Monique grew up in San Diego, Cal­i­for­nia, the only child raised by her Mom an engi­neer. Her father, Earl Fai­son, was a four-time all-star defen­sive end for the San Diego Charg­ers. Monique became an ​“acci­den­tal author” when her chavu­rah con­vinced her that she need­ed to share the sto­ry of her near-fatal expe­ri­ence where she was forced to ​“play dead.” Monique is mar­ried, the moth­er to four grown chil­dren, a new sav­ta, devot­ed dog own­er and lives in Connecticut.