Mary Alice Monroe

Mary Alice Monroe is a successful and acclaimed American author, best known for her Southern fiction and environmental fiction. She has written over twenty novels, many of which have become bestsellers on the New York Times and USA Today lists. Monroe has also published children's books, which complement the environmental themes present in her adult novels.

Born on May 25, 1960, Monroe gained popularity under the name Mary Alice Kruesi. She was already an accomplished author before she moved to the coast of South Carolina, where she fell in love with the area and began writing about the environment and conservation issues. This shift in focus brought her significant recognition, including the Readers' Choice, RT Lifetime Achievement, and 2008 South Carolina Center for the Book Award for Writing awards.

Monroe is deeply committed to environmental conservation and actively works with wildlife experts, academics, and volunteers to research her novels. She has immersed herself in hands-on volunteering with animals, particularly those in the coastal southern landscape, which features prominently in many of her books. Through her writing, Monroe aims to highlight the delicate balance between nature and human nature, often incorporating species such as sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins, monarch butterflies, and shorebirds into her stories.

In addition to her writing, Monroe is an active conservationist and serves on several boards, including the South Carolina Aquarium board emeritus, the Pat Conroy Literary Center Honorary Board, and the Leatherback Trust. She is particularly proud of her role as a state-certified volunteer with the Island Turtle Team for over twenty years. Monroe splits her time between her homes in South Carolina and North Carolina and continues to be a passionate advocate for wildlife and the environment.