Meet Melissa Martini-morales

We were lucky to catch up with Melissa Martini-morales recently and have shared our conversation below.

Melissa, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I feel like my purpose, if I had to capture it in one word, is “curating.” It’s the act of gathering and organizing things into a cohesive whole. I discovered my love for curating back in high school, when I joined the literary magazine, picking out and ordering pieces, seeing how they could complement each other on a page. Later, while studying creative writing at Seton Hall, I focused my degree on fiction, especially short stories. I had always envisioned writing novels, but I fell for the unique power of short stories and collections, where every piece contributes to a greater theme or feel.

After college, I had the chance to publish a couple of short story chapbooks and to curate and edit issues of Moss Puppy Magazine, which has been such a fulfilling journey. For a while, I thought my purpose was just being an editor for a literary magazine, but recently, I’ve realized that curating—more broadly—feels like my true calling. It touches all parts of my life, whether in creating collages from magazine cutouts or crafting digital mixed media, right down to making themed playlists or building a balanced Pokémon team as a kid.

It’s where all my passions come together, and it’s where I feel most like myself.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a writer, artist, and magazine editor with a lifelong love for storytelling and creativity in all its forms. I first found my passion for curating back in high school, working on the lit mag. It’s something that stuck with me through college and has shaped how I approach Moss Puppy Magazine today. I really see curating as my purpose—it’s what drives me, whether I’m piecing together a short story collection, creating a collage, or building a playlist that captures a specific mood or character.

Professionally, my focus is on making Moss Puppy a true community-driven magazine where different creative voices can find a home. This means creating a space where artists and writers feel valued, and where there’s room for weirdness, whimsy, and all the wild places creativity can take us. We recently launched our Patreon, which is really exciting because it not only supports our magazine financially but also helps fund the creative world around the character of Moss Puppy—a project that has taken on a life of its own and one I’m thrilled to keep building.

What excites me most about what I do is bringing people together around art and storytelling. There’s something powerful about seeing how each piece fits into a larger issue theme and knowing that it’s meaningful to the people who read it and the artists who contribute to it. Moss Puppy is definitely a “come along for the ride” kind of project, and I love that people feel connected to it.

Beyond that, I think it’s important for people to know that everything Moss Puppy does is built on collaboration and a love for the indie lit community. I’m always grateful for every comment, like, or share—it makes all the difference. And while the magazine is still growing, I feel like there are endless possibilities for where it might go, whether in storytelling, artwork, or creating new spaces for creative expression.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three qualities or skills have really shaped my journey so far: passion, a support system, and taking care of myself.

First and foremost, passion. If you’re not genuinely passionate about what you’re doing, every slip-up will feel like a reason to quit. Passion acts as your armor—it’s like a protective layer in a video game when you’re heading into a cold region. Without that “warm armor,” the journey gets a lot harder. Passion keeps you resilient and grounded when things get tough, so don’t be afraid to lean on what really excites you as a source of strength.

Second is having a support system. You don’t need a mentor with industry experience; you just need someone to listen when you’re frustrated or excited. Community matters, even if it’s just a friend or an online forum where you can connect with others. If you feel like you’re alone, reach out—there are so many ways to find community now, whether it’s connecting with me, someone you admire, or even on Reddit. Having a space to brainstorm, vent, or share is crucial, especially if you’re an introvert.

And third: take care of yourself. That means doing the basics, even when they feel like a lot. I know firsthand how challenging it can be to maintain mental health, but it’s essential. Take your meds if you need them, drink water, eat your meals, go outside, whatever helps you feel like yourself. For me, that includes a few extra steps for nervous system regulation, and I’ve learned that if I’m not caring for myself, every other goal becomes harder to reach. It’s like starting a quest in a game with half HP when you should have stocked up on potions and rested first. It’s okay to ask for help, too—think of it as opening the “help menu” in real life.

For anyone just starting out: stay grounded in what you love, reach out for community, and never underestimate the power of self-care. It makes all the difference.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I’m definitely interested in collaborating with creatives and businesses that would love to help grow the Moss Puppy brand. I’d love to partner with people who are passionate about creating custom merch, like plushies and other unique items that capture the spirit of Moss Puppy. If you have a merch store or experience in creating custom pieces, I’d love to talk about a potential collaboration.

I’m also very interested in connecting with affiliates and sponsors. Whether you’re a small business, a larger company, or simply someone with a great idea, we’d be thrilled to team up! Opportunities could include sponsored ads, social media partnerships, or custom advertising deals, and we’re open to discussing various options like a percentage rate or other mutually beneficial arrangements.

On a bit of a longshot, if anyone has website coding or video game creation experience and is interested in working on a project that would need to be volunteer-based until it starts generating income, I would absolutely love to connect. I have an idea for a community-style website that fits into the Moss Puppy world, as well as ideas for mini-games and other interactive elements that I think could be a lot of fun and add to the Moss Puppy experience.

If you’re reading this and are interested in collaborating, please reach out! You can connect with us through our website or social media, or send a message directly to the Moss Puppy email. Let’s make something cool together!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mosspuppymag.com/
• Instagram: @mosspuppymag
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mosspuppymag
• Twitter: @mosspuppymag

Image Credits

Kathryn Davis