Marissa Koons: Inspiring Children Through Stories of Self-Esteem, Family and Courage 

For author Marissa Koons, writing children’s books is more than a creative pursuit—it is a way to encourage young readers to understand their worth, embrace who they are, and recognize the importance of family. As the author of The Cool Kids series, beginning with The Birthday Party, Marissa has turned a childhood dream of becoming a published author into a meaningful literary journey.

Her work is rooted in themes of self-esteem, confidence, family, and personal growth. Through her stories, she hopes to remind children that the most important opinion of them is ultimately their own.

From Childhood Dream to Published Author

Marissa Koons dreamed of writing a children’s book while growing up. That early interest eventually led her to pursue classes at the Institute of Children’s Literature, where she developed her understanding of writing for young audiences.

Although life initially took her in a different professional direction, her dream of becoming an author never disappeared. Years later, during the global pandemic, Marissa found an opportunity to return to that long-held ambition.

Her writing journey began in 2020 with self-publishing, marking an important first step toward turning her childhood dream into reality. In 2024, that journey reached another significant milestone when The Birthday Party was published through Austin Macauley Publishers LLC.

For Marissa, publishing her first book represents one of her greatest professional achievements.

The Cool Kids Series and the Message Behind Her Writing

Marissa is the author of The Cool Kids series, which begins with The Birthday Party. Her children’s stories are designed around positive messages, particularly those related to self-esteem and learning to value oneself.

At the heart of her writing philosophy is a simple but powerful belief: the only opinion of you that truly matters is your own.

That message can be especially meaningful for children as they navigate friendships, social expectations, and the desire to fit in. By placing these themes within accessible children’s stories, Marissa creates opportunities for young readers to think about confidence and individuality in ways that feel natural and relatable.

Her goal is not simply to entertain children, but to give them stories that can encourage meaningful conversations about how they see themselves and how they respond to the opinions of others.

The Birthday Party Receives Recognition

Marissa’s debut book, The Birthday Party, has already received recognition within the literary community.

In 2025, the book was named Runner Up in the children’s category at the San Francisco Book Festival’s Book of the Year awards. It also received Story Monsters Approval, adding further recognition to Marissa’s work as a children’s author.

These achievements represent an important chapter in her development as a writer. What began as a childhood dream eventually became a published book that reached readers and received recognition beyond her own expectations.

Writing Through Personal Experience

Marissa’s creative journey has also taken a deeply personal direction. She is currently working on a short story titled “I Knew You Were Listening,” which is planned for inclusion in a 2027 anthology titled Write From The Heart, to be published by the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group.

The story follows a mother struggling with her daughter’s cancer diagnosis. The subject is particularly close to Marissa because her own daughter was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ewing Sarcoma in October 2025.

Through this upcoming story, Marissa is exploring the emotional experiences surrounding a difficult family journey. Writing from such a personal place gives the story an intimate dimension, allowing her to examine themes of love, uncertainty, hope, and the bond between a mother and daughter.

Her decision to transform a deeply personal experience into creative work also reflects the broader role writing can play in processing and expressing emotions.

Future Plans: Stories About Grief and Caregiving

Marissa’s future writing goals continue to explore meaningful subjects that can help families navigate difficult experiences.

Among her plans is a children’s book centered on grief, a subject that can be challenging to explain to young readers. Through children’s literature, Marissa hopes to explore difficult emotions in an approachable and thoughtful way.

She is also considering writing a novel focused on caregiver challenges. This potential project would allow her to explore the experiences of people who provide care for loved ones while navigating their own emotional and personal challenges.

Both ideas reflect the direction her writing is taking: creating stories that acknowledge difficult experiences while offering readers a sense of understanding and connection. 

Balancing Writing With a Professional Career

Outside of her work as an author, Marissa works as an accountant. Her professional life and creative life represent two very different sides of her personality, but both have become important parts of her journey.

By day, she works in accounting, while her passion for books and storytelling continues beyond her professional responsibilities. Her journey demonstrates that creative ambitions do not always have to follow a traditional path. Sometimes, a childhood dream can remain quietly present until the right moment arrives.

For Marissa, that moment came during the pandemic, when she finally began turning the idea of becoming a children’s author into something tangible.

Education and a Lifelong Love of Books

Marissa earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Cedar Crest College. Her education provided an important foundation for her professional career, while her love of books continued to fuel her creative interests.

Her decision to study writing through the Institute of Children’s Literature further demonstrates the effort she invested in developing her craft. Rather than simply relying on an interest in storytelling, she took steps to learn more about writing specifically for children.

That combination of education, professional experience, and creative passion has helped shape her journey as an author.

Family at the Heart of Marissa’s Life

While publishing her first book is one of Marissa’s biggest professional accomplishments, she considers raising her three daughters her greatest personal achievement.

She takes pride in raising girls who value themselves and their family—values that closely connect with the themes found throughout her writing.

Family also plays an important role in Marissa’s life outside her work. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and three daughters, creating a home environment where creativity and family activities remain part of everyday life.

When she is not writing, Marissa enjoys painting with her children and swimming laps. These activities provide a balance to her professional and literary pursuits while giving her opportunities to spend quality time with her family. 

A Writer With a Purpose

Marissa Koons’ journey from aspiring children’s author to published writer is a story of persistence, personal growth, and the importance of returning to a dream.

From self-publishing in 2020 to becoming a published author with Austin Macauley Publishers LLC in 2024, her path demonstrates how long-held ambitions can evolve over time. Her recognition for The Birthday Party in 2025 further marked an important achievement in her growing literary career.

Today, through The Cool Kids series and her upcoming writing projects, Marissa continues to explore stories that speak to children and families. Whether she is writing about self-esteem, grief, family relationships, or the challenges of caregiving, her work is increasingly shaped by the belief that stories can help people feel understood.

As she looks toward future children’s books and potentially a novel, Marissa Koons continues to build a body of work that combines her love of storytelling with the values that matter most to her: self-worth, family, courage, and emotional connection.