Elizabeth Becker, a local Charlottesville writer, is an award-winning essayist, an author, and former pediatric nurse. Her debut novel, The Moonlight Healers, is this month’s pick for CharlottesvilleFamily’s book club, the Moms Lit Society.
To get you excited to meet Elizabeth, I spoke to her about The Moonlight Healers, lifelong dreams, and how she fits writing time into the busy life of a mom of four.
Meet Elizabeth Becker at the Moms Lit Society Book Club
Don’t miss the August meeting of the Moms Lit Society! This local book club meets quarterly to celebrate Virginia writers and build community for Charlottesville parents.
What: Moms Lit Society, hosted by CharlottesvilleFamily
When: Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026 • 6:30 pm
Where: Starr Hill Brewery at the Dairy Market
Getting to Know Elizabeth Becker, Local Writer and Mom of Four
What’s it like finding time to write when you’re the stay-at-home parent to four young children? How does the dream of becoming a published author match the reality? And what does it mean to show our children the value of pursuing a lifelong goal?
I loved Elizabeth’s candid, heartfelt perspective on how she balances her creative work with family life. If you haven’t yet picked up your copy of The Moonlight Healers, I know you’ll want to by the end!
All about The Moonlight Healers
EB: The Moonlight Healers is a magical realism novel, set between WWII France and present-day Appalachia. It follows two women, Louise and Helene, born decades apart in the same family.
Louise and Helene both inherit a secret healing ability that has been passed down to women in their family. But when, in desperate moments, they use their skills on someone they love, both must contend with the beauty of their gift, as well as its immensely powerful cost.
Lifelong writer dreams
EB: From my earliest memories I wrote “books.” These were creative stories or nonfiction pamphlets about random animals. I also often wrote what I now know is correctly termed “fan fic.” Essentially, my own continuations of the books and stories I loved. I would even design covers and staple them together to look professional.
I have always loved writing. It’s found its way back into my life even when I have drifted away from it. I studied Creative Writing in college and worked as a freelance journalist after graduation. But it took me years, and a brief detour to nursing school, before I worked up the courage to write my first novel.
How Elizabeth got started on her novel
EB: I started writing this book in late 2020, soon after moving to Charlottesville. I was already signed with an agent. My first full length book was a collection of nonfiction essays about my experiences as an inpatient pediatric nurse. Unsurprisingly, that was a tough sell during a global pandemic! So I pivoted to fiction.
The Moonlight Healers is in many ways a fictionalized version of the stories I wanted to tell about what it means to be a nurse. Both of the protagonists are nurses or drawn to the nursing profession. Both struggle with what it means to heal someone. I wanted to explore that definition of healing. They learn how it changes when you’re thrust into real life and death situations, particularly with end of life care.
I am also a writer who is deeply inspired by setting. Moving to Charlottesville was the perfect spark for this story. We spent a lot of time at Chiles Orchard when we first moved. (It was during the pandemic, and we needed places we could take children that were fun and outdoors!) There is such a deep and ancient beauty in the hills and hollows around Charlottesville. It really helped propel the book forward when I landed on an orchard as one of the settings.
How life has and hasn’t changed
EB: It’s funny, because on the outside not much has changed in my day to day since being published. I still am a full-time “stay at home” mom of four children. Life has not suddenly become glamorous or filled with jet setting (like I naively imagined might happen).
But, and this is a huge but, the interior of my life has drastically changed. It is a true dream to not only have one book published but to have a second book coming out next year. To be able to work doing what I love is such a blessing. Even when the realities of publishing sometimes get me down, I work very hard to remember how ridiculously lucky I am.
I have so much more confidence in myself as a writer. I’m fulfilled creatively, which makes me a better mother. I have gotten to meet so many incredible people, particularly in the Virginia bookseller and author community. I’ve been able to do events and book clubs. Talking with people who have read and loved my book will never stop being cool.
It really is such a gift every day to get to do this.
Daily life as a writer and parent
EB: To be honest, there was zero balance over the summer. I was home every day with my kids without childcare or regular camps. Which meant i really did not work or write at all. But I tried to remember that it was a phase, and to do my best to be present with my kids and not take those moments for granted either.
And since I couldn’t write, I pivoted to research! Which is also a very fun part of the job. And it’s much easier to do in fits and starts versus drafting.
During the school year, it’s easier to fit in dedicated writing time. But it still can be a challenge, especially if there are deadlines involved. 9:00–12:00 is a good chunk of time, but it’s not always enough! Luckily, I have a supportive husband. He’s very understanding if I need to go away for a weekend writing sprint.
The importance of what we show our children
EB: I often feel like I’m failing in the balance department, either because I’m not giving enough to work or I’m not giving enough to my kids. I think this is a universal struggle for women in particular.
But I also know that ultimately I am giving my children a view of mothering that is so important. I have three girls. I want them to see that mothers don’t have to give up their dreams or their identity, that you can be a mom and also do what you love.
Ready to Meet Elizabeth?
Join us at the August meeting of the Moms Lit Society! This local book club meets quarterly to read books by Virginia writers and build community for Charlottesville parents. All are welcome!
What: Moms Lit Society, hosted by CharlottesvilleFamily
When: Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026 • 6:30 pm
Where: Starr Hill Brewery at the Dairy Market (parking is free in the lot)
Where Can I Get a Copy of the Moms Lit Society Book Club Books?
You can find The Moonlight Healers anywhere books are sold, including local bookstores like Bluebird & Co. Or, pick up a copy at your local JMRL branch.
You can also purchase a copy at book club! Booksellers from Bluebird & Co. will be on hand with copies of The Moonlight Healers, as well as the other 2026-2027 book club selections.
We can’t wait to see you there!
About Charlottesville Writer Elizabeth Becker
ELIZABETH JEWETT BECKER is an award-winning essayist, author, and former pediatric nurse. Her debut novel The Moonlight Healers was published in February 2025. She received a degree in Creative Writing from the College of Charleston before earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with her husband and four young children. You can learn more on her website, elizabethbeckerbooks.com.
Find out more about the Moms Lit Society book club, including upcoming selections and previous reads.
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KATHARINE SCHELLMAN is an award-winning Charlottesville writer, parent to two busy kids, and proud owner of far too many books. You can find her on Instagram as @katharinewrites.