Tully Minoski is a dad and a children's book author who found a way to laugh through—or maybe just at—the chaos of childcare. Inspired by real life with real kids, Monsters in My Belly is meant to be laughed at, read aloud, and (hopefully) requested right before bedtime.
Tully lives with his wife and two children in Kansas City and spends far too much of his time microwaving cold coffee, waving goodbye to poop like it's an old friend, and saying he is going to work out only to eat peanut butter pretzels instead.
Q: What inspired the idea behind your book?
A: The inspiration for Monsters in My Belly came when my wife was trying (emphasis on trying) to put our daughter Skylar, a newborn at the time, down for a nap. I was trying (emphasis on trying) to nap at the same time, but she was so loud. I remember listening to the whole put-down sequence, a sequence I was very familiar with. The script just came to me almost as a way to frame, explain, and process the experience of having a newborn, or at least this aspect of having a newborn.
Q: As an author, what tips would you give anyone who wants to get into writing?
A: Just do it (sorry, Nike). Seriously, though—just do it. Life won’t show you the path until you start walking down it. I wrote this script in early 2023 and had no connections in the publishing world. I spent two years trying to figure it out on my own before taking a gamble on Publishizer, a crowdfunding platform for writers. I worked my butt off to see if I could get some traction. Like Gretzky said, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” Just start.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: Besides mine? Kidding, kind of. Tribe by Sebastian Junger. The book could not be further from a children’s book, but it radically altered the lens through which I see the world and altered my views on how society does (and should) operate.
Q: Was your main character modeled after anyone in your life?
A: Haha, yes! My daughter, and later my son. I wrote the script in 2023 after Skylar was born. In 2025, Jaxon was born and confirmed that the monsters were still very real and that the book touched on a very universal experience. I actually built a number of inside jokes into the book. If folks want some of that behind-the-scenes stuff, I’ll be posting it on Monsters in My Belly’s Facebook page. Check it out!
Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
A: The creative part, hands down. I genuinely loved the challenge of taking a hard situation (putting a newborn to sleep) and framing it in a way that recognized the hardship but was still entertaining and uplifting. It’s also fun to try to create something that, like a good Pixar movie, resonates with both parents and kids.
Q: Do you believe that being a “good writer” is a developed skill or a natural talent?
A: Well, my first instinct is to hope Monsters in My Belly gets received as good writing. I love it and am very proud of it, but as the author, I am also reluctant to classify it. That said, there’s no doubt in my mind that being a good writer is a developed skill. Unlike my greatest natural talent (which, if readers want to know, is eating an entire bag of peanut butter pretzels for no reason), I’ve had to work very hard at academics. In elementary school, I remember following a friend of mine into the gifted and talented class. When I showed up, the teacher was like, “Ummm, yeah, you don’t belong here. Go back to your real class.” Hahah! If folks consider me a good writer, it’s because I’ve worked very hard at it.
Q: Do you have a favorite book, poem, TV, or movie quote?
A: Nothing that immediately comes to mind, but as a first-time author who’s still figuring it all out, this seems fitting: “I don’t know what we’re yelling about!!!” —–Brick, Anchorman.
Q: Would you write another book (or are you already writing another book)?
A: Yes, I would, but no, I’m not. I have a day job and two very young children, so, with my limited time, I’m focused on giving my supporters my all with this book. If Monsters in My Belly is well-received, I’d love to turn it into a series (Monsters in My Potty, Monsters in My Car Seat, Monsters in My Closet), but that’s something to reflect on down the road.
Q: Is there an author you look up to, and why?
A: On the children’s side, I really like Anna Dewdney’s Llama Llama series. It’s punchy, fun, and resonates with the parent-child experience. On the adult side, it’s Sebastian Junger (maybe I should start a fan club?). Seriously, his writing is electric. I don’t know anyone who can use so few words to communicate such big ideas. It’s amazing. For me, it also helps that he is deeply patriotic and dedicates a lot of time to support our veterans (see Vets Town Hall). If you haven’t read his writing, check out his Substack.
Q: If there were an apocalypse and you could only take five books into your doomsday bunker, what would they be?
A: Well, the first book would be How to Survive an Apocalypse, but, since I don’t own that book, it would be How to Survive an Apocalypse When You Didn’t Buy a Book About How to Survive an Apocalypse. Alright, jokes aside, I would bring Monsters in My Belly (obviously), a coloring book (so my kids wouldn’t drive me crazy), Llama Llama Mad at Mama (in the parenthood game, the only way to compete with my super-mom wife, Erin, is by cheating extensively), Tribe (see above), and How Will You Measure Your Life? (a practical book about how to find and stay true to your North Star in life, which might be helpful in an apocalypse).
Learn more about Tully Minoski and his debut children's novel, Monsters in My Belly, here. Coming soon July 21, 2026!