Author Melissa Davis
About the Author
Melissa Davis is an accomplished multi-genre author with over 50 novels and numerous screenplays to her credit. Born in Southern Illinois, her lifelong passion for reading inspired her to begin writing creatively at the age of seven. She further developed her talent while attending the prestigious Illinois Summer School for the Arts during high school. Melissa went on to graduate with a Bachelor’s in Education from Illinois State University. She initially worked as a teacher before leaving to focus on raising her children and pursuing her dream of becoming a full-time writer.
As a multi-genre author, Melissa's novels span a diverse range including contemporary and historical fiction, fantasy, mystery and more. With over twenty years of experience, she is an expert in crafting intricate plot lines and multi-dimensional characters that resonate with readers across genres. Her writing has been praised by critics and readers alike for its warmth, insight, and ability to capture the full range of human emotion. When not writing her next book, Melissa enjoys connecting with her loyal community of readers.
Jungalou Crew and Riley Too!
Author Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis, and Karen Fuller
Hardback ISBN: 978155086974
Paperback ISBN: 9781955086981
eBook ISBN: 9781955086998
Genre: Preschool Interactive
Release Date 10/01/2021
Description:
The preschool years are the fundamental foundation for our children’s learning development. By encouraging a child’s interactive participation throughout the story, your little ones will have fun learning preschool basics: colors, numbers, letters and more.
Jungalou Crew! Trunks up, let’s go! With a little bit of magic, your little ones will follow the Jungalou Crew on a new adventure where they’ll meet Riley, the surfing hippo and learn a little about being responsible while having fun.
Jungalou Crew The Ancients
Author Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis, and Karen Fuller
Hardback ISBN: 9781956788327
Paperback ISBN: 9781956788334
eBook ISBN: 9781956788341
Genre: Children's Superhero Adventure
Release Date 12/28/2021
Description:
The ancient rulers have called upon Lumi the firefly to help save the planet. Tasked with putting together a team of young superheroes, Lumi and his new team prepare to save the world from the notorious Gilly Ring.
Rise of the FOWL
KittyBorgs Book 1
Author Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis, and Karen Fuller
Hardback ISBN:
Paperback:
eBook ISBN:
Genre: Children's Sci-Fi Adventure Ages 8-12
Release Date to be determined
On the planet Regulus, cats, dogs, and birds from Earth have arrived to form a new society. But when evil robotic birds Talon Feather and Grim Chaos threaten to reclaim the planet, the feline inhabitants create eight high-tech heroes - the Kittyborgs! This cybernetic cat squad, including Linux Kat-Stratacus, Mega Bolt, Chip Socket, and more, are designed to defend Regulus. However, uniting the planet's divided cats and dogs presents a difficult challenge. Can the Kittyborgs overcome betrayal within their ranks and defeat their enemies? Or will Regulus fall into the claws of the villainous FOWL agents? Find out in this thrilling sci-fi adventure about animal allies, robotic heroes, and the power of unity.
We are the Wilds
Author Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis, and Karen Fuller
Hardback ISBN: 9798891260559
Paperback: 9798891260542
eBook ISBN: 9798891260566
Genre: Children's Adventure Ages 8-12
Release Date 9/19/2023
Nestled deep within a lush, vibrant jungle lies a safari park unlike any other. It is here we meet Amari and Malik, two young siblings with a love for adventure and a passion for the wild. Alongside them are their six animal friends —CJ, the African elephant; Zed, the zebra; Flora, the shy female zebra; Millie, the pink flamingo; Micha, the lion cub; and Isaac, the meerkat. Together, they embark on a journey that will test their courage and resilience in ways they never imagined.
With its vibrant characters and heartwarming message, We Are the Wilds is a tale that will capture the imaginations of young readers and leave them eager for more.
The Legend of Secret Pass
Author: Melissa Davis
Hardback ISBN: 9781629896267
Paperback ISBN: 9781629896274
eBook ISBN: 9781629896281
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Family/Movie Tie-in
Release Date 03/20/2017
If his family had told him that he would one day be a legendary guardian of Secret Pass, Manu would have laughed in their faces. Guardian, ha!
