The curators of the Moonlight and Mawazo contest are proud to present our 2025 Lunar Cohort
Safe House
by: Elizabeth Baizel
Illustrated by Bridget Hayes
About Our Winner
Elizabeth Baizel
Elizabeth Baizel is a science fiction and fantasy author currently residing in the Adirondacks, New York. Although she has been writing her entire life, she began her journey toward publication in 2025, releasing her first short story in the anthology Recipes for Romance in January of that year.
Her passion for the genre began early, sparked by watching Star Trek: The Next Generation with her family and reading authors like Lowry, Asimov, Wells, and Bradbury in high school. Elizabeth loves science fiction and fantasy for their "unlimited possibilities," allowing her to explore new worlds, timelines, and the full spectrum of humanity.
When she isn't writing—often at an old-fashioned desk refinished by her father and sister, or from the bleachers at her children's sporting events—she enjoys running while listening to audiobooks or reading to her youngest son. Her favorite book is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, and her favorite quote is Margaret Atwood's "Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down," which she feels applies to everything in life
Connect with Elizabeth on Social Media
About Our Illustrator
Bridget Hayes
Bridget Hayes is a talented artist and illustrator based in Indianapolis, Indiana. At 31, she is known for her unique and captivating style, which often combines elements of curiosity, absurdity, and personal reflection. As a biracial artist (Black and white), Bridget's recent work delves into deep emotions like grief and explores her biracial identity.
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Bridget's artistic journey began early, with her entire life dedicated to her craft. She gained experience by creating and illustrating the online comic "Raccoon Girl" and producing zines. Her diverse skill set includes watercolor and acrylic paintings, digital art via Procreate and Adobe, single-line contour drawings, abstractions, and animations.
Currently a senior at Herron School of Fine Art and Design at IUPUI, Bridget is majoring in Drawing and Illustration and anticipates graduating in the summer of 2025. She is also the first BUTTER Associate for the BUTTER Fine Art Fair. Her influences range from Danny DeVito to Van Gogh and Bryan Lee O'Malley, and her work has been featured in NUVO Magazine, the Murphy Building’s First Friday show, Storage Space Art Gallery, Garfield Park, and Gluestick Zine Fest. Additionally, she designed labels for the tea company Blended By The Stars.
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Bridget enjoys infusing humor into her art to address larger issues, hoping to make viewers feel less alone and more connected. When she's not drawing or painting, she loves hiking and making her friends watch Shrek. You can follow her artistic journey on Instagram at @martianespresso.