DALLAS, TX.: Dr. Melissa Moncrieffe, who writes under the pen name “L. Samuels,” embodies the professional realms of music, art, language, history and international affairs. In her debut young adult mystery novel, Moncrieffe provides young readers with stories that take them on mysterious adventures, through different countries, while learning about valuing culture, friendship and self-assurance.

In “Phoebe Douse: Secret Society for Special Abilities and Artefacts (S3A2),” Moncrieffe introduces readers to a Texas teen with special abilities who is bullied and misunderstood. In the first installment of a trilogy for young adults, “Phoebe Douse: S3A2” presents a coming-of-age novel, with a touch of the paranormal. Phoebe’s world is forever changed when she accepts a timely invitation to attend a remote boarding school in Scotland and discovers a mysterious connection and new friends, with unique abilities of their own.

“The foundation of my stories are taken from my own life, travels and learning about cultures and places,” Moncrieffe said. “I intentionally blended imagination with reality, and genre fiction with a classic literary feel to create this series.”

Moncrieffe runs a company dedicated to global education and formerly interned at UNESCO Geneva and Paris, focusing on education and human rights, globally. A Texas native, she holds both U.S. and Jamaican citizenship and has worked with international students at the University of Edinburgh Student Association, as well as taught in Spain.

“The messages of self-belief and friendship in these stories are really relevant for today’s youth,” Moncrieffe said. “My aim is for kids, all over the world, to remain curious and enriched through these adventures, so they can self-discover and grow.”