Baffled Loch Ness Monster fans horrified that new book portrays mythical creature as male

LOCH Ness Monster fans are horrified that a new book portrays the mythical creature as male.

The cover of the paranormal romance shows a handsome kilted man rising from the water and kissing a woman’s hand.

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But his shadow casts an outline of Nessie — traditionally considered female.

The Inverness loch’s website refers to “her”. And Visit Scotland claims: “She’s long and thin.”

The cover of Under Loch and Key — not out until December — appeared online.

A baffled fan posted: “Isn’t the monster a girl?”

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 Another complained: “Nessie’s a woman.” And a third insisted it is “established knowledge”.

The book follows the journey of Keyanna "Key" MacKay, who travels to Scotland and meets Lachlan Greer, who shows her that ";not all monsters are her enemy."

US author Lana Ferguson and Penguin have been asked to comment.