A biography from bookreporter.com
Mary Alice Monroe is the critically acclaimed author of eight novels, including SKYWARD, THE BEACH HOUSE, THE FOUR SEASONS and THE BOOK CLUB. She is an active conservationist and lives in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, with her family.
Mary Alice wrote stories for as long as she can remember. As a child she could always be found curled up with a book or writing. One of her strongest memories is her first trip to the public library. She couldn't believe all those books were there for her! When they gave her her first library card, she felt as though she'd been given the keys to a candy shop for her imagination. She still feels the same thrill in libraries and bookstores, just browsing through the books.
Mary Alice claims much of her creative spark came from her large and very close family. Growing up, she and her nine brothers and sisters wrote and performed in their own plays and musicals. Some wrote, painted, sang or played instruments. Her teachers recognized her talent and encouraged her to write. Today, Mary Alice still credits these mentors as instilling in her the faith to pursue her dream. Yet, she first pursued nonfiction, studying journalism and writing for newspapers or for hire. She did not find fulfillment and, after she married, detoured.
After an extended trip to Japan with her husband, Mary Alice studied Asian culture in earnest. She was awarded a fellowship, became bilingual in Japanese and earned her master's degree. Later, she helped establish a government-funded English as a Second Language program for Southeast Asian refugees. Working with immigrants and helping them integrate into American society, Mary Alice saw the need to write an English-language survival text, one of several nonfiction titles she has authored or co- authored.
Not until years later did fate intervene. When her doctor confined her to bed for the final months of her pregnancy, Mary Alice's husband handed her a yellow notepad and pencil and urged her to write the novel she had always dreamed about. Knowing she might never again have that gift of time, she wrote and wrote. "I gave birth to a baby and a book," says the author.
Eight books later, Mary Alice cannot imagine not writing. As difficult and painful as the process can sometimes be, she has found her voice in fiction. Although known for her intimate portrayals of women's lives, her writing has gained added purpose and depth with her move to the South Carolina Lowcountry. "Living on Isle of Palms provides a stimulating place for me to think and to write. I've always been interested in nature, but living on the island and near the wetlands has influenced by work. I draw themes for my novels from nature and the parallels with human nature. And, in my own small way, I hope that by bringing to life the beauty and mystery of this fabulously varied ecosystem and various endangered species in my stories, readers will perhaps be inspired to support efforts to protect them."
Mary Alice is a volunteer for several environmental groups including the South Carolina Center for Birds of Prey and The Island Turtle Team. Her work with these groups provided the inspiration for her novels, SKYWARD, THE BEACH HOUSE and SWEETGRASS.