All twelve-year-old Manu wanted to do was off-road race with his truck Windflier. When a strange dark magic makes its way through the mesa, Manu finds himself surrounded by dust devils, thunderbirds, and a ragtag group of animals that are trying to make their way to Natocchue, a place that protects animals from the outside world. His family is harboring a deep secret that is filled with magic and mystery, one that Manu isn’t sure he is ready for, but the woman in the wind has chosen him to be the next guardian.
When the sinister Calabar uses his mystical powers on Manu and his family, it is up to Manu to save the day. Will he be able to keep Calabar from stealing the magic song the woman in the wind has entrusted him with or will Calabar gain entrance to Natocchue and end life as they knew it?
In Association with Lionsgate Entertainment. The Legend of Secret Pass will be distributed worldwide with video on demand on 01/15/2019. See the movie trailer.
Through the Mortal Veil
Author Erik Daniel Shein & Melissa Davis
Hardback ISBN: 9781949812498
Paperback ISBN: 9781949812503
eBook ISBN: 9781949812510
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Dark Fantasy
Release Date 04/15/2019
From the moment their parents moved them into the ancient relic of a house, Indigo Thornberg finds herself in a world beyond her worst imaginations. The wallpaper walls and clawfoot bathtub makes it clear the house was built long before the beginning of time. Their house isn’t even wired for the internet! To top it off her room is—pink! Like bubblegum pink, the pale pasty kind that ballerina girls would die for, but not Indigo. And while that might seem like the worst thing that could happen to a goth girl like herself, something even worse is lurking in the shadows.
The only thing that makes the move bearable is the fact that her twin brother Crow is just as miserable as she is. The moment the teens turn sixteen, their lives take a bizarre turn as a dormant magic awakes within them. They are called to the one place that keeps them safe from the things that go bump in the night: the mortal veil.
As they slip through the veil, they find that their destiny awaits on the other side. They must find a way to close the veil to keep their world safe from the evil that wishes to destroy it. Never one to back down from a challenge, Indigo is prepared to take on the trials ahead of her, but Hevexa is filled with dangers in all shapes and sizes, monsters that exist outside of her wildest imagination.
Will they be able to restore the veil before the monsters of Hevexa take over their world? Or would they lose themselves to the darkness on the other side?
Arkwatch Holdings LLC commissioned Len Simon Animation to do the animated characters for Thunder: An Elephant's Journey.
The Story and Art of Thunder and Friends
Authors: Erik Daniel Shein, L. M. Reker, and Melissa Davis
Hardback ISBN: 9781949812916
Genre: Animation Graphic Design/Art
Release Date April 23, 2019
Description:
The story of Thunder: An Elephant’s Journey is a heartfelt tale of a young African forest elephant and the plight the elephants and all animals face at the hands of poachers. In the Forward, creator Erik Daniel Shein explains the purpose and drive behind Thunder’s story. Be prepared for an adventure of a lifetime with stunning concept art which tells Thunder’s tale.
Thunder
Authors: Erik Daniel Shein, L. M. Reker, and Melissa Davis
Hardback ISBN: 9781629898025
Collector's Edition Hardback ISBN: 9781629895635
Paperback ISBN: 9781629895642
eBook ISBN: 9781629895659
Genre: Middle-Grade Animal Adventure
Release Date March 7, 2017
From the moment Thunder took his first step, it was clear that his footsteps would make quite an impression on the world around him.
The tiny elephant’s life was pretty much perfect until one fateful night when poachers crept into it. In the cloak of darkness, they sprang on his herd separating him from his mother and the rest of the African pygmy herd. After a harrowing escape, Thunder must dig deep inside to find the courage to find his way home. With helpful friends and the watchful eye of the Great Tusker in the sky, Thunder’s journey is the adventure of a lifetime.
Len Simon Animation LLC commissioned to do cover.
