Q. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Melissa: I realized I wanted to be a writer when I was in graduate school. I enjoyed doing research and writing reports. I enjoyed reading articles and would often recommend books to patients and provide handouts to children. I liked the idea of creating a children’s book that was fun to read and could also serve as a helpful resource for children to learn from.  

Q. What does your family think of your writing?

Melissa: My family really enjoys that I am a writer. My husband and kids contributed many of the ideas in B is for Breathe and are very much a part of marketing and participating in book fairs and author events. My writing has also inspired my husband and son to become authors, and they are currently working together on a children’s book about basketball.

Q. What was the most surprising thing you learned about creating books?

Melissa: I was very surprised by how much information was available online. I read many articles, viewed lots of YouTube videos, and asked questions of other authors who were very willing to share ideas and provide feedback. I’ve also been surprised by the amount of time and creative thought that goes into marketing to populations who may benefit most from the book. 

Q. Tell us about your plans for the future? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Melissa: My plans for the future include continuing to write stories for children that focus on issues such as mental health, self-esteem, and wellness. I am currently an active duty Army Psychologist. In 5 years, I plan to continue serving until I can retire in 2027. Following retirement, I plan to still work as a psychologist to help the behavioral health needs of military veterans and their families.

Q. How did you become involved in the subject or theme of your book? Melissa: My book focuses on the subject of healthy coping skills for fussy and frustrating emotions. There is also a theme of diversity amongst the children in the book. Being a psychologist and African American mother of 3, I saw the importance of having books about mental health and with characters of diverse ethnicities that my children can relate to. 

B is for Breathe is a wonderful resource for children, parents, educators, counselors, and more. Because of the diversity, it allows many children to see themselves in a book and introduces them to various healthy ways to manage feelings. 

Q. Can you tell us about one of the most rewarding moments you have had as an author?

Melissa: My most rewarding moment was being invited to speak at a reading event in my hometown of Allentown, PA. The City Youth Initiative program sponsored the event, and each child that attended the reading event was donated a copy of the book. It was great to give back to my hometown and to speak about the book in addition to important topics such as mental health and resiliency.

Q. What do you hope your readers take away from this book?

Melissa: The overall hope is that this book will inspire kids to discuss their feelings and practice calm down strategies. Whether it is deep breathing, muscle relaxation, art, or writing about emotions, it is fun to try out different calm down strategies and techniques to help a child find their own special way of coping with emotions.

Q. What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the worldbuilding within your book?

Melissa: I’ve always wanted to write a children’s book, and as a mom and psychologist, I’ve learned it is ever so important that healthy coping skills are discussed and promoted for children at an early age. It was also important that I write a book with characters that reflected images of my children. In fact, my kids (ages 7, 5, and 3) helped develop this book by sharing their own cool ideas about the characters and special the images in addition to ways they like to express and cope with fussy and frustrating feelings. 

Q. Is there a message in your novel that you hope readers will grasp? 

Melissa: B is for Breathe is a book about children’s emotions and learning healthy coping skills at an early age. From the letter A to the letter Z, B is for Breathe focuses on social-emotional learning and developing healthy coping skills at an early age. The book provides examples of different ways children can express their feelings, cope with fussy and frustrating emotions, and practice calm down strategies. 

Q. Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

Melissa: It is wonderful hearing from readers! Here are a few of my favorite comments- I heard from a 2nd-grade teacher who stated her student saw my picture on the back of the book and halted midway- she asked: “Is this who wrote the book?” The teacher said, YES! And read my author biography to her. The student’s eyes lit up, and she said: “if she can write a book, so can I!” It was so heartwarming. 

One of my favorite comments from a parent stated, “I wish this book was available 10 years ago. My daughter has been dealing with anxiety and OCD for the last 12 years. It has been so hard to find therapists that we can relate to. A book like this may have opened communication in our family”.