Books

Writing books has always been a long-term goal as my father is also a writer and I come from a very creative family. I continue to write under my maiden name, Melanie J. Pellowski, though I personally changed my name to LaPlaca after getting married in 2017. I have published four books with Skyhorse Publishing, including My Dearest Bridesmaid (2018), My Dearest Sister (2018), The Pregnancy Primer (2019) and The Teacher’s Guide to Self-Care (2020). The topics of each book have been inspired by personal experience and have sometimes even coincided with milestone moments in my own life. These subjects include bridesmaid proposals and getting married, building sisterhood through joining a sorority, having a baby for the first time and managing life as a teacher.

My most recent work reflects my passion and commitment to education. I became a TV and video production teacher in 2016 and utilized my professional experience as a foundation to write curriculum and create fun classroom projects. Being able to guide students in the creative storytelling process while encouraging them to pursue their own visions for future success was the perfect happy medium. I have always been a lifelong learner curious about the world. That is what led me to become a journalist, and it’s ultimately what brought me back to the classroom. I always knew that teaching would be a challenge, but it wasn’t until I stepped into the role myself that I realized just how much of an impact teachers have on the future. With my colleagues and fellow teachers in mind, I used my experience in the classroom to develop a special book that celebrates educators while providing them with helpful tips on finding their own happiness.