Hi Erik
I hope you’re well. I’m writing to let you know that your review for “Thunder“ was selected by our Indie Editors to be featured in Kirkus Reviews 1/15 Issue. Congratulations! The review appears as one of the 35 reviews in the Indie section of the magazine which is sent out to over 5,200 industry professionals (librarians, publishers, agents, etc.) Less than 10% of our Indie reviews are chosen for this, so it's a great honor. I have included a link to the digital version for your preview: https://www.dropbox.com/s/apwcspsaup58eg2/Kirkus_
All the very best and congratulations,
Crystal Timbeross
Client Promotions & Advertising Associate
KIRKUS REVIEWS | KIRKUS MEDIA LLC
Footprints in the Sand
Thunder: An Elephant's Journey Book 2
Authors: Erik Daniel Shein and Melissa Davis
Hardback ISBN: 9781629896236
Paperback ISBN: 9781629896243
eBook ISBN: 9781629896250
Genre: Middle-Grade Animal Adventure
Release Date 06/06/2017
One tiny elephant, one gigantic adventure…
A search for adventure may get Thunder more than he bargains for. He never expects to find himself alone again, but the footprints left by his mother will be his guide to healing and finding his way. On his journey he finds himself making some new friends: Razor, a grumpy lion; Dash, a speedy genet; Archie, a chatty lizard, and two whimsical gorillas, Harold and Neville. A trip back to the caves reunites Thunder with old friends, and together they join forces to save the day and help Thunder find peace.
Len Simon Animation LLC commissioned to do cover.
Hope Haven
Thunder: An Elephant's Journey Book 3
Authors: Erik Daniel Shein and Melissa Davis
Hardback ISBN: 9781629896298
Paperback ISBN: 9781629896304
eBook ISBN: 9781629896311
Description: Middle-Grade Animal Adventure
Release Date 09/05/2017
A story of perseverance and courage…
Thunder is on the ultimate quest to fulfill his destiny. Tasked with finding Hope Haven, Thunder sets out to discover the mystery of Hope Haven with his friends Razor, a solitary lion; Dash, a spotted genet; and Archie, a black banded monitor lizard. When they discover that Hope Haven is a sanctuary for abandoned and injured animals, Thunder stumbles upon more than what he bargained for. He must find the courage to protect those that he loves once and for all.
Len Simon Animation LLC commissioned to do cover.
Tusker
Thunder: An Elephant's Journey Book 4
Authors: Erik Daniel Shein & Melissa Davis
Hardback ISBN: 9781629897745
Paperback ISBN: 9781629897752
eBook ISBN: 97881629897769
Genre: Middle-Grade Animal Adventure
Release Date 05/14/2018
Courage has no bounds….
A great tusker is in trouble, and destiny calls Thunder again.
When a great tusker is captured by the uprights, Tusker’s mate, Thandi, seeks out the legendary Thunder to save her mate.
Thunder and Razor are on a rescue mission, and time isn’t on their side. And when a young gifted boy, Jabari, drops from the trees wanting to help, Thunder is unsure what to trust, instinct or his heart. He could use the boy’s help, but uprights got them into this mess in the first place….
Len Simon Animation LLC commissioned to do cover.
The Incredible Seed Crackers
A Galapagos Adventure
Authors: Melissa Davis, Erik Daniel Shein & Karen Fuller
Hardback ISBN: 9781958336595
Paperback ISBN: 9781958336601
eBook ISBN: 9781958336618
Genre: Middle-Grade Animal Adventure
Release Date 08/16/2022
Every Mystery starts with a seed of truth. In this story, our heroes, Pani and Omo, pride themselves on their ability to find the key to cracking any case. Pani, the older of the two detectives, is a pelican with a penchant for keeping order in the middle of chaos. Omo is a young, daredevil Peruvian seagull. The two have created an agency of private detectives called the Seed Crackers. They have recently decided to expand their practice by hiring a new sidekick seed cracker to train, Pepe, a Galapagos mockingbird. The only problem is they are all easily distracted whenever treasure hunting comes into the picture.
