Born in
Esch-sur-Alzette on 15 June 1955, Monique Schmitt matriculated from the Lycée des Jeunes Filles in 1973. For the next three years she looked after children who had hearing impairments before travelling to Brazil where she worked in an
SOS children's village in
São Paulo (1977–80). After returning to Luxembourg, she took a correspondence course in
theology from the
University of Würzburg (1984–86). She then taught religion and German in various local primary schools until 2000. Monique Philippart's literary career is devoted to works for children, often addressing depressions, family conflicts, sickness and drug problems. She received her first award in 1977 for the theatrical sketches she had written for a children's contest organized by Luxembourg's Sparkasse savings bank. In 2001, the jury of the
Prix Servais awarded her a
mention spéeciale for her novel
Laura. In 2010, she won the Lëtzebuerger Buchpräis for children's works. ==Personal life==