“Dear Melanie ~
Thank you for your wonderful hand crafted card. I’m glad you enjoyed The Glass Castle and I wish you all the best on your memoir.
I look forward to reading it.”
                              ~ Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle
 
Dear Melanie
I always love hearing from readers who’ve been inspired to write their own stories. I wish you great success with Go Pick Peas — what a poetic title! Clearly you know how to work the ropes and do your research, so keep at it! I look forward to reading your book one day.
                              All the best,
                              ~ Laurie Albanese , author of Blue Suburbia
 
Melanie, great job editing! I could never afford to pay an editor to do what you did. You are so spot on in your critique and I really appreciate the feedback. The suggestions will only strengthen my stories.Thanks for the massive amount of time that you spent on them!        
                                           ~Terri Ryburn, author of No Crybabies Allowed
 
You -- and your wonderful creativity -- are an inspiration! Always have been!   ~ Sylvia
 
Congratulations on writing your memoir. A memoir is a difficult endeavor, but I imagine it is cathartic. I know it wasn’t easy in those days to go against the grain and do what you did. You must be a very strong and brave person. It’s nice to hear that you and your husband stayed together all those years.
                            ~ Ann Fessler, author of The Girls Who Went Away
 
Hi Melanie!

Congratulations! Out of 846 submissions, your essay, “Partner in Progress,” was in the top 1% in the 2023 Writer’s Digest Personal Essay Awards competition.
Again, many congratulations from all of us on the Writer’s Digest team!
 

Best,

                                               ~ Moriah Richard, Managing editor, Writer’s Digest
 
Congratulations, Melanie, for placing in our essay contest.
                                   ~ Amy Jones, Editor-in-chief, Writer’s Digest
 
These are top-notch professional photos. My idea. . .send these off with a long essay (you can write!) to both National Geographic and Smithsonian magazines. They may publish them. They would be foolish not to!
                                             ~ Becky
 
 
Your story is so well written. I loved dear, gentle little Heidi and it was so sad to read of her death, the circumstances of which I was not aware. It was very difficult for me to learn of it. I encourage you to do much more writing of this type. You're very good at it!   ~ Kerin

I enjoyed reading your story. Excellent!
You are a brilliantly talented writer (published, too!). I wouldn't dare try anything that ambitious. 
~ Ann
 
 
I've read a few pages and am really impressed by your ability as a writer. I am not that talented! 
~ Marsha