It seems as if Mothman, and other cryptids, are becoming pretty popular within the realms of pop culture. Recently, we featured Paige Lavoie and her series, Mothman in Love, a tale of romance between the shadowy legend and social media influencer, Heather. In Paige’s narrative, Heather and Moth can both be interpreted as outsiders trying to fit into their environments. And now we have Robin Gow, who has also joined this conversation revolving around cryptids and acceptance for outsiders.
About Author Robin Gow
Robin Gow’s Dear Mothman tells the story of a young trans boy named Noah. After tragedy strikes and Noah loses his best friend, the only other trans boy in his school, Noah struggles with loneliness, as he does not have anyone that he can relate to anymore. To fill that void, Noah begins to write letters to the elusive Mothman in an attempt to find acceptance.
As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Robin identifies as fae/it/he. Currently residing in rural Pennsylvania with his partner, alongside whom he writes both fictional narratives and poetry, Robin is also very active in queer and disability justice activism. With an MFA in Creative Writing from Adelphi University, Robin has returned to the university as a professor in English. His fictional work is geared toward young adults and middle school children, with a recurring theme of folklore monsters and queer youth. Today, we’ll focus a bit more on this theme with Dear Mothman.
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Thank you for accepting our interview invitation, Robin! Let’s get started…
Can you give an elevator pitch for your latest novel, Dear Mothman?
Queer kids and cryptids! Is that enough of a pitch? Haha!
Cryptids such as Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster have become quite popular in culture during recent times. What do you think is the reason for this?
I think humans love the unknown, and I think, especially for queer people, we have an innate kinship with monsters and beings on the fringes of our reality. We’re people who are often talked about like monsters ourselves. Unlike true horror characters, though, cryptids are generally just mysterious and unknown instead of being malicious. I think those factors combine to make people love them.
Your main character, Noah, and his best friend, Lewis, both identify as transgender. How does this creature of mystery mirror the experiences of the transgender community?
People are afraid of what they don’t know. I think a lot of the ways trans people are currently being scapegoated for complex political and social unrest is fueled by people’s lack of knowledge about trans people. We know what it’s like to be not believed in, and we also know the power behind creating meaning from our bodies.
What has it meant to you as an LGBTQIA+ individual to use your voice and stories to connect with readers on a deeper level?
It’s healing for me. I grew up without the stories I needed, and I’m honored to get to build stories that I hope can create space for our myriads of queer futures.
Dear Mothman is aimed at a middle school level audience. Why is the subject matter of acceptance in the transgender community important, especially during these unsettling political times, and for this age group?
Children, in general, have very little agency in their lives. I think people removed from work with youth believe that all the kids are educated on inclusion and equity topics right now, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Trans kids are intensely bullied and abused, and oftentimes, that violence is coming from the school and their families as well as their peers. I hope my books can celebrate trans youth, but also, and just as importantly, open up peers and educators to embracing us.
Who are the authors that inspired you on your journey as a writer, especially during your younger years?
I loved Jerry Spinelli, Cornelia Funke, Douglas Adams, and Edward Gory. As I’ve gotten older, I’m really inspired by Elizabeth Acevedo, Kacen Callender, and Akwaeke Emezi.
What message, if any, do you want your readers to draw from your writing?
You are never too old to believe in the fantastical parts of our world.
Additionally, what message do you have for those opposing the LGBTQIA+ concerns that are important to you and the community?
I think people fighting against LGBTQ+ liberation are deeply misguided and have been tricked into wrongfully identifying us as an enemy. I want you to know your safety and liberation is bound up in mine. In the end, though, queer and trans people have always been here and always will. We have and will take care of one another when no one else will.
To close, if you can divulge, what can we expect next from you?
I have another middle-grade novel in verse coming out next year! It’s called Sabertooth, and it’s another queer kids and monsters book. This one’s for the paleontology lovers. I’m working on a bunch of other manuscripts too.
Again, thank you to Robin Gow for participating in this interview! Your answers were truly moving, especially when the identity of our youth is such a turbulent topic within society. For our readers, make sure to pick up Robin’s book, Dear Mothman, which you can order here. We look forward to Robin’s next published novel!
Craving more of Mothman? Check out our article, Everyone’s New Favorite Steamy Romantic Lead: Mothman!
To uncover more recommendations for a younger audience, check out our bookshelf A Young Reader’s Escape into Fantasy and Sci-Fi!