A Galapagos Tale
Author: Erik Daniel Shein
Co-Author: Melissa Davis
Hardback ISBN: 9781951642365
Paperback ISBN: 9781951642372
eBook ISBN: 9781951642389
Genre: Middle-Grade Animal Adventure
Release Date 02/17/2020
For Dexter the penguin and Jax the lava lizard, life on the Galapagos island is filled with one lazy day after the next. Dexter wants more, and when he finds an egg on the beach, he is ready to claim it as his own. The prospect of being an “uncle” fills him with excitement he can’t contain, so he convinces his best friend Jax to help him. So when the egg hatches and a tortoise emerges, the pair are at first shocked, then smitten with their hatchling. Dexter lovingly names him Silas.
The years fly by on their peaceful island, and Silas grows into an intelligent and curious tortoise with a thirst for adventure. An avid inventor, like Dexter, Silas creates a raft that will take them on their first adventure. They learn of the tortoises on Isabela Island, and before long they are on a quest to find them.
When they are rescued by Admiral Cassius, a marine iguana, they learn that Queen Afrodita, a pink marine iguana, is holding the tortoises of the island captive and slowly starving them. Admiral Cassius is the leader for the rebellion against the queen’s rule, but his army isn’t large enough to rise up against her. When Silas formulates a plan that will save everyone on Isabela Island from the queen’s rule, the admiral pulls together his troops and they all pitch in to help.
Can one tortoise make a difference against impossible odds? Find out in A Galapagos Tale.
Aurora
Spirit Bear of the North
Authors: Erik Daniel Shein & Melissa Davis
Hardback ISBN: 9781629899459
Paperback ISBN: 9781629899466
eBook ISBN: 9781629899473
Genre: Middle-Grade Animal Adventure
Release Date 06/12/2018
Magic and wonder fill our world in ways we can never comprehend. Sometimes it brings together the most unlikely of friends. This is one of those stories.
One young cub and one teenage girl are about to learn that our differences are what make us special. Every so often, a Spirit Bear is born in our world bringing hope and peace, but her story does not start that way.
From the moment Aurora was born, the tiny white bear cub stood out from the rest of the grizzly bears of the Great Bear Rain forest. Aurora tries to live her life just like any other cub but is soon picked on for being different. When she has had enough of their cruelty, Aurora runs away from her home on the mountainside glen. She has no idea that her adventures will lead her to a human girl who will teach her how to accept herself and be brave in a world that seems set against her.
Len Simon Animation LLC commissioned to do cover.
Kona
Authors: Erik Daniel Shein & Melissa Davis
Hardback ISBN: 9781958336373
Paperback ISBN: 9781958336380
eBook ISBN: 9781951642266
Genre: Young Adult/Coming of Age/Friendship/Family
Release Date 02/01/2021
As a childhood cancer survivor, Melanie has seen a few good years with no evidence of disease, but in the back of her mind, she is always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Being a normal teen is what she has always wanted, so when she’s offered a dream job at the Blue Haven Aquarium, she jumps at the chance.
No one has told Melanie about the gorgeous Chase MaKenzie she is pared to be working with, nor the new best friend she’ll find in the watery depths. Melanie’s world is about to change forever.
Heart touching, witty, and at times heartbreaking, Kona explores the depths of friendship and love.
A Hole in Her Sky
Authors: Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis & Karen Fuller
Hardback ISBN: 9798891260573
Paperback ISBN: 9798891260580
eBook ISBN: 9798891260597
Genre: Young Adult Romance/Coming of Age
Release Date 10/24/2023
Still reeling from the loss of her twin sister, 17-year-old Maddie Tyler spends the summer with her grandmother in a sleepy country town. As she struggles with grief and abandonment, she finds hope in reconnecting with her childhood crush, Tristen. But their budding romance ignites a generations-old feud between their families. When a search for legendary treasure goes awry, Maddie must dig deep to find the will to survive. This poignant YA novel explores grief, family bonds, and discovering inner strength when faced with unimaginable loss.
Rocket Hounds
Authors: Erik Daniels Shein, Melissa Davis & Karen Fuller
Hardback ISBN: 9781958336236
Paperback ISBN: 9781958336243
eBook ISBN: 9781958336250
Genre: Middle-Grade Animal Adventure
Release Date 6/13/2022
Oaktree Farms is not just known as a second chance for rescued animals. It’s also known for having the fastest dogs around the agility circuit. After the farm suffers from a tragic loss, it’s up to some new recruits to help pull them all back together and save the farm.
