Melissa McShane is a successful fantasy and romance author based in the United States. She has a unique upbringing, having moved around the country frequently during her childhood, living in states such as Texas, Arizona, New York, Colorado, Washington, and Oregon. Despite the constant changes in her environment, one thing that remained a constant for McShane was her love of books. She recalls reading books like 'Crown Duel' in Utah and the 'Foundation' series in Texas, which helped her cope with the difficulty of making friends in new places.
Before becoming a writer, McShane worked as a librarian, which taught her a lot about matching books with readers and understanding people's reading habits. It was not until she went to college that she began writing, starting with reviews and literary essays. McShane's first foray into fiction writing was with her novel 'Emissary,' which she wrote for fun and found to be so enjoyable that she never stopped writing. When she is not working on her novels, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing games like Arkham Horror or watching Doctor Who. She is also an avid painter of fantasy miniatures, a jewelry maker, and a costume sewer. McShane currently resides in Utah with her children and three cats.
McShane's love for reading has been a constant in her life and has shaped her writing career. She recalls the different books she was reading in each state she lived in, such as the Riddle-Master trilogy in New York, the Foundation series in Colorado, Howl's Moving Castle in Texas, and Crown Duel in Utah. After settling in Utah with her family, McShane's love of reading grew into a love of writing, starting with critical essays and reviews and eventually moving on to fiction. She has authored several successful series, including the Extraordinaries series, beginning with 'Burning Bright,' and the Last Oracle series, starting with 'The Book of Secrets.' McShane's family includes her husband, four adult children, and two elderly cats. She recently moved to India and is enjoying the people and culture there.