Storyteller. Author. Entrepreneur.

Hi, I’m Melina!

I love creating content and building businesses. Franchises are my favorite! I spent two decades at Nat Geo doing many things including transforming a hidden gem into the $65M National Geographic Kids award-winning, best-selling, multi-platform brand.

Now I'm the Founder and President of Fun Factory Press, a boutique publishing business specializing in unique content for both adults and kids. We just launched Penguin Random House's Totally Random Kids line to rave reviews and the top slot on Amazon.

I’m full of ideas and ready to go—let’s talk!

Melina has written for The New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, Entertainment Weekly, The Washingtonian, AARP’s The Girlfriend, Glamour, Elle, Cosmopolitan among other media outlets.

Photograph by Becky Hale

Books written by Melina

  • “No friend in sight? Pick up a copy of the The Fun Book, and you’ll never be bored or lonely.”

    — Lois Wyse, best-selling author

  • Love you, Dad: “It’s a great way to remind us of the universal power of a father’s love.”

    — NationalGeographic.com Review

  • Totally Random Kids: “The book is laid out in a fun and attractive format that allows kids to feel like they are breezing through it, making it ideal for reluctant or struggling readers… An appealing, accessible book for kids who enjoy trivia and learning new things.”

    — Kirkus Reviews

Stories written by Melina

Featured
Take a Soul-Soothing Journey to the Tuscan Countryside
Take a Soul-Soothing Journey to the Tuscan Countryside

Relax on a yoga retreat in this Italian paradise.

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No Kidding! It Was The Worst Day Of My Life
No Kidding! It Was The Worst Day Of My Life

As I sat there — literally in the gutter — it occurred to me that I’d been stripped of everything that once defined and empowered me.

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The Purchase That Made Me Feel Like a Woman
The Purchase That Made Me Feel Like a Woman

I'm a sucker for a good deal.

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