Moonlight and Mawazo Science Fiction and Fantasy Competition Announces 2025 Lunar Cohort

Core Passion Consulting

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February 8, 2026 —

Moonlight and Mawazo, the premier short story competition dedicated to elevating diverse voices in speculative fiction, is proud to announce the selection of its 2025 Lunar Cohort. Following the success of its inaugural year, the collaboration between Core Passion Consulting (Shawyonia Pettigrew) and Cinnamon Cinephile (Subrina Wood) continues its mission to provide a platform for authors from underserved communities, including women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community.

The 2025 competition saw a surge in submissions from across the United States, ranging from high fantasy to grit-driven science fiction.

This year, the judges of Moonlight and Mawazo added Elizabeth Baizel (the pen name of Lisa Grabbe), an Adirondack-based author whose work explores the profound depths of human nature through the lens of the fantastic.

Introducing the 2025 Featured Author:

Elizabeth Baizel Elizabeth Baizel brings a lifelong passion for world-building to the 2025 Lunar Cohort. Growing up in Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio, and now residing in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, Grabbe’s literary roots were planted early. Influenced by the "Golden Age" of science fiction and family traditions of watching Star Trek: The Next Generation, she views the genre as a vital tool for societal reflection.

"I love science fiction because it allows for changes in our world," says. Baizel "It is a genre that allows the author to change our world, invent new worlds, and reveal the best and worst of humanity. In fantasy, the only limit is the mind."

Baizel, who officially entered the professional publishing scene in early 2025 with her contribution to the Recipes for Romance anthology and now has been recognized by the Moonlight and Mawazo judges for her ability to weave complex timelines and vivid, speculative landscapes. Whether writing from her refinished antique desk or on the bleachers of her son's sporting events, Baizel embodies the relentless spirit of the modern writer.

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A Growing Legacy of Diverse Storytelling

The Moonlight and Mawazo competition was founded on the belief that "There is always room for your story." By focusing on characters and narratives that reflect a broad spectrum of human experience, the contest fills a critical gap in the Science Fiction and Fantasy (SFF) market.

"I couldn’t be more pleased that our mission is reflected so well in our growing cohort," said Shawyonia Pettigrew, Curator of Moonlight and Mawazo. "We are embracing writers who see themselves as the heroes and villains of stories that can only be told through their unique experiences."

About Elizabeth Baizel

Elizabeth Baizel is a 44-year-old author residing in the Adirondacks, New York. A devotee of Alexander Dumas and Margaret Atwood, she balances her writing career with her roles as a mother and a community member. Her work is characterized by an exploration of "unlimited possibilities" across time and space.