Nora-adrienne asked Ellen Marie Wiseman:

What made you choose that Horror House to write about? When my great aunt and uncle became to old to care for their daughter Marilyn she was placed in Willowbrook where she lived out her life. I used to see her walking around the neighborhood or standing in front of their house saying hello to everyone that walked past.

Ellen Marie Wiseman Hi Nora-adrienne, Thanks so much for the question. As an author who writes about social injustices of the past and who has previously written about state institutions, (WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND) I was first drawn to Willowbrook by the rumors and urban legends surrounding it, some of which turned out to be true and made it into the story in ways that even surprised me. But the more I learned about the institution itself, the more I realized that “life” inside was far more complex than I imagined, and the more my sympathy for those who lived and worked there grew. I hadn't heard much about it before I started my research and I think it's important for people to learn about what happened there. I'm so sorry your family member spent part of her life in that place.

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