Diane Melby grew up on Long Island, New York the fifth of 10 children. She attended Slippery Rock College in Pennsylvania before moving to Winchester, Virginia. From there she launched a career in education which spanned over 40 years. She is the president-emeritus of a private university in Texas and writes from her home in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Her poetry is an exploration of the colors, sounds and choreography that manifest in natural world. Many of her poems reflect her spiritual foundations. Melby’s poetry appears in over 15 literary journals, including Susurrus, Gyroscope, Quartet, and Thimble.  She is a member of the Poetry Society of Virginia (PSV), West Virginia Writers and the Conscience Writers Collective. Recognitions for her poetry include: first place, Elizabeth J. Urquhart Memorial, PSV, 2026; finalist, Jeffrey Hewitt Memorial, PSV, 2024; and short list, Edgar Allan Poe Memorial, PSV, 2026. Melby is the founder of the Salon for Creative Expression @ www.dianemelby.com; an online community dedicated to sharing creative works spanning the literary, visual and performing arts.