Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje

For over three decades, Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje worked as a newspaper reporter and columnist in Texas, earning awards with the San Antonio Light, the Houston Chronicle, and the San Antonio Express-News. She focused on marginalized communities, including those experiencing poverty, homelessness, mental health issues, addiction, and abuse. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Texas Monthly, and the San Antonio Report. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her husband, Mark Stoeltje, is a retired nonprofit executive, artist, and writer. Their child, Sam, is a teacher and a creative writing graduate student.