Short Bio
Melissa Muhlenkamp is a first-generation immigrant born and raised in Venezuela, where folktales from both her Italian and Hispanic roots influenced her imagination. Her short stories have been featured in science fiction anthologies, online magazines, and have also been selected as winners and finalists in a variety of contests, including the Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition. When she's not writing, Melissa volunteers at local writing conferences and community organizations. She lives near Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and their five children (one of which is a very lovable German Shepherd).
Longer Bio
I began my writing journey as a twelve-year-old hiding in a closet with my grandpa’s typewriter. I wasn't allowed to "play" with the typewriter, which is why I hid in the closet. But even without it, I soon amassed a personal collection of pretend newspaper articles, comic strips, plays, and poems. In fact, I still have the first poetry journal I started as a kid (with its Winnie-the-Pooh cover and all).
As a teenager I wrote and wrote (in Spanish) without any particular goal in mind. I only knew that I loved the cathartic feeling of putting pen to paper to express my feelings and thoughts, especially when certain challenges became difficult to bear.
But life is nothing if not unpredictable, and in 2003, at the age of eighteen, I left my dear country of Venezuela to seek an education in the United States. A lot more than words had to be left behind, and if someone had told me that over twenty years later I would still be waiting to gaze upon the lush and majestic Avila mountains again, I wouldn't have believed it. I miss them more than I ever thought I could.
That life-altering decision brought many blessings and opportunities into my life. I graduated with a degree in Latin American Studies, met my wonderful husband, and together, we started a family. I kept writing for fun through all of it (mostly vignettes and poetry), but in 2009 I decided to start writing stories in English.
Mastering this second language to a proficient level has been a challenge, but I’ve adored every step of the process. I started with short stories, submitting them to magazines and writing contests. Eventually, I moved on to books.
THE CASTLE OF WISHES: MAGIC AND STARLIGHT will be my first published novel, even though it wasn't the first book I finished. It is a project very close to my heart. One I can't find it in me to give up.
In general, I love stories that provoke thinking, explore reality through fantastical elements, and encourage readers to reflect on seemingly mundane aspects of life.
Whenever I’m not writing (which let's be honest, hardly ever happens), I’m either civilizing my children, walking my German Shepherd, or teaching myself something new (like playing the piano).
A Few of My Favorite Things
