Melissa Schaschwary grew up in rural IL. From an early age, her parents
decided to home school their children. This allowed Melissa and her siblings
many wonderful opportunities to learn about and enjoy the nature around them,
as well as to provide an environment where their creativity could flourish. From a
very young age Melissa had a passion for drawing and as a child, always
dreamed of seeing her work in print. That dream was put on the back burner of
life for nearly 15 years until the birth of her daughter, Avrie in 2006. After her
daughter was born, Melissa left her longtime job in the insurance industry to stay
home and raise her family and to provide daycare for other adorable children.
Working with children, having one of her own, and being able to again observe
and appreciate the simplicity of childhood rekindled Melissa's urge to create and
to pursue the dreams of her own youth. Melissa is currently living those
dreams. She now resides in Wisconsin with her husband, daughter and Rat
Terrier, Puck. In her spare time, she enjoys painting and writing and has recently
become enamored with knitting. Melissa is inspired by her constant love of
nature, the arts, classic films, fashion, music, and by the people around her.
A Note From The Author About The Story
The story Miss Ronda is based on my own daughter's inner battle between fascination and fear of spiders as well as her very strong attachment to her blanket. We spent an entire summer with Blanky under one arm walking around the flower garden and sidewalks looking for Daddy Long Legs and then running away screaming when we found him. I wanted to help my daughter to overcome her fear of spiders by writing a story that explains away some of the less glamorous aspects of a spider's life while using images and characters that she would recognize. We spend a lot of time at the local yarn shop and so I also wanted to incorporate the theme of knitting into the story. My daughter frequently sees me working on projects, so while it is another element that is familiar to her, it is also an art form that is really making an exciting comeback. I would love to encourage anyone who hasn't attempted knitting, or other fiber art before, to visit your local yarn store and to give it a try. You may find yourself addicted!
I hope that you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed giving it life. Remember, to follow your dreams and to always try to see the world through the eyes of a child.
~Melissa