About | M.L.Ruscsak

About Melisa

Bio

"Motivational Keynote Speaker, Melisa Ruscsak works with individuals and organizations to amplify their communication, connection, and confidence so they can make an influential impact on the world. She mentors with passion, guiding her clients to effectively strengthen and elevate their leadership vision to new heights.

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Bio

'''Melisa Ruscsak ''' is an American writer born in 1982 in Lorain, Ohio. She grew up living with her grandparents Frances and James Lasure, and attended Clearview High School as well as Lorain County J.V.S. While in J.V.S, she attended the Culinary Arts program and graduated in 2001.

In her twenties, Ruscsak had a clear career path and the necessary schooling to pursue her chosen profession. However, after a medical emergency at the age of 28, she was faced with the choice of "doing nothing and living off of the system" or "learning what she could still achieve on her own." Ruscsak is not one to give up easily, and after regrouping, she discovered her passion for writing.

With her drive to see her words come to life, Lasure wrote her first work, ''The New Reign'', in 2016. Since then, she has also pursued modeling and social media influencing, among other outlets for her work.

While Ruscsak's future remains an open road, she is excited to see where life leads her next.

==== Early Life ====

'''Melisa Ruscsak''' is an American musician and writer, born and raised in Lorain, Ohio. She was brought up by her grandparents and attended the Clearview School District.

From an early age, Ruscsak had a passion for music and was a member of her school's choir. Throughout junior and senior years, she was known for being helpful and volunteered as a teacher's aid, office aid, and in peer mediation groups. Despite her helpfulness, her shyness kept her from pursuing anything that made her stand out.

This changed in the fall of 1999 when Lasure attended the local vocational school named The Lorain County J.V.S. Under the supervision of the school's leadership and staff, Ruscsak started to come out of her shell. She participated in her first solo competition for Bakery and Pastry Arts.

In the spring of 2001, Lasure graduated from both L.C.J.V.S and Clearview High School. However, her dreams and ambitions were still forming and not yet ready to become reality.

Ruscsak's musical talents and passion for writing would eventually lead her down a new path. With her newfound confidence, she started exploring her interests and discovered her love for writing.

=== Career ===
===== Early work =====

Fresh out of high school, Melisa postponed her dream of owning a restaurant and decided to gain real-world experience. She worked in fast food while writing during her free time, starting with little poems and later adding fan fiction to her repertoire. Some of her early works can still be found on sites like FanFiction.net. These unedited and uncensored works would eventually evolve into her career.

In 2016, Melisa published her first book, "The New Reign: Of Lite and Darke," which began as a series of lessons. This was the first book in which she learned computer applications such as Photoshop, Daz3d, and other creative art programs. It also taught her lessons in book size, formatting, and copywriting, which would be stepping stones to advancing her career. While there is a limited number of copies of her first book still circulating today, it was eventually picked up by her first publisher and became a best-seller in France for a week. However, Melisa never saw any royalties from this publisher. Some copies can still be found on the bookshelves of select Barnes & Noble stores.

After being picked up by a second publisher, Melisa became more serious about her writing. She penned the prequel and a collection of short stories to tie into the "Of Lite and Darke" series. However, her passion for writing and desire to succeed did not stop at the mere conception of her books. She sought new skills by taking online marketing classes through Boston University, adding classes to become a licensed self-help coach, and learning the ins and outs of writing screenplays, film budgets, and other behind-the-scenes work.

==== 2017 - present====

After completing the first book in her series, Melisa decided to gain real-world experience instead of attending Johnson and Wales University. She worked in fast food and wrote during her free time, eventually publishing her first book, "The New Reign: Of Lite and Darke," in 2016. Melisa then went on to publish the second and third books in her series, as well as completing two screenplays.

In 2019, Melisa left her publishing company to start her own LLC, which aimed to help new authors find their footing and create books that could potentially become films. Although she encountered flaws in her vision, Melisa persevered and began formulating a plan to take her company to the next level.

Melisa's big year for growth came in 2019 when she launched her own radio show on Atlanta Mix 108 and Screen works Entertainment. She also created a YouTube page to log her interviews with industry leaders. Melisa continued to seek new skills and took marketing classes online with Boston University, became a licensed self-help coach, and learned about writing screenplays, doing film budgets, and other behind-the-scenes work.

In an effort to connect with more industry leaders, Melisa attended AFM and brought a portfolio of potentially fifty films. It was through networking on a business site that Melisa finally saw things begin to fall into place.

