Member Since:
June 12, 2013
Monica Spence
Biography
Monica Elaine Spence can usually be found writing or researching her next her next historical Romance, or another Italian-set historical novel. She is an Assistant Editor for the Compleat Anachronist, a publication for the SCA and reviews fiction and non-fiction for the Historical Novel Society. She is a member of the Costume Society of America, the Sixteenth Century Society, the Society for Renaissance Studies, the Historical Novel Society, Romance Writers of America and a past President of the Long Island Romance Writers.
She designed swimwear for Seventh Avenue firms for 24 years, following a six-year stint as a theatrical costume designer. Currently, Monica is a professor in both the Fashion Studies and the Liberal Arts and Studies departments at the Art Institute of New York City where she teaches Fashion History, Textiles, and various technical subjects, as well as the occasional English class. She is a PhD candidate in Creative Writing at the England’s Lancaster University. She holds a MA in Writing Popular Fiction and a BA in Theater (Costume), both from Seton Hill University. She also earned a MA in Theater (Costume) from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She has taken courses at the University of Rhode Island, the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York Institute of Technology and the Philadelphia College of Art.
When Monica is not reading, writing, or researching, you can find her in her sewing room reproducing the garments seen in Sixteenth Century portraits for herself and her husband, Paul, who are long-time members of the Society for Creative Anachronism. In November 2008, she traveled to Florence to study the extant clothing from the Medici burials.
In her copious spare time, Monica is “dog mom” to her West Highland White Terriers, MacDuff, Raleigh, Byron, Cecil, Eddie and Angus.
Monica credits her wonderful husband, Paul, for his support in keeping her sane and being the best “plot consultant” in the history of the written word.
She designed swimwear for Seventh Avenue firms for 24 years, following a six-year stint as a theatrical costume designer. Currently, Monica is a professor in both the Fashion Studies and the Liberal Arts and Studies departments at the Art Institute of New York City where she teaches Fashion History, Textiles, and various technical subjects, as well as the occasional English class. She is a PhD candidate in Creative Writing at the England’s Lancaster University. She holds a MA in Writing Popular Fiction and a BA in Theater (Costume), both from Seton Hill University. She also earned a MA in Theater (Costume) from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She has taken courses at the University of Rhode Island, the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York Institute of Technology and the Philadelphia College of Art.
When Monica is not reading, writing, or researching, you can find her in her sewing room reproducing the garments seen in Sixteenth Century portraits for herself and her husband, Paul, who are long-time members of the Society for Creative Anachronism. In November 2008, she traveled to Florence to study the extant clothing from the Medici burials.
In her copious spare time, Monica is “dog mom” to her West Highland White Terriers, MacDuff, Raleigh, Byron, Cecil, Eddie and Angus.
Monica credits her wonderful husband, Paul, for his support in keeping her sane and being the best “plot consultant” in the history of the written word.
Where to find Monica Spence online
Website: http://www.monicaespence.net