Nestled in a small town on the border between Ohio and West Virginia is a place called Point Pleasant. From a first impression, this would seem like any other community in the US, but if you dive deeper, you will discover this is the home to the infamous Mothman. Beginning at the end of 1966, the folklore of this mysterious creature was written, as the townspeople reported strange sights and encounters, which ultimately accumulated with a tragic and dramatic incident where the Silver Bridge, crossing over the Ohio River, collapsed into the frigid waters below. Some say the Mothman sightings are somehow related to this catastrophe, either as a cause or an omen.
Decades later, interpretations of Mothman can be found internationally, even with sightings and adaptations reaching into Japan. Point Pleasant has embraced this urban legend and even hosts a Mothman Festival each year to celebrate their local cryptid. Mothman can be found on t-shirts, coffee mugs, pins, and even romance novels. Residing in Orlando, Florida, Paige Lavoie has adopted Mothman as her leading hero in her steamy series, beginning with I’m in Love with Mothman. Paige has recently promoted her book in the heart of the folklore legend while attending the Annual Mothman Festival in West Virginia during the weekend of September 21st. In today’s Author Interview, we discuss with Paige how Mothman has spread his wings and transformed from a monster inflicting fear on a small town to a fluffy and loveable creature that spreads heat in the sheets.
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Welcome, Paige! Let’s talk more about Mothman and your romance trilogy!
For any readers unfamiliar with your work, can you provide an elevator pitch for I’m in Love with Mothman?
I’m in Love with Mothman is a quirky romance following a burnt-out social media influencer who decides to ditch her life online and move to a secluded cabin in the woods. The 22-year-old expected peace and calm — but not the wounded cryptid who landed on her roof (and her heart). It’s a sweet story perfect for people who grew up with shows like Gargoyles and Beauty and the Beast, and has a romantasy flair as the series continues.
Cryptids like Mothman and Braxie have seen a resurgence in popularity lately. Given your choice to feature Mothman prominently, what do you think accounts for this renewed interest? What is it about these enigmatic creatures that continue to captivate us?
I think as a whole humans are fascinated by things we can’t easily explain. I grew up spending a lot of time with my Grandpa who loved monsters, cryptids, UFOs, etc. From a young age, I fully believed and was really interested by what could be lurking in the shadows. We have so many answers at our fingertips, and I think it’s fun to have something to latch onto that’s still so unknown.
Your protagonist, Heather, seeks refuge from the hectic world of social media by relocating to a secluded cabin in Ohio. How does your narrative reflect the growing trend of digital burnout? What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of living a predominantly digital life, as exemplified by Heather’s initial experience?
I’ve spent a lot of time on social media in different forms. I’ve blogged, vlogged, spent a brief time as a streamer, and, from the days of Myspace till now, have shared a lot of myself online. What I’ve noticed is it’s almost impossible to separate yourself from the kind of validation you feel when a piece of content does well. For Heather, who has spent her entire life online, she struggles to figure out how exactly to unplug. She has a built-in compulsion to document, share — and while I think there’s nothing wrong with that, part of her journey is figuring out what she wants to create for herself versus what will suit an algorithm — and that’s tough!
Luckily, she has some help in the form of a technologically challenged cryptid who has the opposite problem. Heather may be overly connected to the world around her through the lens of her phone, but Moth is so closed off.
There’s a lovely quote from I’m Getting Married to Mothman where Moth says, “Some part of me that craves to be known in a way I can choose.” I think there’s something to that idea. The two of them really bring out that idea in each other. Heather realizes she can have privacy and doesn’t have to share everything, and Moth realizes he can step out of the shadows. I loved forming this dynamic and the way these two find balance together.
Heather’s decision to leave her social media influencer lifestyle is partly driven by the online bullying she experiences. Her mother’s encouragement of this behavior further highlights the connection between social media and mental health. How does your narrative explore the impact of online bullying on mental well-being?
