Melinda has been an English Teacher and Literature Professor for twenty-four years. She is now pursuing a career in freelance writing. Melinda has worked as a writer/editor of her college literary magazine, and a newspaper reporter of a weekly paper. She has written and edited book manuscripts, professional reports, restaurant reviews, travel writing pieces, town meetings, interviews with artisans and craftspeople, and outdoor sports articles. Melinda has many years of experience in the outdoor sports industry, having worked as a whitewater raft guide, state park ranger, and canoe instructor. She also edited copywriting for a real estate advertising company. She is a published poet of children's literature.​