Mona's Story
A.J. Townsend
Mona: The Last of the Incas began with fragments of a family story. A daughter who remembered her mother speaking in hushed tones of a mysterious relative named Mona—a cabaret dancer whose story had remained largely unspoken.
When these recollections were shared with me, I was drawn to the mystery of Mona and began searching for the story behind her name. That search became the inspiration for Mona: The Last of the Incas.
Mona is a fictional composite inspired by the experiences of women who lived, resisted, suffered, and survived under the Nazi regime. Through historical research and storytelling, the novel seeks to honor those whose voices were silenced and whose stories deserve to be remembered.
Mona: The Last of the Incas is an act of remembrance—a story of courage, identity, resistance, and survival.
This is how their stories live on.
Mona Project Mission
To honor memory through storytelling that gives voice to the unheard and preserves the truth of lived experience.
An early milestone—official congratulations from the Governor to Angela J. Townsend on the publication of Amarok, later showcased at BookExpo America in New York City—an early recognition of her emerging voice in literary fiction.
Photo credit: Townsend Collection
Photo credit
Alisia Cubberly
Award-winning author A.J. Townsend is a traditionally published author and produced screenwriter whose work blends rigorous historical research with emotionally immersive storytelling.
