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. Within her poetry you may notice themes that explore the colors, sounds and choreography of the natural world and many of her poems reflect her spiritual foundations. Her poetry has appeared in Gyroscope, Quartet Journal, Thimble Literary Magazine, Bluebird Word and the Northern Appalachia Review, as well as in other print and online publications. She is a member of the Poetry Society of Virginia and was recognized for literary excellence in 2024. She is also a member of West Virginia Writers. She extends warm appreciation to her writing friends, especially those in Bookends and the Bass Workshop for the support and insight members so generously share.