I think it’s such a shame that Heather has such a lack of support from her mom, who is the reason that Heather has lived her life in the spotlight. As the child of a mommy-blogger, we had a main character who has a unique set of problems. Until Heather runs off to start her new adventure, she’s had no privacy or sense of community online or offline, I think both in her case would have made all the difference.
She desperately needed friends and support in her everyday life. In a story with a main character dealing with such modern problems it would have been so easy to do a narrative that was “internet = bad. Nature = good” but in real life it’s so much more complicated than that.
I have group chats filled with indie authors, old friends, and those are spaces we can all go to support each other, ask questions and cheer each on. Heather could have really benefited from being in one of those spaces and being told it’s okay to take time for yourself, you don’t need to do every brand deal that comes your way, and you have a right to a private life.
Social media can be a great way to explore creative outlets, but Heather has gotten lost in her content. I loved writing the scenes where she gets more into art and photography and reconnects to her creative energy in the end of I’m In Love With Mothman and how that shapes up through the series.
Given Heather’s Florida roots, are there any local cryptid legends that you’ve incorporated into your narrative? How do these legends relate to the unique environment of Florida, similar to the connection between Mothman and the Point Pleasant region?
One of the many things I gave Heather that I also have (including Hashimotos) is being from Florida! (Although it’s not in the book, I imagined her doing a lot of theme park content in her influencer life.) As for what else I’ve worked from the sunshine state, you’ll meet a very sweet swamp creature that you’ll be seeing more of in the third book. I’d love to explore even more cryptids and legends in the future!
Chris and other locals in the community exhibit a fear of Mothman. Heather later challenges this perception, questioning whether Mothman is a threat or simply a misunderstood figure. Beyond the element of the unknown, what factors contribute to the fear surrounding folklore characters like Mothman?
The unknown is definitely a big one, but other than that I think the physicality on its own is daunting. You have a creature living in the forest with a giant wingspan, and sharp claws, and there’s also this connection to misfortune…If you’re suspicious of a black cat crossing your path, I don’t think you’re going to fare much better with a 7-foot-tall cryptid. I think the “why” is a big reason for the fear. Why are these creatures lurking? What do they want — but that does, in the end, come back to being the unknown, doesn’t it?
Through the years, there have been a range of great romantic leads in literature: Mr.Darcy from Pride and Prejudice, Noah from The Notebook, Edward Cullen from Twilight. What qualities does Mothman share in the history of literary romantic leads?
Funny enough that brooding sort of socially awkward nature from Mr. Darcy was something that I felt directly inspired by. I wanted to create someone who felt like they were lost in time, and love interest like Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle and Mr. Darcy inspired me a ton. I think there’s something attractive about a quiet calm, someone secretly as love-struck as the protagonist — and who doesn’t love banter, a scene in the rain–or a really good hand flex?
Your novel features intimate scenes between Mothman and Heather. Given the tendency of visitors to engage in inappropriate behavior with the Mothman statue in West Virginia, what do you believe is the underlying appeal of this mystifying creature?
I wasn’t sure how much intimacy would be on the page of the book until I started to get to know the characters. It might sound silly but until they started to grow as a couple I wasn’t sure if it would go past kissing. The build-up is very sweet in a way that I think surprises people. I wanted them to feel balanced and goofy. As for the appeal of the mystifying creature–that’s hard for me to answer. The statue I’m sure plays a part, but my very first crush was Billie from Hocus Pocus so I’ve always had a thing for monsters. I had a lot of fun exploring what Moth and Heather’s romance would feel like, and writing from Moth’s POV in the third book was such a treat to see what his thoughts are through all those intimate moments. ;)
We can not think of a better way to enjoy the autumn coziness than sipping on your favorite hot steamy pumpkin-flavored drink and falling head over heels with Mothman. While Moth has been hidden in mystery and shadows for years, it is refreshing to discover his inner romantic side. Thank you so much, Paige, for introducing the Bookstr community to our new favorite obsession.
For more spooky romance recommendations, click this link!
For our Supernatural Picks: Paranormal Romance Recs bookshelf on Bookshop.org, click here!
