The Author

Written by Benjamin Willard

Monique de Ruiter

Monique de Ruiter was born on May 8, 1981, in Western Sydney, the youngest of four children.

Her style is a mix of what she’s always loved as a reader and stargazer: Tolkien’s epic world-building, Stephen King’s ability to keep you on edge and Professor Brian Cox’s awe-inspiring exploration of the cosmos.

Monique’s voice is her own - layered, adventurous, and designed to pull you into a story that feels alive.

Her determination to write began in 2017 with the first notes that would eventually grow into her debut novel, Same, Same but Different. Eight years later, that vision has become reality. Praised by early readers as a true page-turner and “impossible to put down,” the novel marks the beginning of a planned trilogy — a saga set to take readers on a journey into the unknown.

Beyond writing, when not immersed in storytelling, she can be found exploring open-world RPGs, watching her favourite films, or looking up at the stars. Paired with a not-so-secret admiration for physicist Brian Cox, shaped her into the intergalactic explorer sci-fi fantasy author she is today. These influences flow naturally into her work, shaping stories that combine wonder, adventure, and emotional depth.

Same, Same but Different introduces Monique as an exciting new voice in sci-fi fantasy, delivering a young adult adventure that resonates with readers of all ages.