Mary Alice Monroe
Exemplar to the raison d'être of South Carolina Academy of Authors (SCAA), Mary Alice Monroe was inducted into the organization in 2018. The SCAA is not a competition nor a popularity contest but rather an organization with an educational focus on reading and writing. To maintain that commitment, the SCAA honors writers of literary merit and connects them with readers.
Even though millions of Monroe’s books are read all over the world, she appreciates Lowcountry localities, and places like Summerville appreciate her for having made them “firsts” on her book tours. Monroe says: “Light one candle. Act locally, while thinking globally.” Through her enlightening presentations and books (nonfiction, novels, and children’s picture books) and blog posts and podcasts, Monroe has been connecting warmly with readers since the 1990s.
Monroe grew up in Chicago, honeymooned in Japan, and earned her B.A. (Asian Studies and Japanese) and M.A. (education) from Seton Hall University, NJ. Her husband’s career as a child psychiatrist brought them to Charleston where Monroe’s environmental concerns evolved into “richly textured” writing and tender themes, often uniting the “fragility” of the natural world with women’s fiction. She credits conversations with her spouse for the understanding about human behavior that she brings to her characters.
Characteristically, her early works, such as The Book Club (1999), portray women overcoming challenges through “interpersonal relationships.” Similar themes also figure in her series set in the Lowcountry: The Beach House (2002); its film rendering with Hallmark (2018); and the book’s prequel Beach House for Rent (2017). Characters like Lovie and Cara are surrounded by Southern concerns of family, land, the past, and sacrifice. And Cara’s moniker “the turtle lady” likewise distinguishes Monroe herself.
Whenever Monroe commits to an issue (loggerheads, butterflies, dolphins), she accompanies her fiction with immersive environmental research. As a novelist and conservationist, she uniquely interweaves story, the quotidian, and “earth’s wild habitat.”
Aspects of Monroe’s creative excellence transcends South Carolina, yet illuminates its culture. Her accolades (from Readers’ Choice and bestselling author lists to Distinguished Author at SW Florida’s 2015 Book Festival) are numerous. Her service to causes (from the SC Aquarium to Charleston Literacy) inspires awareness. Her writer’s voice continues to provide insight into the human condition and needs to be heard. (To enjoy Monroe's literary gifts to the community and continue hearing Monroe’s voice, we can visit maryalicemonore.com.)
~Ellen E. Hyatt
Even though millions of Monroe’s books are read all over the world, she appreciates Lowcountry localities, and places like Summerville appreciate her for having made them “firsts” on her book tours. Monroe says: “Light one candle. Act locally, while thinking globally.” Through her enlightening presentations and books (nonfiction, novels, and children’s picture books) and blog posts and podcasts, Monroe has been connecting warmly with readers since the 1990s.
Monroe grew up in Chicago, honeymooned in Japan, and earned her B.A. (Asian Studies and Japanese) and M.A. (education) from Seton Hall University, NJ. Her husband’s career as a child psychiatrist brought them to Charleston where Monroe’s environmental concerns evolved into “richly textured” writing and tender themes, often uniting the “fragility” of the natural world with women’s fiction. She credits conversations with her spouse for the understanding about human behavior that she brings to her characters.
Characteristically, her early works, such as The Book Club (1999), portray women overcoming challenges through “interpersonal relationships.” Similar themes also figure in her series set in the Lowcountry: The Beach House (2002); its film rendering with Hallmark (2018); and the book’s prequel Beach House for Rent (2017). Characters like Lovie and Cara are surrounded by Southern concerns of family, land, the past, and sacrifice. And Cara’s moniker “the turtle lady” likewise distinguishes Monroe herself.
Whenever Monroe commits to an issue (loggerheads, butterflies, dolphins), she accompanies her fiction with immersive environmental research. As a novelist and conservationist, she uniquely interweaves story, the quotidian, and “earth’s wild habitat.”
Aspects of Monroe’s creative excellence transcends South Carolina, yet illuminates its culture. Her accolades (from Readers’ Choice and bestselling author lists to Distinguished Author at SW Florida’s 2015 Book Festival) are numerous. Her service to causes (from the SC Aquarium to Charleston Literacy) inspires awareness. Her writer’s voice continues to provide insight into the human condition and needs to be heard. (To enjoy Monroe's literary gifts to the community and continue hearing Monroe’s voice, we can visit maryalicemonore.com.)
~Ellen E. Hyatt
