Weird - by Lynette Eklund (Paperback)

About the Book

One woman's battle with OCD and her climb to Hollywood success, creating the monsters that captivated millions.

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 cinema 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, 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.

Book Synopsis

One woman's battle with OCD and her climb to Hollywood success, creating the monsters that captivated millions.

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 cinema 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, 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.

Review Quotes

"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

"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.

"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

"Lynette Eklund bravely chronicles not only her lifelong struggle with OCD, but 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

"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 you.) 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 author of Ghostbuster's Marshmallow Man

About the Author

Lynette Eklund is a renowned special effects artist and one of the few female "monster-makers" in Hollywood. With over 50 television and film credits, her work spans from stop-motion miniatures to full-scale dinosaurs, contributing to iconic projects like Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, Beetlejuice, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and The Stand. Lynette's career also includes creating characters like Teddy Ruxpin and crafting high-end costumes for the furry kingdom. A lifelong struggle with severe OCD only recently brought to light, she now shares her story of resilience and success, showing how embracing her neurodiversity helped her thrive in the competitive world of special effects. Lynette is currently a producer on her first screenplay in post-production and continues her work in the industry, including on the film Dust Bunny and the Disney+ series Skeleton Crew.