hi there!
My name is Melissa Joy, and I’m a novel writer from Colorado with a PhD in astronomy. I write books for teens and adults, and I’ve got several novels in various stages of the writing and publishing process. Sign up for my newsletter to stay up-to-date, and get a free short story and scene!
In between happilys ever after, I enjoy artistic skating, archery, epic cosplay, music making, and occasional science research projects. Wander around my website if you like, or drop me a note here or on social media, I'd love to connect!
Find your Fun—
"I know that look."
He snapped his gaze back to her face, raising an innocent eyebrow. "This look?"
"You're wondering if you can keep up with my mad skills on the dance floor."
Kriss and Chase, The Prom Redo
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Sign up for access to a Skate Cute epilogue scene and short story, and the first two chapters of Ever After, Etc, book 2 in the Sacreola Sweethearts series
a peek at my projects
Skate Cute
Sacreola Sweethearts #1
Astronomy PhD student Kriss finds an escape in artistic skating at the rink in her old hometown. But she can't escape the attention of two familiar admirers from the nearby fire station.
Status: Out now! Buy it here
Read an excerpt here
25% author proceeds support the BoCo Wildfire Fund
Ever After, Etc
Sacreola Sweethearts #2
Romance author Angie knows that happiness doesn't come in ever after doses. But when her favorite bookstore is threatened by redevelopment, she launches a daring writing project to help save the shop... and the cute shop owner.
Status: Editing
Photo credit: Lucas George Wendt
Eat, Drink, & Be Married
Pack Your Bags anthology
This short story will be part of a collection of stories gathered by me and several wonderful contemporary romance authors. Sign up for my newsletter to stay updated, and look for this cute anthology to hit shelves in 2024!
Status: Off to publisher, expected pub date 2024
Photo credit: Angelo Pantazis
Explorers #1
Set sail on the high seas of imagination! Together with my young co-authors Ressa Draco and Gabriel M. James, we bring you a daring tale of swashbuckling adventure, including a motley crew, a cursed crow, hilarious puns, an occasional hedgehog, and of course a magical unicorn. Explorers page
Status: Formatting print version for pub Fall 2023
"The cast is off. You know what that means..."
Chase sat forward, propping his left elbow on the table and angling his forearm toward her, his hand open as if to shake hers. His eyes danced with challenge.
"Left-handed arm wrestling match. You and me. Right now."
Kriss and Chase, Date Night in December
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snippets of skating
blurbs from the blog
Why I Write Romance
Posted on September 19, 2023
Why romance? Isn’t it the world of bulging pecs and ripped bodices, of cheesy lines and flimsy plots, of dog-eared pages tucked into drawers?
Skate Cute Blog Tour
Posted on August 6, 2022
Skate Cute and I went on tour! Read the posts to learn my book and author secrets.
Supporting My Local Wildfire Relief Fund
Posted on April 27, 2022
25% of my author proceeds from Skate Cute goes to support victims of the Marshall Fire in my local community.
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