=== Personal Life ===

Melisa's personal life has been filled with challenges and lessons learned. Raised by her grandparents, she was taught to look beyond what the media said and trust no one. After straying from the path she knew was right, Melisa found herself pregnant and vowed to raise her daughter without the hardships she had witnessed.

In the fall of 2012, she married her second husband, whom she credits with her recovery and creation of her books. However, her second marriage also had its challenges, including domestic violence. After the threat of someone taking the company she was trying to build, Melisa went public with video and audio of some of the domestic violence she allowed herself to live with, using it to educate others and help them find the courage to leave such situations. She is quoted as saying, "I am not one to stay silent. I am not one to hide in the shadows. Nor am I ashamed at placing my life for all the world to see. For as long as we do nothing to speak up things like this will continue to happen."

=== Family ===

Mother: Dianna Anderson (September 22, 1956-)
Biological Father: Robert Jay Lyons
Adopted Father: Dexter L. Anderson, who helped raise Melisa and was known to her daughter as Epoe. ( Dec 29, 1934 - Feb 3, 2021)
Maternal Grandmother: Frances Lasure (b: Aug 13, 1933-)
Maternal Grandfather: James Edward Lasure
Paternal Grandfather: William "Bill" Lyons
Paternal Grandmother: Florence Lyons
Daughter: Chyenne Lynn Lyons (March 22, 2003-)

=== Education ===

M.L. Ruscsak's educational portfolio showcases an extensive and diverse range of academic pursuits, reflecting a commitment to lifelong learning and professional development:

2003: Completed an Associate degree in Paralegal Studies via online courses.
2006: Awarded a Master's degree in Religious Studies, with a specialization in ancient religions, witchcraft, and Wicca, leading to ordination as a Reverend and a minor in occult studies.
2011: Acquired a Master's equivalent in Restaurant Management from Lorain County Community College (LCCC).
2016: Completed certificates in Marketing and Advertising through Boston University and EdX.
From 2020 onwards, Ruscsak has undertaken an impressive array of courses, significantly enhancing her expertise in various fields:
- Law and Government: Engaged in specialized studies through Harvard, including courses on American government, contract law, political institutions, public policy, and civics.
- Economics and Business: Explored economic development at Georgetown, corporate finance with IIMBx, and strategic leadership through Berkeley and Babson.
- Media and Public Relations: Studied media law at Oxford, engaged with the music business at NYU, and examined strategic social media marketing with Babson.
- Civic Engagement and Political Science: Delved into civic politics with Berklee, urban life through CitiesX, and ethical leadership at BU.

Ruscsak's academic journey is distinguished by a broad spectrum of subjects, from the intricate workings of the U.S. government and legal system to the dynamic fields of economic development, media law, and business management. This multidisciplinary approach not only underscores her intellectual curiosity but also enhances her professional versatility and depth of knowledge.

== Books ==

=== Novels ===

The New Reign
The Fallen
Secrets, Lies and Betrayal
The Silent Wars
The Secret of the Sword
The New World

=== Non-Fiction ===

Are You Happy
Are You Happy a Guide to Finding You
Are You Hayy: Wired to Succeed
Are You Happy: Finding the CEO in You
Make This Year Your Best Year
Rising Strong 21-day journal
Rising Strong: A Survivor's Guide to Thriving After Domestic Violence
Embracing Empowerment: Overcoming Psychological Abuse
Embracing Empowerment: 21-Day Journal
Finding Your Voice: Overcoming Verbal Abuse 21-day journal
Finding Your Voice: Overcoming Verbal Abuse
Working for Your Dreams: The Complete Guide to Affiliate Marketing
Rising Above the Pain 21-Day Journal
Rising Above the Pain
From Fear to Freedom: A Guide to Escaping Coercive Control
From Fear to Freedom: A Guide to Escaping Coercive Control- Journal
The Constitution for Politicians
Building a Better Future: Escaping Financial Abuse
Building a Better Future: Escaping Financial Abuse
The Path to Healing: Overcoming Stalking and Harassment
The Path to Healing: Overcoming Stalking and Harassment
Surviving and Thriving 21 Day Journal
Surviving and Thriving: Moving Past Physical Abuse
The Power of Forgiveness: Overcoming Emotional Abuse
Investing 101: A Beginner's Guide to Building Wealth
Building a Better Future: Escaping Financial Abuse