Marissa Payne

Author and illustrator Marissa Payne makes books that appeal to all children — as well as their caretakers. Her artistic inspirations range from Lil Wayne to Lichtenstein, which culminate to make books that that are clever, vibrant and, most importantly, fun.

Before turning to children’s literature, Marissa worked as a reporter for The Washington Post, where she covered sports and fast-breaking news. Marissa is also a… rapper? Actually, yes. Her brand of “mom rap” has made her a major force on TikTok, where she maintains a community of over 550,000 followers. She is currently looking for open-minded literary agents hoping to bring something refreshing to the children’s publishing world.

Marissa holds a B.A. in Russian Language and Literature from Grinnell College and an M.A. in International Relations and Journalism from Boston University. She has appeared on MSNBC, CBS, NPR, Sky News and more.

She resides in Washington, DC, with her husband, two kids and incredibly hefty cat.