Born on the wild West Coast of the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, Melanie was brought up in a book-loving, story-telling family. She lives in Ōtautahi Christchurch with her family of artists, inventors and tinkerers.

Melanie has been shortlisted six times for the Joy Cowley Award and was the winner of the award in 2022. She is the author of three picture books and her writing has been published in The School Magazine (Australia). Melanie works as a Kaiāwhina Kaiako / Teacher Assistant at a local primary school, where she enjoys helping young writers hone their craft.