SUE MONK KIDD is the author of the "New York Times "bestselling novels, "The Secret Life of Bees" and "The Mermaid Chair," and the memoirs "Traveling with Pomegranates," which she wrote with her daughter Ann Kidd Taylor, "The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, When the Heart Waits," as well as "Firstlight," a collection of her early writings. "The Secret Life of Bees" has spent more than 125 weeks on the "New York Times" bestseller list and was adapted into an award-winning movie starring Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys. "The Mermaid Chair," a #1 "New York Times "bestseller, was adapted into a television movie. Both of her novels have been translated into more than 24 languages. The recipient of numerous literary awards, Sue lives with her husband on an island off the coast of Florida.