Meet our Founders

  • My name is Mel Saavedra and I am the founder of Steamy Lit. I am a proud Latina, Navy Veteran, and dog mom. I'm also an avid reader of steamy romance. The more a book makes me clench my thighs, the better.

    My love for reading romance novels intensified during my husband's deployment. As I continued to pick up title after title, I quickly noticed the lack of representation romance authors of color, as well as non-binary/genderqueer folx, received in publishing. By having constant conversations in the book community, I knew it was common for women to feel uncomfortable discussing their sexuality or even speaking about steamy scenes in books. Thus, the spark of an idea for Steamy Lit was set aflame.

    At Steamy Lit, I want to empower discourse around sexuality and self-love while also providing a new way for authors to have their work showcased.

  • Cookie has been one of Mel's biggest supporters in developing Steamy Lit Con. A couple of years ago, Mel and Cookie had a discussion about creating a book convention that celebrates diversity in romance. After attending a couple book conventions in 2022, Mel said that she was going to start planning the event and when she asked Cookie to help, her answer was ABSOLUTELY!

    Cookie is enjoying helping Mel carry out her vision for the event. She enjoys organizing, planning, and thinking about all the small details of developing an event like this. Cookie strongly believes in amplifying authors who identify with underrepresented groups in books and publishing. She is ecstatic to be a part of this team that is doing something that hasn't been done before.

    When she is not helping plan Steamy Lit Con, Cookie is working as a full-time educator, a part-time university instructor, a university admissions reader, and advocating for her colleagues as a member of the executive board of her local union chapter.

    And of course, any free time is spent reading. Cookie mostly reads romance but she also dabbles in other genres. She enjoys steamy books and books that completely wreck her.

    You can check out her bookstagram page with her adorable pups, Pepper and Oreo, @cookie.the.bookee.

Meet our Board

  • Denise Williams

    Denise Williams wrote her first book in the 2nd grade. I Hate You and its sequel, I Still Hate You, featured a tough, funny heroine, a quirky hero, witty banter, and a dragon. Minus the dragons, these are still the books she likes to write. After penning those early works, she finished second grade and eventually earned a PhD. Denise lives in Iowa and can usually be found reading, writing, or thinking about love stories.

  • Becca Mysoor

    Becca is a developmental editor and strategist for independent and traditionally published authors and the founder of Hello Lovely Box. She has worked since 2015 with authors on their books and businesses. When she isn't working, you can find her watching movies with her husband or exploring new cities to search for delicious snacks.

  • Artavia Jarvis

    Artavia Jarvis is an author and book influencer from New York City. Her first novel, With Every Heartbeat is inspired by her for belief in happily ever afters, her love of New York City, and her own experience with both grief and organ donation. When she isn’t reading everything you can find her at home, scrolling to find a new ice cream place to try or she’s playing a video game with her bunny and an ice cold Dr. Pepper by her side.

  • Alexa Martin

    Alexa Martin is the award-winning author of Better than Fiction, Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes, and the Playbook Series. Her novels have been chosen by NPR and Amazon for the best books of the year and her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, and NPR. Her first book Intercepted was optioned for tv/film with Starz and G-Unit Production. She lives in Dallas with her husband, four children, and German Shepherd. The Playbook Series was inspired by the eight years she spent as an NFL wife and her deep love of all things pop culture, sparkles, leggings, and wine. When she’s not dreaming up her next romance hero, you can find her catching up on whatever Real Housewives franchise is currently airing or filling up her Etsy cart with items she doesn’t need.

  • Carla Peterson

    (She/Her/Ella) Puerto Rican bookworm living in Central Florida. Lover of romance books and exploring diversity in romance. Co-host of Amor en Paginas, the Latinx Romance buddy read page where we read one Latinx Romance book per month and interview the author on lives. You can also find published book reviews on The Lit Buzz.

    Amplify, uplift, and create community!

  • Johanna Burgos

    Photo & Bio to come.