Barefoot Bookseller - Soneva Jani

Malsa is the first Maldivian Barefoot Bookseller and hopes to engage with a wide audience over the shared love for books, including Maldivian book nerds like herself.
 

Before starting this role, she completed her Master of Research in Engaged Anthropology at a Welsh university. Being the daughter of a sailor, she grew up listening to stories about different cultures which sparked her love of reading at a young age.
 

Reading for pleasure continues to be her favourite hobby with a particular passion for historical fiction.

Barefoot Bookseller - Soneva Fushi

Melissa joins Soneva Fushi with over a decade of experience in the book industry. After graduating with a degree in English Language and Creative Writing from Bangor University in north Wales, Melissa spent almost eight years in a variety of roles with the world-renowned book retailer, Waterstones. 

In 2020 Melissa moved into publishing and joined HarperCollins as a Marketing Campaign Manager. During her time in the role, she implemented campaigns for eight Sunday Times bestsellers across fiction and non-fiction titles.

Melissa enjoys travelling and capturing what she sees on camera. She is never happier than when exploring bookshops, in the UK and abroad, and loves discovering their treasure trove of contents with the aim to develop her knowledge and experience of reading and writing even more.