Melissa Stock lives in Tampa, Florida, and grew up in Melbourne. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida; and two Master of Arts degrees in History, one from the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia, and one from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Her research interests are the interactions between the southeastern Native Americans and European settlers during the colonial and early American period. She enjoys hiking and kayaking, as well as photographing wildlife and the natural environment. She also enjoys astronomy, reading, writing, and catering to her dogs and cats.