After decades of working with incarcerated youth, Mona is fulfilling her passion for writing fiction. She has penned two award winning YA novels—“The Garden of Second Chances” and “A Bridge Home”—stories that reflect her affection for young adult fiction and coming-of-age journeys.
“The Garden of Second Chances” received a gold and a silver medal at the 2024 International Latino Book Awards. “A Bridge Home” received the Paterson Prize for Young Readers and is one of the 2025 Southwest Books for YA.
Mona is an unapologetic bookaholic. She is always on the hunt for the next great read, and her wanderlust has taken her on countless adventures. When she’s not traveling or writing, you’ll likely find her binge-watching K-dramas, immersing herself in their heartfelt stories.
She is a member of SCBWI and Macondo Writers and a co-founder of #LatinxPitch, an annual X pitch event, and the Women Who Submit-Ventura Co. Chapter. She writes to amplify the voices of underrepresented women.