An animal expert and award-winning novelist, 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 THE COOLEST STUFF ON EARTH (NatGeo Kids), I AM FUNGIE THE DOLPHIN (Animal Planet), 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 is currently pursuing a masters in conservation biology. She has worked as a chimpanzee keeper and a behavioral research assistant. She has served as editor of ZOO VIEW, the award-winning quarterly magazine of the Los Angeles Zoo, for more than 15 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.