New Books /COMING SOON :
Melissa writes fiction for adults, teens, and children. Her books have been translated into 28 languages to date and been bestsellers in the US (NY Times, LA Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, etc) as well as various countries overseas. She is best known for the Wicked Lovely series for teens and Graveminder for adults--and her utter inability to stick to one age demographic, format, and genre.
Wicked Lovely, her debut novel, was simultaneously released in the US and UK by HarperCollins in 2007 (with translation rights also sold in twenty-some countries). It debuted as a NY Times Bestseller and evolved into a multi-book series with myriad accolades and international bestseller lists.
Her debut adult book, Graveminder, released to strong critical reception in 2011. Following that she has edited anthologies with Kelley Armstrong (Enthralled and Shards & Ashes) and with Tim Pratt (Rags & Bones), and released a second adult novel (The Arrivals) in 2013.
With Kelley Armstrong, Melissa is the co-author of the Blackwell Pages trilogy (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), a children’s trilogy about the Norse myth of Ragnarök.
Her first picture book (Bunny Roo, I Love You) was released in April 2015. It was written while she was in the hospital with her baby, who was very sick. To date, Bunny Roo has reached over 200,000 unit in English, as well as rights sold in French, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, and Bulgarian.
Her second picture book, Baby Dragon, Baby Dragon!, released in 2019. A third, Bunny Roo and Duckling Too followed 2021. All of her picture books are with Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books.
Under the name Ronnie Douglas, Melissa has written several adult romances as well-- the self-published Unlawful, as well as Undaunted and Unruly (via HarperCollins).
Additionally, Melissa has published a YA thriller, written (and edited anthologies of) assorted short fiction, and essays in charity anthologies.
In more recent years, An Audible Original edition in 2020 of her psychological thriller based on Bluebeard, Pretty Broken Things, drew interest in experimenting with indie publishing.
So--during the pandemic--she published indie books: Cold Iron Heart (a prequel to Wicked Lovely), a new Urban Fantasy series (faeries, magic, & draugr), and the ebook & print version of her Audible Original Thriller, Pretty Broken Things.
Between 2020 and 2022, she also had a new middle grade (The Hidden Knife via Penguin), a Wicked Lovely sequel (Dark Sun), and Wild Horses (a photography picture book via Penguin),
2023 brought Hidden Dragon, another middle grade (Penguin).
2024 will bring Family is Family, a picturebook (Penguin), the first of a pair of fantasy novels in a new world (Remedial Magic, Tor/Bramble), and The Strange Case of Harleen & Harley, a graphic novel (D.C. Comics).
Currently, Melissa resides in Arizona with her partner of several years (Amber). Together with the children's father, they raise a hyper son and a college-age son.
Born: July 25, 1972
Died: Not yet
Reside: Arizona
Family: 3 kids, 1 Partner, & 1 father to my kids
Partner: Amber
Current Job: Mom & Writer
Random Jobs: Teacher (MFA program at SNHU); freelance editor.
Prior Jobs: University lit teacher, bartender, waitress, archaeology site worker, daycare teacher, cocktail waitress
Hobbies: Kayaking, Longsword, Pilates, Swimming, Hiking, Photography, Reading
Religion: Jew By Choice
Politics: See above; super liberal
Upcoming & Recent releases are
- a picturebook via Penguin, Family is Family (February 2024)
Adult fantasy via Bramble/Tor, Remedial Magic, March 2024. - The Strange Case of Harleen & Harley, a D.C. Comics Graphic Novel.(September 2024)
- Middle Grade novel via Penguin, The Hidden Knife paperback (Jan 2023),
- Comic included in Wonderful Women of the World (Sept 2021)
- Dark Sun, a Wicked Lovely sequel (2022)
- a book of photography via Penguin on Wild Horses (June 2022)
- Middle Grade novel via Penguin, The Hidden Dragon (Feb 2023)
PRECISE DATE UNCERTAIN: - a lesbian romance, via Bramble/Tor, 2025
- a sequel to Remedial Magic, via Bramble/Tor, 2025
- a lesbian romance, via Bramble/Tor, 2026
INFORMAL :
OfficiAL :
I grew up believing in faeries, ghosts, and other creatures. As a teen I spent a LOT of time in trouble with principals, grounded, and high. Not ideal, but a combo of issues with authority and a rape meant I was a difficult child and teen.
College. Grad school. Did well. Graduated with a 3.8GPA. (My eldest kid beat my GPA!)
Then teaching college literature and writing for a decade plus.
Now, I write, mother, teach, edit, and take photos.