I am a published Mississippi photographer / free- lance writer, actress who loves to shoot most anything from a beautiful wedding to a civil war reenactment. I am the wife of " W. R. Benton". I also use the pen name: "Dahlia Patton." I love to write short stories on spy murder mysteries as well as love stories in the old west... I am looking to see to see my 1st book in print soon. "A Southern Moon Rising" has been released on July 3, 2008 by: Saga books. I also want to work on illustrating children's books as well. I was on my high school paper staff ( The Meridian Wild Cat 1976- 1977 ) as a writer and staff artist and the need to express myself has pushed me this far.. I have done my first piece of photo journalism piece in a Mississippi magazine called: "Today's Mississippi Woman" in the March 2007 issue. I have been on tv 3 times in 2006 due to my photography and the fact I did all 4 book covers for "The Drum Series" for my husband western -fiction writer: "W. R. Benton " http://www.wrbenton.net . I with my husband run an on line redneck and southern humor newspaper called "The Possum Holler Gazette" http://www.possumholler.org My grandmother on my dad's side had always influenced me as a child growing up that there wasn't "anything I couldn't do as long as I put my mind to it". Her guidance is the one thing that has carried me through a lot of tough times coming through the years. My one article "My Wonderful Granny " is my tribute to her : "Nina Tucker Calvert" from Kemper County,Mississippi is the driving force behind my writing, just knowing she might be sitting on a cloud looking down and smiling at me and rooting for me as I keep climbing a step at a time.              

I am a member of the: Jackson Photographic Society out of Jackson, Ms. Southern Writers Group, Southern Humorist,Tupelo Film Alliance, Women Anglers and Hunters Too , Outdoor Envy: A outdoor site for women. Mississippi Wildlife Federation, Mississippi Writers Guild located out of Meridian, Ms. and the prestigious Western Writers Of America by my association with my husband: W. R. Benton. I am also western - fiction writer I am a member of: Women Writing the West." " W R Benton's " book cover artist for "The Drum Series" and the book " Blood Mountain " http://www.wrbenton.net video on you tube at: www.youtube.com "The Drum Series" "Silently Beats The Drum"

As of April 1st, 2008 I have been nominated for a Mentor "Strong Women" award. This award is sponsored by: Baptist Health Systems, Lifetime Television For Women and Comcast Spotlight.

I was a featured blogger for the Clarion-Ledger's website under: "Outdoors" www.clarionledger.com

. Melanie’s article, “Down On The Old Farm (Reaching For The Stars’ published in the
June 2008 issue of “Desoto” magazine.
Melanie’s article, “The Boat That Wouldn’t Float” published in the Oxford SO & SO’s
March- April 2008 issue
* The Boat That Wouldn‘t Float” published in the Dolthan, Alabama Weekly Xtra AD Vantage Paper for November 25- December 1, 2008 page 4.
. Featured blogger for the Clarion-Ledger’s website, “Outdoors” section.
www.clarionledger.com
. Writer for an Outdoors women site: OutdoorEnvy www.outdoorenvy.com
. Blogger/ writer for Family, Fish and Game www.familyfishandgame.com/
. Photographer for Bert Carruth’s new music cd cover www.listentotheeagle.com

*** Melanie’s photography is endorsed by Mississippi State Senator Terry Burton and Mississippi Songwriter, celebrity Paul Ott Carruth*