Interview with Wilde Press’s Elisabeth Grass: Author of Moonstruck
Undergraduate Students for Publishing Vice President // Abigail Linicks
Fifteen years after a violent assault, Eleanor changes each night into a bloodthirsty creature. By day, she is the average department store worker and the victim of her coworkers’ gossip. A little odd, maybe, but Eleanor lets them. After all, as long as she is home before sunset, no one has to know the truth. Clara, a young woman working alongside Eleanor, is everything Eleanor isn’t. Young and newly married, she sees a rosy life before her and is ignorant to the darkness around her. But night is falling quickly, and a new monster is waiting just around the corner. Prowling. Waiting.
“It was definitely cathartic.”
In this interview, Grass speaks to us about her upcoming novella Moonstruck, exploring how the lingering effects of sexual assault can manifest into something both ferocious and empowering.
How does it feel to have Moonstruck picked up for publication?
Being an author is something that I’ve always just really wanted to be, so it’s exciting to have this piece published.
What influenced or inspired the novella?
I was writing a short story for a class last semester, and I knew I wanted to write something werewolf-ish because I had never done that before and it sounded fun. I was literally just reading the Wikipedia page for “Lycanthropy” and there was a woman who was institutionalized because she was convinced she was shapeshifting into different animals. That sparked the story that would then eventually evolve into the longer version.
Also, I knew I wanted to write about a woman. I was playing with this idea of whether or not her transformation was actually happening or if it was all in her head, which I’m still open to people interpreting that way.
What did your writing process look like?
Within the past year, I’ve started writing things out on physical paper because I like the act of writing and I feel like it gets my thoughts flowing. Then, I’ll usually construct some sort of outline in a notebook and then write it out.
For this novella, I kind of wrote out of order. There were scenes that I could really picture that I wrote first and then I kind of filled the rest of the way.
Because I’m a creative writing major, there was a period where I was like, ‘I don’t even know if I like this anymore,’ because I was doing it for class. But I had a professor last semester, Jabari Asim, who was so motivating for me. He was just so wise and smart and fun, and he really helped me with this.
Eleanor (the protagonist) is middle-aged. What made you choose to write from the perspective of an older woman, as opposed to a younger woman your own age?
When I was writing the first version of the story, it just made complete sense. I never really considered making her younger. I think the apathy that she goes through life with feels more mature. In the story, we see Clara who’s kind of the complete opposite of her—lively and eager to experience life.
Which scenes were most enjoyable to write?
I think one of the strongest points was the opening scene with Eleanor’s transformation. I feel like I could really get into the nitty gritty with it.
Which scenes were most difficult to write?
The end was the most difficult part for me to write because I was concerned about how vividly I was writing what would happen to Clara. I was definitely concerned I was getting too graphic, for lack of a better word.
I was also concerned people wouldn’t read it the way I was hoping they would read it, considering it’s very personal and something I really put a lot of my own experience and feelings into. I was concerned about my intentions not being fully understood.
How has writing this influenced your experience with trauma?
It’s been a good outlet for me. A lot of the body horror aspects—I could put myself into. I had such an image in my head when I was writing those scenes, so it was definitely cathartic.
What do you hope readers take away?
Sexual violence is a real problem. It always has been and will probably continue to be, especially under the current administration with crisis centers being defunded. But there’s always a community out there. There are people who can help.
Anything else you’d like to share?
I’ve always been nervous to write about really serious topics like assault. But for this piece it was the only thing I was able to think about and I’m glad people seem to be receptive to it.
But, this is a real thing. It definitely needs to be written about and talked about in ways that are not glorifying it. For example, you see so much media of unnecessary rape scenes or abuse toward women that are not relevant to the plot.
So, I just wanted to counter that with something that is very much something I can relate to and that’s personal.
Moonstruck will be officially released at Pub Club’s launch party December 6th from 5 PM-8 PM in the Lion’s Den! Make sure to grab yourself a copy and listen to Elisabeth Grass read an excerpt from the story!