Author Profile: Monique Love

Monique Love

Monique Love is a multi-genre author known for bold, emotionally charged storytelling that blends urban fiction, romance, and raw realism. Her work explores love, trauma, ambition, and survival, centering complex Black characters who navigate life’s contradictions with grit and vulnerability. Drawing inspiration from real experiences and deep emotional truth, Monique’s stories give voice to the silenced and shine light on the beauty found in broken places. She is the founder of PenGoddess Ink Presents, where storytelling is treated as legacy-building, and she is passionate about creating narratives that both entertain and heal. With multiple published titles and a growing readership, Monique Love continues to craft unforgettable stories that linger long after the final page.

Tell us about your featured book.

    I Used to Love Him is a powerful story about survival, healing, and reclaiming your life after trauma. It follows Ariel Winston, a woman who believed she had found real love, until the man she trusted slowly revealed himself through control, isolation, and abuse she learned to hide. When Jordan pulls the trigger, Ariel survives the shooting, but her real fight begins afterward.

Paralyzed and forced to rebuild her life from a wheelchair, Ariel must navigate physical therapy, the courtroom, and the emotional wreckage left behind, all while holding on to her faith and protecting her son. With the steady support of Marcus and the unwavering love of her family, she begins to rediscover her strength, her voice, and what healthy love truly means.

This book is a story of survival, rebirth, and empowerment, written for every woman who has ever loved the wrong person and needed proof that freedom and healing are still possible.

When did you start writing?

        I started writing at the age of 12 years old. Making books out of five subjects notbooks using the brown paper as my book covers. I always knew writing and creating were my gifts. 

 In your opinion, what are the most important elements of good writing?

        In my opinion, the most important elements of good writing are honesty, emotional connection, and clarity of voice. A story has to feel true, even when it’s fictional; readers can sense when a writer is being real versus when they’re holding back. Strong characters with depth and flaws are essential because people connect to people, not perfection. Good writing also requires intentional pacing, vivid details, and dialogue that sounds natural and purposeful. Most importantly, a clear author’s voice matters. When a writer understands who they are and what they’re trying to say, the story flows with confidence. Technical skills can always be learned, but authenticity, heart, and purpose are what turn words on a page into something that stays with the reader long after the book ends.

Describe your writing space.

        My writing space is quiet, intentional, and deeply personal. I need a calm environment where my thoughts can flow without interruption. I usually write with soft lighting, my phone nearby for notes, and music playing low in the background—typically R&B or something instrumental that matches the mood of the scene. I like to be comfortable, whether that means writing late at night or early in the morning when the world feels still. My space isn’t about perfection; it’s about energy. As long as I feel focused, inspired, and emotionally connected to the story, I can create anywhere. For me, the real writing space is the mental one, where memories, imagination, and truth all meet on the page.

What is the most challenging part of writing for you?

        The most challenging part of writing for me is revisiting emotional spaces that still carry weight. Writing honestly means opening doors to pain, trauma, love, and loss that don’t always stay on the page; they follow you afterward. I don’t skim over emotions; I sit in them, and that can be draining. Another challenge is knowing when to stop revising. Because I’m deeply connected to my stories, it’s easy to keep tweaking scenes, wanting every line to hit just right. Balancing emotional truth with the discipline to let the work be finished is something I’m constantly learning, but it’s also what keeps my writing raw and authentic.

How do you handle literary criticism?

        I handle literary criticism by listening first and reacting later. I understand that not every reader will connect with every story, and that’s okay. I take constructive criticism as a tool for growth, especially when it helps me strengthen my craft or see my work from a different perspective. At the same time, I stay grounded in my purpose and my voice. I don’t allow criticism to silence my truth or water down the stories I’m meant to tell. Discernment is key, knowing what feedback to apply and what to release. Growth matters, but authenticity always comes first.

Who is your favorite author and why?

        One of my favorite authors is Sister Souljah because she writes with unapologetic truth and purpose. Her storytelling doesn’t just entertain, it challenges the reader to think critically about society, culture, and self. I admire how she blends strong Black characters with political awareness, emotional depth, and moral complexity without watering anything down. Her work showed me early on that writing can be both powerful and fearless, and that stories rooted in truth can spark conversation, growth, and accountability. She inspires me to stay bold with my voice and intentional with my message, no matter how uncomfortable the truth may be

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

        When I’m not writing, I enjoy grounding myself in real life and the people who matter most to me. I love spending quality time with my children and my fiancé, those moments keep me centered and remind me why I create in the first place. Whether it’s family time at home, laughing with friends, or being surrounded by loved ones, those connections recharge me emotionally. I also enjoy moments of rest, reflection, and simply being present, because living fully fuels my creativity. The love, conversations, and experiences I share with family and friends often find their way back into my stories, making them richer and more authentic.

What would you like to say to your readers?

        I want to say thank you. Thank you for trusting me with your time, your emotions, and sometimes your own lived experiences. Every page you read, every message you send, and every review you leave reminds me that these stories matter. My hope is that you see yourself in my characters, feel understood in moments you couldn’t put into words, and find strength where you once felt alone. Never forget that your story is important, your healing is valid, and your voice deserves space. I write for you, with you in mind, and because of you. Thank you for walking this journey with me.

Follow Author Monique Love on social media @:

Amazon- Monique Love

Facebook- Monique Love (PenGoddness Ink Presents)

Instagram- Authoressmoniquelove

Author Catalog

 Author Upcoming Events

March 20–21, 2026

Characters in the City Book Event

Charlotte, North Carolina

July 26, 2026

Pages in the City Book Event

Queens, New York

 February 19–21, 2027

Urban Riders Book Feast

Virginia

April 17, 2026 (Tentative – Registration Pending)

Miami Urban Book Expo

Miami, Florida

(Special date—held on my birthday )

August 20–21, 2027

The EyeCU Reading Literacy Experience

Detroit, Michigan

Featured Book: 

Ariel Winston thought she found real love, until the man she trusted became the man she feared.
What started as sweetness and promises slowly twisted into control, isolation, and violence she learned to hide.

And then Jordan pulled the trigger.

Surviving the shooting was only the beginning.
Waking up paralyzed, fighting through therapy, facing him in court, and rebuilding her life from a wheelchair, Ariel must rise from the ashes with nothing but her son, her faith, and the strength she never knew she had.

With the gentle support of Marcus and the fierce love of her family, Ariel discovers what freedom, healing, and real love truly look like.

A story of survival.
A story of rebirth.
A story every woman who’s ever loved wrong needs to read.