Melissa is a New Jersey-based author/artist/illustrator with a degree in marine biology and experience working in a microbiology lab. She loves research and is fascinated by the natural world living around us—especially the life hiding deep in the ocean. She particularly enjoys creating books inspired by scientific concepts, ecology, animal behavior, and history.
She is an active member of SCBWI, the volunteer webmaster for the Children’s Book Illustrators Group (CBIG), and was a member of Julie Hedlund’s 12x12 Picture Book Writing Challenge for 4 years. She has taken online illustration courses and has associates degrees in visual arts and web design. She received honorable mentions for the 50 Precious Words 2026 writing contest and PBParty’s 2024 Illustration Showcase. In addition to making picture books, Melissa also writes chapter books and middle grade.
You can contact her at: melissajmurrayart@gmail.com
