Monica McCarty is a bestselling author of historical romance novels, known for her Highland Guard series. She was born in California and grew up with a love for reading, often preferring to stay inside with a book rather than partake in outdoor activities. McCarty's early reading included the Little House series, the Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, Watership Down, Nancy Drew, and Judy Blume novels. After finishing law school and beginning a legal career, McCarty found it difficult to balance with her family lifestyle and turned to writing instead.
McCarty's love for reading and interest in history eventually led her to write historical romance novels. She was particularly drawn to romance novels from a young age, even borrowing and reading her mother's books. McCarty's exposure to adult knowledge at a young age, as a result of her reading habits, was a source of shock for her mother. After reading through the local library's inventory and buying bags of romances at garage sales, McCarty developed a passion for the genre.
In addition to her love for reading, McCarty has a background in political science and law, having attended the University of Southern California and Stanford Law School. She worked as a litigator for several years before turning to writing full-time. McCarty's books have won and been nominated for numerous awards, including the Romance Writers of America's RITA & Golden Heart, RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice, the Bookseller's Best, and Amazon's Best Books of the Year. She is known for her "torrid chemistry" and "lush and steamy romance" (Publishers Weekly) and her books have been translated and published throughout the world. McCarty currently resides in Northern California with her husband and two children.