Read my article on Medium.

While the #MeToo movement rocked Hollywood, I noticed teens of all ethnicities rocking Marilyn Monroe gear. The seeming irony led me to re-examine the 1950s sex symbol and to write Beauty Mark: A Verse Novel of Marilyn Monroe.

My research found a woman who was so much more than the blond bombshell she portrayed. In the book, Monroe emerges as a feminist, businesswoman and ally, who spoke up against sexual harassment, rebelled against the studio system, started her own production company, and used her clout to fight racism.

Beauty Mark, the first young adult book about Monroe, reveals that Marilyn’s relevance is as enduring as her allure.