Melissa de la Cruz

Melissa de la Cruz – Life, Career, and Notable Works

Melissa de la Cruz is a Filipina-American author celebrated for her young adult novels and series, including Blue Bloods, Witches of East End, The Au Pairs, and The Queen’s Assassin. Learn about her background, literary journey, themes, and impact.

Introduction

Melissa de la Cruz (born September 7, 1971) is a bestselling author known primarily for her works in young adult and paranormal fantasy / romance. Her stories often combine glamorous settings, supernatural elements, and emotionally resonant characters. De la Cruz has published dozens of novels across several series, with many reaching bestseller lists and adaptations in other media.

Her books appeal to readers who enjoy escapist fantasy grounded in emotionally realistic conflicts—love, identity, family, choice. Over time, she has expanded her repertoire to include historical fiction, middle grade, and tie-in works (e.g. Disney’s Descendants).

Early Life and Family

Melissa de la Cruz was born in Manila, Philippines, on September 7, 1971.

When she was about 13 years old (in 1985), her family immigrated to the United States, settling in San Francisco.

She attended Convent of the Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco.

For higher education, de la Cruz studied art history and English at Columbia University in New York.

Career and Literary Journey

Beginnings & Early Writing

• De la Cruz wrote her first full-length novel at age 22, while living in New York and working in banking (Bankers Trust). That novel was never published.

• To build writing credits, an editor at Little, Brown suggested she write for magazines. She published her first essay in the New York Press in 1996.

• She also worked as a beauty and fashion editor, contributing to Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Seventeen, and more.

• Her first published novel was Cat’s Meow (2001).

After a layoff from Morgan Stanley, she committed to full-time writing.

Breakthrough in YA and Major Series

De la Cruz’s breakthrough into young adult fiction came with How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less (2003, co-written with Karen Robinovitz), which led to more YA opportunities.

Some of her most prominent series include:

• The Au Pairs – focusing on girls working as au pairs in the Hamptons, blending social drama and romance.

• Blue Bloods – a paranormal/vampire series that became one of her signature works.

• The Beauchamp Family / Witches of East End – a spin on the supernatural witches in the same universe.

• Heart of Dread – a dystopian trilogy co-written with her husband Michael Johnston.

• The Ring and the Crown – historical fiction involving romance and political intrigue.

• Disney’s Descendants tie-ins – she authored The Isle of the Lost and subsequent books in that franchise.

• Alex & Eliza – historical romance centered around Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler.

• Never After – a middle grade / fantasy series launched around 2020.

• The Queen’s Assassin – a more mature fantasy/romance series.

She has also published many standalone novels, short stories, and tie-in works.

De la Cruz’s works have been published in over 20 countries, and many have topped major bestseller lists (New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal).

Her novel The Isle of the Lost (Descendants prequel) spent over 50 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, with 15 weeks at #1.

Moreover, some of her works have been adapted: Witches of East End became a television series.

Themes, Style & Influence

Themes & Motifs

• Dual identities / secrets: Many series (like Blue Bloods and Witches of East End) revolve around characters with hidden supernatural selves.

• Glamour & setting: Her books often depict high society, fashion, luxurious estates, or exotic locales.

• Romance & relationships: Central to most narratives are romantic dilemmas, loyalty, betrayal, and emotional stakes.

• Power & legacy: Some of her works explore dynastic power, historical legacy, political intrigue (especially in The Ring and the Crown and The Queen’s Assassin).

• Choice and identity: Characters frequently grapple with who they are, what they must sacrifice, and the tension between duty and desire.

Writing Style

• Her prose tends to be accessible, character-driven, with hooks at chapter ends to keep readers engaged.

• She mixes genres—fantasy, romance, historical, and contemporary—to appeal to varied readerships.

• Use of multiple POVs is common in her series to allow deeper character engagement.

• She often blends real historical or mythic elements into her fictional universes, lending a sense of plausibility and depth.

Influence & Reach

• De la Cruz is considered a major voice in YA and paranormal romance, especially in the late 2000s and 2010s.

• Her success with Blue Bloods and supernatural series helped fuel the popularity of vampire and witch themes in YA fiction.

• She expanded into cross-platform storytelling (tie-ins, adaptations) and helped build bridges between publishing, television, and fandom.

• Through her Melissa de la Cruz Studio in collaboration with Disney Publishing, she now mentors, packages, and supports other writers to create content across platforms.

• She is co-director/cofounder of YALLFEST (Charleston) and YALLWEST (Santa Monica), two major YA reader festivals.

Personal Life

Melissa de la Cruz is married to Michael Johnston, who is also a writer. Los Angeles and New York (or maintain homes in both).

She identifies culturally with her Filipino heritage and has discussed how immigration and bicultural experience influence her worldview.

Select Quotations & Thoughts

Melissa de la Cruz isn’t as broadly quoted as some public figures, but some of her expressed ideas reflect her philosophies:

• In her About page, she emphasizes commitment to diversity: launching her studio to support “a diverse group of new and established writers” to reach global audiences.

• She describes her appeal of writing for teens as “they pay attention … and definitely aren’t shy with their feedback.”

• She has said she always wanted to be a writer since she was 11 years old.

• Reflecting on her early career, she chose journalism and magazine writing to build credibility and voice.

These statements point to her creative drive, her respect for her readership, and her commitment to craft and community.

Lessons & Takeaways

1. Persistence is key
   De la Cruz’s first novel was unpublished, but she used journalism and editorial work to hone her voice and break into publishing.

2. Genre flexibility broadens reach
   She didn’t limit herself to one niche—moving from romance/chick lit to YA fantasy, historical, and tie-ins helped sustain her career.

3. Mentorship and platforms multiply impact
   Her establishment of a writing studio and participation in major reader festivals helps nurture the next generation of authors.

4. Stories reflect lived identity
   Her immigrant background and bicultural perspective enrich her characters and settings in subtle but meaningful ways.

5. Cross-media thinking matters
   The transition of her works into television, and tie-ins with franchises like Descendants, show how literary and media worlds intersect today.

Conclusion

Melissa de la Cruz has built a prolific, dynamic, and evolving writing career. From her early days as an immigrant in the U.S. to becoming a bestselling author, her journey combines ambition, adaptability, and creativity. Her stories—whether about vampires in Manhattan or queens in fantasy realms—resonate because they center characters with heart and agency.