Melissa Avstreih

Melissa Avstreih finds inspiration in writing from the simplest moments in life. One dark and sweaty night, she had the idea for Goodnight Menopause after an evening with a group of friends discussing the physical changes of – that’s right--menopause. As the author of this little gem, Melissa’s innate talents as wordsmith shine through.

A trip to Long Beach Island, NJ, with her then 10-year-old son inspired Seashells of the Jersey Shore. Melissa and her son were both curious about the shells and egg casings they found on the beach and were disappointed that they could not find a resource that would help to identify them.

A native of Norristown, Penn., Melissa has lived in the Washington, D.C., metro area since 1999. After a stint on Capitol Hill, she transitioned to journalism, working for a major national news service and earning a journalism degree from Harvard University. Now a senior communications pro at a federal agency, Melissa spends her free time indulging her passion for writing.

A relative newcomer to the publishing omniverse, Melissa has three new books in the offing. Seashells of the Jersey Shore will be released in Spring 2025. (Schiffer Publishing). Her second and third books in this series (under contract) will be released in 2026. Melissa lives (and writes) in Arlington, Va., with her husband and two sons.