It is the 12th day of the A to Z Challenge.
L is for Loch Ness Monster Facts
The Loch Ness Monster is not considered a mystical creature, but one of the most famous cryptid in the world. For a beast to be qualified as a cryptid there must be some sort of evidence either in folklore or sightings.
The first sighting of the Loch Ness Monster dates back to 565 AD by St. Columba. St. Columba arrived in Inverness to find some Picts burying the remains of one of their people who had been attacked by the Loch Ness Monster. The dead man’s boat was on the other side of the loch, and St. Columba ordered one of his followers to swim to the other side and retrieve the boat. When the follower entered the water, the Loch Ness Monster attacked him. St. Columba invoked the name of God, commanding the beast to return to whence it came. The Loch Ness monster dove beneath the surface of the water.
In 1933, another sighting was listed by Mr. and Mrs. Spicer, who reported seeing a large animal cross in front of their car.
December 1933, the famous Loch Ness Monster hoax took place. Marmaduke Wetherall was hired by Daily Mail to prove the Loch Ness Monster existed. When Wetherall found footprints, he had casts taken of them and sent the casts to the Natural History Museum in London. The experts proved the footprints were hippopotamus footprints. It was never proven who orchestrated the hoax.
It wasn’t until 1975 that the beast had a more scientific name: Nessiteras Rhombopteryx. The public shortened the named to Nessie. So for those who didn’t know, the Loch Ness Monster was not always thought of as female.
The Loch Ness Monster is described as having a small head and long neck. The body is described as broad with four flippers and a large tail.
Nessie doesn’t like bacon. Yep, it’s true. In 1976, an attempt to lure the Loch Ness Monster to the surface was to toss bacon onto the Loch from a Hot Air Balloon.
With all the sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, this beast has never harmed anyone since St. Columba’s encounter in 565 AD.
In my paranormal romance/mystery, the Loch Ness Monster makes another appearance.
E-book Available at: The Wild Rose Press
Kindle
NOOK
Bookstrand
Blurb:
Michaela Grant travels to Scotland for a holiday, knowing this vacation is her last. A medical condition threatens her life and any chance of a future—until she meets Alan MacLachlin, a man forced to exist between two worlds.
Alan is the legendary Loch Ness Monster. Once every fifty years he returns to human form in search of his soul mate, the one woman who can break his curse. He believes he has found forever with Michaela, but to claim it he must figure out how to save her life.
Michaela and Alan vow to take what time has to offer, but another threat looms. A sinister shape shifter with a vendetta against Alan is making Loch Ness his personal hunting ground. Now he’s threatening Michaela. Alan must discover who the shifter is and stop him before it’s too late.
What would you do if you spotted the Loch Ness Monster?
Here's the list to the other A to Z Challenge participants. Have fun hopping!!
Photo of Nessie Attribution: StaraBlazkova
As a child, I recall fearing any shadow in the water to be the american version of Nessie. I later replaced this fear after seeing the movie “Jaws” with the more common shallow fresh water dwelling great white.
Hi DL,
You might have reasons to be afraid of a Loch Ness Monster here in the States. Champ is the popular name for the United States’ best-known lake monster, supposedly living in Lake Champlain, a 125-mile long lake that is the border between Vermont and New York!
How funny to find yours today. My N post is on Loch Ness and Nessie.
Great post – you have more of the history than I do.
Willa,
Thanks is funny. I’ll have to hop over to your blog to check it out. 🙂
My husband believes in all these kind of stuff! I swear if we ever go to Scotland I bet he’s see it!! lol
Jen,
If your husband does go to Scotland, make sure he has a camera on him at all times. I so want a photo!! lol