Former elementary school teacher, mother of 3 young rascals. Melissa grew up in Santa Barbara, CA where she currently resides with her husband and children. Melissa attended UC Berkeley for college. Having lived in New York, Italy, San Francisco after college, Melissa found herself wanting to be back in her beautiful home town of Santa Barbara to continue her teaching career and start a family. Melissa is a foodie to her core, a lover of travel, adventure, and firmly believes in trying new things and stepping out of one's comfort zone. Being a mother is Melissa's favorite part about herself, however that has not come without its challenges. Her first book was a project inspired by her son, Charlie, and the strategies she used to help navigate her way through those infamous toddler years and the struggle to inspire a love of reading. Her hope in writing this book is for it to find its place with other mothers who might also be in the throws of toddlerhood and in need of some new ways to show and receive that intense yet incredible love.
