Brenda Scott Royce

An award-winning novelist and former chimpanzee keeper, Brenda Scott Royce is happiest when her work indulges her love of both beasts and books. Her novels include MONKEY LOVE (Penguin/NAL), about a stand-up comedienne who becomes the temporary guardian of a pint-sized primate, and its sequel, MONKEY STAR, which follows heroine Holly Heckerling to Hollywood and an impromptu stint as an animal wrangler for a feature film. Her short story "Alphabet Games" won Grand Prize in the 84th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition.

Brenda's children's books include CHAMPION'S NEW SHOES and BAILEY THE WONDER DOG (ASPCA Pet Rescue Club series); HORSES! (Animal Planet); AMAZING ANIMALS, PREDATORS, SHARKS, and DIG IT! DINOSAURS (Smithsonian/Silver Dolphin Press). She scripted several episodes of the Disney Junior animated series, "Chuggington."

Brenda earned a bachelor’s degree in primatology and anthropology from California State University, Fullerton, and has worked as a chimpanzee keeper and a behavioral research assistant. She has served as editor of ZOO VIEW, the quarterly magazine of the Los Angeles Zoo, for more than 12 years.

She is a member of the Society of Children's Books Writers & Illustrators, Writer's Guild of America/West (Animation Caucus), Women in Animation, and the Author's Guild. She's a founding member of the Los Angeles chapter of Children's Media Association.