Sweetgrass is a historical tract of land in South Carolina that has been home to the Blakely family for eight generations. But Sweetgrass -- named for the indigenous grass that grows in the area -- is in trouble. Bulldozers are leveling surrounding properties. and the Blakelys could be forced to sell the one thing that continues to hold their disintegrating family together. For some of the Blakelys, the prospect of selling Sweetgrass is bittersweet -- for others, it is completely unimaginable. But as they find the strength to stay and fight, they realize that their bond as a family is all they need to stay together.
Mary Alice Monroe is known for her intimate portrayals of women's lives and for drawing parallels with nature and human nature. An active environmentalist, she draws on her own experiences to bring to life the seductive southern coastline and her home--the sea, marshes, and maritime forests of the South Carolina low country.
Mary Alice wrote non-fiction and was teaching English when she was sent to bed for months during a pregnancy. Recognizing it was a gift of time, she wrote and wrote. "I gave birth to a baby and a book." She is currently writing her thirteenth novel.
Mary Alice has served on the faculty of numerous writer's conferences and retreats and is a frequent speaker. Her books have achieved several best seller lists, including SIBA, USA Today, and the NY Times. Her first children's book received several awards, including the ASPCA Henry Bergh award. In 2008 Monroe was awarded the SC Center for the Book Award for Fiction.
