About Melissa




Melissa Wray has always loved reading. She grew up 700m from the local library and spent most of her time there. Melissa lives on the Bellarine Peninsula with her husband and two children. She has lived here most her adult life, except for a side trip to London for a couple of years. It was here she developed a love for travel and exploring and visited many incredible places including Egypt, Turkey, Italy, Spain and Africa. Her travel highlights include La Tomatina (tomato throwing festival in Bunol, Spain) and Carnivale` (festival of masks in Venice, Italy).

Melissa is a teacher who is passionate about education, in particular literacy, and believes the ability to read and write gives power to change. Melissa has completed a Master of Education with a thesis by research about picture story book use in the classroom. She uses them in her classroom every chance she gets.

Melissa was selected for The Maurice Saxby Writers Mentorship Program in 2015. Her work has won honourable mentions and she has featured in several anthologies.

Melissa is a lover of beautiful smelling candles that she burns constantly when writing, and yummy chocolate that she may, or may not, have hidden behind a specific picture frame at any given time. Vague details are required to deter her family from searching for it.





Writing Timeline
2023          Summer Change Wombat Books (OCT).
      This YA novel is a story about 17-year-old Shae. 
      A secret. A holiday. A summer like never before. 

2020          The Ruby Locket Odyssey Books (OCT).
      This YA novel is a story about Kerina and Saxon. 
      Two different stories. Two separate lives. One connected future.


"The Ruby Locket is an exciting read and every chapter continues to draw the reader deeper into the mystery that haunts both their pasts."

"I loved everything about this book. It was very hard to put down.
I highly recommend reading."

'"The journey they set out on is full of twists and turns and leaves you in
suspense to the very last page. Beautifully written and easy to read."

2019          Using Picture Story Books In The Classroom -  Teacher Magazine 

2016         Geelong Writers Inc Perspective Anthology
                 Anthology of memoir and fiction – editor/publisher

2015        Geelong Writers Inc Tantalising Tales Fiction Anthology
    Anthology of fiction – editor/publisher.

    Lucky Draw Anthology.
   “Miss Ballard’s Daisy” A collection of stories from various contributors

2014        Geelong Writers Inc 2014 Moments in Time Anthology
    Anthology of memoir – editor/publisher.

   Yarra Bend Press Anthology.
  “It’s Time.” Honourable Mention and publication in NMIT anthology.

    Heat Anthology of Short Stories.
   “Splish Splash Flash.” An eclectic collection of 500 word works of fiction. 

2013       Crock of Charms Anthology
   “Keeper of the Rose”. A collection of stories by a variety of contributors.

   How to Self Publish By Leti Del Mar
   “The Winding Road to Writing” chapter co-contributor

2012       Debut YA novel published with Morris Publishing Australia
   Destiny Road is a story of decisions and consequence. 

“This novel was intense right from the very first page.” 

“At last a realistic YA with characters that actually think and act like teenagers!”

“The timing is perfect. You have time to catch your breath when needed without ever compromising the flow. In fact the novel has such a polished feel I was surprised that this was indeed her debut into the published world.”


Honours & Awards

2022       Short List (Pitch It Competition) - Just Write For Kids

2020       Honourable Mention (Pitch It Competition) - Just Write For Kids

2017       Master of Education (Deakin)

2015       Maurice Saxby Emerging author/illustrator Mentorship Program 

2014       Dee Scribe Summer Writing Competition - Selected for Ebook anthology for 
               “Splish Splash Flash”

  Charlotte Duncan Award - Shortlisted for “There’s always sunshine”

2013       Emerging Author of the Year Runner Up – Creative Kids Tales Website

   Commended Award – Writing Classes for Kids & Adults
   Adult Category of the ‘Real” Writing competition

2012       Honourable Mention Gold Coast Writers Festival
   Writing Competition Honourable Mention for “Late Bloomer”

   Highly Commended – Writing Classes for Kids & Adult
    Adult Fact in Fiction Writing Competitions for “Cheeseball Challenge”

2011       Morris Publishing Australia Writing competition
               Won a publishing contract for Destiny Road Debut YA novel


2007       Ipswich Festival of Children's Literature 
               Runner up in the Junior Novel (Honour Book Award) 

2007       Thomson Education Direct – Creative Writing course