When two young pups, Cody and Taz, are brought to Oaktree Farm, they have no idea what new life is in store for them. The chocolate lab and Australian shepherd are big fans of the infamous circuit champion Rocket. The Great Dane decides to help train them to run agility courses with him to help bring the title back home to the farm.
With the fate of Oaktree Farms on their shoulders, the Rocket Hounds must find a way to win the Regional Canine Classic.
Call of the Phoenix
The Destined Guardians Series Book 1
Authors: Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis & Karen Fuller
Hardback ISBN: 9781629897509
Paperback ISBN: 9781629897516
eBook ISBN: 9781629897523
Genre: YA Supernatural Fantasy Adventure
Release Date 02/12/2018
An 800-Year-Old Amulet Holds the Secret – The Legends are Real
The ancient magic that has been dormant for centuries will awaken and prove to the world that not all heroes wear capes. Some wear skirts, but only on special occasions. Because, really, let’s face it, how practical would a skirt be when you’re saving the world from the darkest magic known to man?
When fourteen-year-old Seraphina Miles is sent to live with her estranged archaeologist father, she has no idea she would be in for the adventure of a lifetime. When she finds a strange amulet hidden in the ruins of Machu Picchu, her boring summer is suddenly filled with a magic beyond her dreams. The amulet leads her to a golden egg in the middle of a burning fire. When the shell breaks, the phoenix hatchling nestled inside imprints on Sera. Their special connection sends her on a quest to find the missing stones which will give her the power to defeat the winged serpent that hides in the shadows.
If you love heart racing adventures filled with mystical creatures, magic older than time itself, and heroes that defy conventions, Sera’s story will keep you entertained until the very last page. The Call of the Phoenix is the first book in the Destined Guardian Series.
Rise of the Winged Serpent
The Destined Guardian Series Book 2
Authors: Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis & Karen Fuller
Hardback ISBN: 9781949812282
Paperback ISBN: 9781949812299
eBook ISBN: 9781949812305
Genre: YA Paranormal Supernatural Fantasy
Release Date 02/04/2019
Evil stirs in the darkness. Seraphina Miles can feel it bleeding into the world around her, suffocating the life of every living creature. The shadows become its playground, while it stalks the new Guardian. Evil will not stop until it possesses the magic flowing through her veins.
Part of her wants to run as fast as her feet can carry her, but Sera’s destiny prevents her from giving in to her fears. Too much is at stake. Now that she is aligned with the elemental fire rippling just beneath the surface, the fourteen-year-old must learn to control her element without unleashing its rage onto the world around her.
With the mythical phoenix at her side, Sera’s next step is to align the winged serpent, Challis, with the next Guardian, so that the golden serpent can rise again. From the very moment Sera gives Maya her amulet, the two girls find themselves on a race against time. Maya must possess the courage to become the next Guardian and harness the elemental winds that whip around her. If the new Guardian cannot master her new powers, all will be lost.
With no room for error, the girls must combine their magic to protect the world from Bianca before she unleashes the deadliest creature to ever walk the earth.
Primordial Code
Authors: Erik Daniel Shein, Melissa Davis & Karen Fuller
Hardback ISBN: 9781629899893
Paperback ISBN: 9781629899909
eBook ISBN: 9781629899916
Genre: YA SciFi Suspense
Release Date 3/19/2019
Samantha Taylor is not your average teenager. From the moment she could speak, her first words were filled with questions of the way things worked around her. With a father who fostered her love of science, mirroring his own, Sam is fascinated with genetics and computer programming, two things that have been known to get her into trouble from time to time. While her eccentricities might make it difficult to make friends at her school, she does have one friend, Charlie, a teenage boy who dreams of one day becoming a paleontologist due to his obsession with all things primordial. Especially after the two of them discover the fossil of a triceratops in the back of his uncle’s property.
