Mary Montague Sikes -- From her childhood days, lived dangerously when she explored forbidden spots far from home, "Monti" has loved to read and to put words on paper. Her longing to travel to far-away places was not fulfilled until early adulthood. Since then, she has visited many parts of the world, but it is the Caribbean that holds a special charm for her. It is the islands of the Caribbean where she most enjoys setting her stories and creating her paintings.