Melissa M. Williams, Texas Children's Author and Public Speaker, has been writing stories since she was eight years old.  Melissa's Iggy the Iguana Chapter Book Series was inspired by her own real-life experiences with childhood pets while growing up in Houston, Texas. 

Melissa started writing Iggy the Iguana while pursuing a Master's degree in professional counseling.  During graduate school, she began substitute teaching for third and fourth grade classes, which encouraged her to get the students involved in the creative writing process of her books. 

Melissa found a way to incorporate her counseling background and training into her writing by using unique animals who act like humans and go through the some of the same situations elementary students experience today.

 By laying a positive foundation and addressing issues like school bullies, fear, acceptance, insecurities, crushes, judgment and much more, her readers started to learn the lessons on their own as the young characters deciphered from right and wrong.  

After completing her master's program, Melissa decided that instead of counseling in the clinical setting, she would counsel through her stories and lectures.  The decision to make the career change was definitely God-driven as children, teachers and parents became very receptive to the message in Iggy the Iguana.

Melissa makes it a point to connect with her young readers by visiting schools and speaking to students about her journey as an author.  Her visits have touched the hearts of students from elementary school all the way to college. 

It is extremely important for her to leave a lasting and positive impression on young people, as Melissa encourages students to be creative and follow their dreams.  It is her direr belief that we will always be young at heart, and that is why it is so important to encourage creativity at a young age and develop it into adulthood.

Melissa holds creative writing workshops in order to teach character development, story structure design and ways to think outside the box.  Her future goals include an opportunity for children to become published. 

LongTale Publishing will soon offer the Short Story Anthology Series, "Stories Written By Kids For Kids."  Melissa's publishing company is currently working on the Iggy chapter book series and picture book series, but in efforts to support literacy and creativity for our youth, LongTale will offer publishing opportunities for children in the future.

In addition to children's writing, Melissa is a published song-writer and has co-written songs with her sister, Misha Williams for albums released in the UK, Japan, and America. 

Both women are thankful for the encouragement that has been bestowed upon them to be creative and strive to be different from the norm.  "God has given each of us a gift, so it is our job to open it and use it to give back to the world." 

The Williams sisters will be starting a foundation supporting the arts, literacy, and articulation for our youth very soon.       

For more information about the author please visit Iggy's Website at www.iggytheiguana.com.