Sam’s world seems complete, until one life-altering accident bumps it off its axis, sending her into a tailspin she cannot control. When her best friend Charlie is in a coma, Sam feels the only way to bring him back is to create the one thing he dreamed of seeing his entire life, a living breathing dinosaur. She spends every waking hour, creating a virtual reality program that will help her manipulate the genetic code trapped within the rocks that contain the primordial DNA. The DNA of the triceratops they found has been preserved far beneath the earth.
She knew she could crack the code, but the consequences were never figured into the equation….
Sam is catapulted into mass chaos as helicopters fly over her house, and she finds that everything she thought was true is tarnished in deception. The consequences of her actions have them fleeing for their lives….
Haunted Echoes
Spirited Book 1
Author: Melissa Davis
Hardback ISBN: 9781629896809
Paperback ISBN: 9781629896816
eBook ISBN: 9781629896823
Genre: YA Paranormal
Release Date 04/17/2017
“Watch out!” Like a whisper on the wind, the warning seemed to circle around her. Abby turned to the sound, but as usual, nothing was there. Would it be too much to ask for just one place in the world where everything invisible could either be seen or completely unable to reach her?
This was nothing new for Abby. Surrounded by spirits most of her life, Abby Marcelli had her fair share of hauntings. As a child, they were her imaginary friends, but at fourteen, she was ready to hand in the towel. From morning to night, the entities plagued her with icy cold fingers that only she seemed to feel. At home, things moved by unseen hands, appliances turned on and off, and voices bounced around the room. Abby tried her best to shut them out, but each day, they seemed to get louder.
Home wasn’t the only place they lurked. The spirits were everywhere. Worst of all, they followed her to school like lost puppies begging for help until she had no choice but to answer them. In doing so, Abby had become the resident freak and target for the brat pack, who made it their mission to make her life a living hell. Each day, their attacks grew a little worse, and the walls began to close in around her. Her mom wasn’t any help. She was always working, and when she was home, she was always telling Abby to be normal. Not that Abby actually knew what normal was.
When her attempts to find a moment of peace land her in unexpected circumstances, Abby’s world is turned upside down. Latching onto a light in the darkness, Hildebranch Academy, a school for spirited kids like her. Abby was hopeful that for once in her life, she wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb.
Will Hildebranch be everything she wants it to be? Would she learn how to tune out the voices, or would they follow her around for the rest of her life?
Shattered Dreams
Spirited Book 2
Author: Melissa Davis
Hardback ISBN: 9781629897240
Paperback ISBN: 9781629897257
eBook ISBN: 9781629897264
Genre: YA Paranormal
Release Date 07/03/2017
Description:
A voice echoed in her mind. “Help me.”
“Here we go again.”
Another ghost, another challenge.
Life was never boring for someone as spirited as Abby. The troubled teen was starting to find comfort in the spirits that followed her around. Now that she had started to understand her abilities, Abby was more comfortable in her own skin. With new friends and a new school for teenagers like herself, Abby’s life was quickly changing.
As she returned to Hildebranch Academy, Abby was already nose deep in solving another mystery that haunted her every waking moment. When she found a mirror at a flea market, Abby had no idea what she was getting herself into as the spirit attached to it made his presence known. With her friends by her side, Abby must find the clues that will lead to where it all began.
Will the teens be able to solve his murder and bring two people back together?
A Forever Home for the Holidays
Authors: Melissa Davis, Karen Fuller & Erik Daniel Shein
Hardback ISBN: 9781953271150
Print ISBN: 9781953271167
eBook ISBN: 97819532711174
Genre: YA Family Inspirational
Release Date 9/29/2020
Description:
Emma Miller has lost everything. At the tender age of thirteen, a tragic accident took her parents and her beloved dog from her. Now stuck in the foster care system, Emma is in foreign territory. Her experience so far has her wanting to run away.
However, love can come from unexpected places; she only has to open her heart to find it. When presented a Christmas miracle, Emma holds on to it for all she’s worth, but will it be enough?
A Forever Home for the Holidays is a heart touching, emotional roller coaster ride about a young girl’s journey to find herself.
