About

Hi, I’m Melissa Burnett!

I write novels about ordinary people falling into what I call pockets of weirdness. I live in Washington, Missouri with my husband, Steve, and my cats, Rufus and Roxie. I’m a member of a writing group called the Washington Wordsmiths, and I lead a sub-group known as Wordsmiths Studio.

My debut novel, River Crossing, came out in October of 2024. It’s the time travel book I’ve always wanted to write. I’m currently working on my next book, Fair Play, about ghost hunters at a 1904 World’s Fair-themed amusement park. I love reading and writing about creepy things, but only if there’s some warmth and humor to balance out the darkness!

I have a background in musical theater, and I often work that into my writing. (If you’ve ever been involved with theater, you know that’s a pocket of weirdness right there!) I wrote many scripts for a drama team I used to lead, and I sold some of them. They’re probably still floating around the internet.

Oh, and I live in a 1926 house filled with antique oak bookcases, holding my collection of around 1500 books (including a TBR shelf of 300. Don’t judge!) We do hear creaks in the night and tell ourselves it’s the cats, but let’s be honest–in a 1926 house full of antiques, there’s bound to be a ghost or two.

Happy reading!