Nation of the Moon - Volume 2

What would you do if your family went to bed one night like normal, but during the night one of them transformed into a werewolf and tried to kill you? How do you go back to life as you knew it the next day when that family member doesn't remember what happened? How does your family change, and how does the world change if this happened to a large portion of the population in the United States?

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Overview

This page features details about the story Nation of the Moon created by FIGID Press.  The purpose of this information is to provide you with an understanding of the world the story takes place in and some key points about the event.  Please use this for research for your short story submission to FIGID Press to be included in the book – Nation of the Moon II.    All content is copyright 2014 by John Graham. 
If you have a particular idea outline, then please submit it for review.  If you need additional brainstorming ideas, please let me know and we can talk through some ideas.
Send an email to John at [email protected].

Author Timeline Basics:
• Interest Deadline is March 31st, 2021.
• Outline Deadline is May 31st, 2021.
• Story Completion Deadline is August 31st, 2021.
• Bio information for your page is due by September 30th, 2021
• The book’s publish date is set for November 15th, 2021 and will be available on Amazon.com
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Story Details

On June 14th, 2022 a full moon begins to rise over the United States at 8:25PM and 25% of the population suddenly transforms into werewolves and they in turn, kill about a third of the remaining population.  Many people are caught off guard as the moonlight shifts across the US and they are attacked in large venues by those changing around them or in their homes by their own loved ones.  (Only those over the age of 13 could be affected by the transformation.)

Unlike the Werewolves of folklore and myths, these wolves can be killed through normal damage without relying on silver or other special methods.  The wolves only have increased stamina, speed, and strength over a typical wolf.   Those that transformed, but were killed while in wolf form immediately transform back to their human state and people realize they have just killed their loved ones, neighbors, and good people
In the wake of the first night, the country and world is in shock.  Many who transformed into wolves that night eventually change back to human form when the moon sets and awaken in strange locations with little to no clothing and have no idea what transpired during the night.

The East Coast has been hit the hardest, with major population centers experiencing the highest casualty rates.  Around 50% of the “humans” were killed during the night and in the morning people can’t distinguish the difference between the survivors and the folks who were the wolves.  Cities have been shut down and even the military struggles to operate properly because of their own soldiers affected through the night.  Looting and paranoia run rampant.

The West Coast fares better than the east, though dense population centers feel the same effect.  Many of the rural states had more survivors because the wolves had a bigger challenge finding their prey.  While many more people survived, looting and violence was still prevalent as people try to figure out if the same thing will happen again on the second night.

In the US, the state of Missouri is unaffected by this incident.  No one changes into a werewolf inside the state line and wolves just outside the state refuse to enter it in their wolfen form.  As word spreads of this terror free area, both the survivors and the affected make pilgrimages to Missouri, seeking a safe haven.  The state has its own internal struggle with those who want to help outsiders, and those who feel that outsiders will bring the affliction to their homes.

The political state of the country is in unrest with the vice president having been killed during the events of the night.  The president is alive, but rumors soon surface that he had changed into a wolf, like so many others.  Politicians struggle to find their role in a country that is panic stricken and looking for answer or someone to blame.

Thoughts of creating “camps” or “safe havens” for those who changed into werewolves surface, but many ideas don’t pan out.  The military, police, and other service agencies have all been affected in some way by the events of June 20th.  Even where the ideas take off, people are untrusting of what will happen if they give their loved ones over.

The world has been unaffected, but they quickly see it as some sort of viral outbreak causing them to quarantine all travelers who left the United States on that first night.  International flights have been shut down and those traveling abroad are unable to return to their homes and families in their time of need.  Americans begin to seek refuge in Canada, Mexico, and Cuba with the hopes they won’t transform into a wolf form if they aren’t on US soil.  Other countries quickly begin to shut down their borders in an effort to quarantine the United States.  Mexico begins to shoot Americans on sight as they try to sneak across the border.  The United Nations calls special sessions to order to discuss the options, with China, North Korea, and India pushing for a nuclear strike before the werewolf virus spreads.  The US representatives fight to hold off the fear by showcasing Missouri and other factors.  The world’s scientists begin to work on the werewolf problem.
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A variety of activities begin to occur during the 30 day period following the event:
• Gun Sales skyrocketing
• Hate Groups Form
• Salem like wolf hunts and accusations
• Scientists struggling to identify a blood test or cure.
• Families trying to recover after being attacked by loved ones who have no idea that they changed.
• Americans traveling in other countries were not affected, but can’t return
• Werewolf hysteria, people making silver bullets, wolvesbane sales.
• Doomsayer interviews, “America is being punished.”
• QVC has special hour on Werewolf protection products.

Potential Stories

The book’s stories can focus on the night’s event or progress from the first night of chaos to a time of recovering and then seeking out the answers in the following weeks.  No one changes or exhibits abnormal symptoms in the following weeks, but everyone feels the pressure of the clock ticking toward the next full moon.  Stories can show how the country is reacting to the horrors that occurred and also the fear that is rising.

Some of the stories can feature scenes from “official” news sources as they show footage and try to provide explanations of what occurred.  There can also be government footage, commercials, underground tapes, and video blogs.

Submission ideas can be from a variety of angles, featuring all walks of life.  They can range from the serious nature of a family dealing with a child who changed into a wolf, or the humorous of how marketers create products to help keep folks safe before the next full moon.  Themes can be of a political, economical, social, or other area, with the actual werewolf element being a background portion.