Congratulations to Julide Kroeker from Saint Charles, Missouri for her touching nonfiction essay titled:
Check out Julide's submission, To all the Moons who have followed me Home as well as all the other winning entries and then stop back here to read Julide's enlightening interview with Crystal J. Casavant-Otto from WOW! Women on Writing.
Julide (Juh-lee-duh) Kroeker is an aspiring cryptid living in the Midwest. She spent the last luxurious 8 months getting laid off, so she's hoping to haunt your local woods! Are you looking for someone with the moxie of Mothman and the sex appeal of the Squonk? Well, look no further! I'm already scurrying on your roof!
WOW: Thank you for writing such a personal essay - what is the take-away you'd like readers to gain from To all the Moons who have followed me Home?
Julide: When you're a kid, you believe everything your parents say, especially the bad stuff. It seeps into your brain and marinates there, and it's near impossible to debunk all the things that the person who is supposed to love you more than anyone has said. I know that's how I thought, I was like, "Man, if my mom thinks of me like this, then everyone else must really hate me." And sometimes I still slip into that. The takeaway I would hope would be that you are a full person outside of other people, and it is important to grasp who that person is so that other people don't tell you who you are instead.
WOW: That is really profound - thank you for finding the right words to explain that. Who is your support - what have you found to be most supportive in your writing life as well as in life in general?
Julide: My boyfriend Kevin has been a huge support for me. I've had a tough year of getting laid off, and then endured the demoralizing experience of searching for a new job in 2025. He never wavered in his belief in what I could achieve, and has never made me feel embarrassed for getting excited about the things that bring me joy. He was told me that, "Your enthusiasm is the best thing about you."
WOW: Huge round of applause for Kevin - I love him already! What’s next for you? What are your writing goals for the rest of 2025 and beyond?
Julide: I've never been good about actually finishing my novels, so that is still a goal I'd like to achieve. I have a story in mind that really excites me whenever I think about. It's got a small town with shady secrets, cryptids, a mysterious doctor, and a little girl trying to uncover it all. I was really stuck on the idea of writing something people broadly would want to buy, but this feels like something I'd love even if no one buys it, so I'm chasing that right now.
WOW: I enjoyed your bio - it begs the ask - Would you like to share with us what an aspiring cryptid enjoys? Bring us into your world?
Julide: Gosh, thanks for asking. Unfortunately, it's not all glitz and glamour like you'd think. It's a really intimidating market to break into, even with all six of my legs. It can feel like it's oversaturated by these veterans, you know, cause every day you're just thinking, "I'll never be Mothman." But I was talking to the Loveland Frogman, who's been a real mentor for me, and who gave me some advice in regards to my identity crisis as an up and coming cryptid, he said, "Hey, stop trying to come up with your name and your niche, the town you scuttle around in will name you. It's about the community and your impact on them. You just gotta be you." And that really took a lot of pressure off me.
WOW: What advice do you have for others during turbulent times? What works or doesn’t work for you when it comes to dealing with stress and the pressures of everyday life?
Julide: Allow yourself to crumble a bit. It doesn't make you weak. I felt completely worthless when I lost my job, and I had to get through feeling those emotions, because that was the way through. You have to remember that you are not your job, that you still deserve kindness from people, including yourself. So, my advice is crumble and rebuild.
WOW: Thank you Julide for your great advice to others when it comes to writing and writing contests, and thank you for sharing with us in today's interview! You're a bright light for all of us writers and readers! I look forward to our paths crossing again and until then - keep writing (and smiling)!
Crystal Casavant writes. Everything.
If you follow her blog you have likely laid eyes on every thought she has ever had. Her debut novel, It Was Never About Me, Was It? is still a work in progress and shall be fully worthy sometime in 2025...or maybe 2026. She has written for WOW! Women on Writing, Bring on Lemons, and has been featured in several magazines and ezines relating to credit and collections as well as religious collections for confessional Lutherans. She runs a busy household full of intelligent, recalcitrant, and delightful humans who give her breath and keep her heart beating day after day.
Crystal wears many hats (and not just the one in this photo) and fully believes in being in the moment and doing everything she can to improve the lives of those around her! The world may never know her name, but she prays that because of her, someone may smile a little brighter. She prides herself on doing nice things - yes, even for strangers!
