Monica Byrne

Writer Monica Byrne creates richly imagined near-future worlds populated with characters defying our racial, social, and gender stereotypes.

Novelist, writer, culture critic, and playwright Monica Byrne deftly avoids the traps of conventional fiction by inventing mold-breaking characters who express themselves in surprising ways. Her first novel, "The Girl in the Road," has garnered acclaim both inside and outside the spheres of science fiction. Byrne also delivered a unique TedTalk in 2016, in which she appeared as a hologram named Pilar, discussing themes of love and loss in a future where humans have colonized the universe. This innovative presentation emphasized her focus on "radical empathy across national and sex and gender and class lines."

In addition to her work on her new novel "The Actual Star," Byrne is a resident playwright at Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern in Durham, NC, where she currently resides, focusing on her writing career. Her story "Blue Nowruz" was commissioned for TED2015 by Neil Gaiman. She holds degrees in biochemistry from MIT and Wellesley College, reflecting her background in the sciences and past work with NASA. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania with aspirations of becoming an astronaut, Byrne's unique experiences continue to shape her compelling narratives and explorations of futuristic themes.