Grow Your Writing with Melissa
Melissa Bourbon (she/her) is a national bestselling author, editor, and educator who has spent more than two decades helping writers tell stronger stories. She is the author of more than thirty-five traditionally published novels including cozy mysteries, magical realism, and women’s fiction released by publishers such as Penguin Random House/NAL, Kensington, St. Martin’s Press/Thomas Dunne Books, and Alcove Press. She also writes under the pen names Ivy Cassidy, and Winnie Archer.
Before becoming a full-time author, Melissa taught middle and high school English, an experience that shaped the practical, encouraging teaching style she brings to every workshop, critique, and coaching session. Today she combines her perspective as a career educator with the real-world experience of having built a long, sustainable publishing career.
Melissa is the founder of WriterSpark Academy, where she has developed courses on writing craft, publishing, book marketing, and Pinterest for authors. She is also the creator and host of the Bourbon & Books YouTube channel, where she helps writers diagnose story problems, strengthen their manuscripts, and better understand the craft of fiction. Her website, Bourbon & Books, was recognized by Writer’s Digest as one of its 101 Best Websites for Writers.
Throughout her career, Melissa has taught workshops and presented for various writing organizations, conferences, libraries, and universities, including Writer’s Digest, Book Brush, Inkers Con, Jane Friedman events, North Carolina State University’s OLLI program, and Southern Methodist University’s CAPE program. Whether she’s teaching plotting, character development, revision, marketing, or publishing strategy, her goal is always to give writers practical tools they can immediately apply to their own work.
As a mentor with Pocket MFA, Melissa brings the perspective of someone who has written across genres, navigated multiple publishing paths, revised countless manuscripts, and built a career that balances creativity with the realities of the ever-changing publishing industry. She believes every writing problem has a solution, and that learning how to diagnose the real issue is often the first step toward creating a story readers won’t be able to put down.
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Decide if Melissa's Right for You with Our Mentor Interview
What excites you most about writing?
“Writing has completely shaped my life. It has given me a career I never imagined, introduced me to lifelong friends and readers around the world, and continually reminds me that there’s always something new to learn. Twenty-plus years and more than thirty-five books later, I’m still fascinated by the craft.
What excites me most at this point in my career is my belief that writing is really just problem solving in disguise. Every story presents a puzzle: Why isn’t this scene working? Why doesn’t this character feel real? Why does this ending fall flat? I love pulling those pieces apart until the solution clicks into place. It’s what Bourbon & Books, my YouTube channel is all about,” Melissa says.
What mindset does a writer need to grow?
“Hands down, curiosity and the desire to improve in their craft.
We learn by doing, and the writers I see who grow are the ones who know they don’t have all the answers and they keep asking questions. Instead of saying, “I’m a bad writer,” they ask, “Why isn’t this working?” This mindset shift is crucial because every problem has a solution if you’re willing to keep learning.”
What three words describe you as a mentor?
“Encouraging. Honest. Practical.
I want writers to leave feeling motivated, but also to have concrete steps and takeaways they can implement immediately.”
What makes a good writing mentor?
“I believe a good mentor listens. They don’t try to mold writers to sound like them. They help writers become more fully themselves.
That means listening first, identifying the real problem instead of the obvious one, and offering feedback that’s specific enough to be useful while, at the same time, leaving room for the writer’s own voice.”
What is your style of feedback?
“I’m encouraging and constructive, direct but kind.
I’ll tell my coaching students and mentees when something isn’t working, but I’ll also explain why and offer ways to fix it. My goal isn’t simply to point out problems; it’s to help writers understand the underlying craft so they can solve similar issues on their own in the future.”
What was the most recent "standout" book you read, and what drew you to it?
“One of the books that has really stayed with me recently is The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. I loved its quiet, character-driven storytelling and the way it explores themes that resonate with me: connection, regret, and the stories we tell ourselves over a lifetime. For me, this novel is a reminder that a story doesn’t need high stakes or constant plot twists to be compelling; it needs emotional vulnerability and truth. These are the kinds of books I gravitate toward as both a reader and a writer. I love books that linger with me long after I’ve read the last page, just as I hope my own novels linger with readers.”