Monique Fields is the author of Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color, a picture book about a biracial girl who discovers her skin color. She is the mother of two biracial girls who inspired her to write the book when they asked questions about their racial identity. Monique’s essays about race and identity have appeared on-air, in print, and online, including NPR’s “All Things Considered,” Ebony magazine, and TheRoot.com. An adviser for student journalists by day and a children’s book writer by night, Monique received her bachelor’s degree in communications from Auburn University at Montgomery and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Monique lives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with her husband, two daughters, and a rescue pup named Andrew.

Monique is represented by Andrea Morrison at Writers House.

Photos by Carrie Pratt at Simply Blue Studios. Illustrations by A’Neshia Turner at Artist by Noon.