to win numerous awards. He won the Independent Book Publishers Association\u2019s best horror novel in 2022 and best audio horror novel in 2023.<\/p>\n He feels an unmatched fulfillment from creating pieces of entertainment.<\/p>\n \u201cAs an established author, I have access to bigger publishers and all their benefits,\u201d Offutt said. \u201cNow, instead of simply writing a book and trying to get it published, which of course I still do, a couple of my publishers are happy enough with my work they ask me to write more books. That\u2019s a great feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n Although he has published 20 books, he says his routine prevents him from burn out. He dedicates two hours each day with the same materials and working environment to keep him motivated.<\/p>\n Simultaneously, Offutt encourages his students to constantly work toward improvement. Learning to write effectively stems from plenty of reading and writing, he says.<\/p>\n \u201cHave really think skin,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd just don\u2019t give up.\u201d<\/p>\n