Hi there and welcome!

I’m Monique. The author of Once Bad Intentions. A novel I wrote alongside an enterprise sales career spanning two decades across media, digital, and technology sectors.

Born in south-east London, I grew up in the 1990s. Second-generation of working-class immigrants. I was excluded from mainstream school and written off from society by the time I was 13. Admittedly, I had problems. But I still found joy in my family and friendships, our shared experiences, culture, and class. The fashion and music interests that spoke to our individuality, sass and grit. Not much was to be expected of me. My decision to pursue a college diploma came shortly after I entered the care system and, through the guidance of my foster carer, embarked on a rapid transformation of myself. I learned to engage with my inner voice, apply ownership and accountability to the decisions I made. I was no longer driven by my emotions and victim mindset. Instead, my desires drove my actions towards my intended outcome.

I have since graduated from art college and fashion university, The London College of Fashion. I have lived in NY while interning at Trace Magazine, wrote and performed poetry via published anthologies, Brown Eyes, Sexual Attraction Revealed and Hair Power Skin Revolution, wrote and published a novel, embarked upon an enterprise sales career where I’ve gotten to travel the world with business endeavours, married, became a mother, became financially literate, returned to university after 15 years and graduated from Warwick Business School with a Master of Business Administration degree. I have managed millions in revenue for global media corporation, Bauer Media Group, representing lifestyle brands like heat, KISS, Grazia, Empire and Magic. I have generated millions in revenue for US technology start-ups, as well as multinational technology providers such as Yahoo! and Adobe. And have even extended my knowledge as an advisor and consultant to technology start-ups and S/MBs. Many of my achievements have been the first in my family. I’m grateful that I now get to show my daughter a way of thinking, a pathway to achieving and being, that wasn’t available to me.

Once Bad Intentions is my gift to my younger self and working-class girls defining their own destiny. It provides an authentic, straightforward, portrayal of a young Black girl trying to find herself, carve out her own destiny in an environment that doesn’t serve her, and a society that doesn’t understand her. I wanted to shine a light on her flaws, share stories about her transformational journey, and celebrate the culture and Jamaican spirit that made her. Alongside the friendships, conversations and activities that were delightful in 90s London. In the hope that it will help others too.

This blog is where I’ll also share my musings on writing, personal growth, business, and things that I believe will offer value. Sign up to connect, contact me if you want to learn more about me or work with me. For more information on Once Bad Intentions, check out my Books page.

Thank you for stopping by.

Monique