Believe it or not, Ella Monroe is a made-up name for the two authors of the Capital Girls series, Maz Rauber and Amy Reingold.

Maz:
I grew up in Australia but have lived longer in my adopted U.S. home. My job has always been writing––not fiction, but covering the White House and Congress, and all its scandals, for the New York Post. I'd thought about writing a novel, but kept putting it off until Amy came to me with the idea for a novel about politically-connected teenagers living in Washington D.C.

It's unusual for two people to write together, but the way Amy and I make it such fun, it doesn't even seem like work. And we're still friends!

Favorite recent book: "Swamplandia!" 

Amy:
I've wanted to write a novel ever since high school, but I got so busy doing other things, I never got around to it. After college, I went to cooking school and became a chef for a lot of great restaurants ... Hey, I did write recipes!  Then I started my own culinary consulting firm, made and sold one-of-a-kind coats, and taught cooking. 

But I have to say writing is my favorite "career" of all.  Not only do I get to spend lots of time with my dear friend, Maz, I can drink coffee and snack whenever I want.  And leave early to go to a movie, too.

Favorite recent read: "Girl Gone"

Maz and Amy: 
Oops, we forgot to mention that in our "spare" time, we also raised our kids! In fact, that's how we first met––at our daughters' kindergarten. After our children left for college, we suddenly had plenty of time to tackle that novel we'd always thought about. That's when Amy came up with the idea of writing about teenagers living in Washington D.C., one of the most powerful, beautiful, and fascinating cities in the world. And what it's like for teenagers living in the media spotlight just because their parents' are famous politicians. (Like when the National Inquirer newspaper reported that Malia Obama had her first boyfriend and her first kiss! OMG! TMI! Poor Malia!)