Date of Award
5-2025
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts
Department
English
Program
Creative Writing (MFA)
First Advisor/Chairperson
Jon Billman
Abstract
Izzy and Aster’s Guide to Cryptid Creatures is a novel length work about two girls who have just graduated high school going on a road trip to investigate legendary cryptids such as the mothman and bigfoot. It is a LGBTQIA+ Young Adult contemporary rom-com that explores themes of found family, mental health recovery, friendship, and self-actualization. The narrative is told through dual-perspectives of the main characters, Izzy and Aster. While Izzy deals with the fallout between her and her childhood best friend, Jenna, as well as a major shift in her plans for the future, Aster works to overcome her anxiety of losing people and things that matter to her. The novel begins with Izzy and Aster working together, despite their never ending (perhaps, one sided) feud, to solve the mystery of why Jenna has seemingly disappeared off the face of the planet. Their Jenna-related findings and an English assignment that inspires them to learn more about cryptids leads them to go on the road trip. Through this work, questions such as ‘what does it mean to be known,’ ‘how does it take to reach happiness,’ and ‘what parts of ourselves do we hide in the dark’ are answered.
Recommended Citation
Williams, Miranda, "Izzy and Aster's Guide to Cryptid Creatures" (2025). All NMU Master's Theses. 875.
https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/875
Access Type
Open Access
Justification for Restricting Access
This excerpt is a part of a longer work that I will be seeking publication for. Some publishers would consider the fact that this is downloadable in the commons as "previously published."
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