Look and Listen

Biography

I am a published Mississippi photographer, televison personality, freelance writer,outdoorswoman, book cover artist and wife of western fiction writer " W. R. Benton. I belong to the: Jackson Photographic Society, Mississippi Bridal Assoc, Mississippi Writers Guild, Southern Humorists Group,Southern Writers Group, Womens Anglers & Hunters Too !. Mississippi Wildlife Federation, Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant of 10 years,Western Writers of America ( through my association with my husband : W. R. Benton."I have made several televison appearances on WLBT'S "Midday Misssippi "out of Jackson, Ms in 2006 & 2007. I have been on " Paul Ott's" "Listen To The Eagle" www.listentotheeagle.com in 2006 & 2007 for my photgraphy. My photography has apperared in " Mississppi Magazine". I was featured in the April 2007 issue of "Today's Mississippi Woman" magazine. My photography plus "The Drum Series has been endorsed by a Mississippi State Senator T. Burton. Im a personal photographer to tv personality "Paul Ott Carruth ".*** As of 10/09/2007 Paul Ott Carruth, W .R. Benton and I are working on a book project together on Paul's childhood. This book is still in the early stages and is called : " Me & J.D. ". Plans are being discussed for this book to be made into a movie and several large names are in the hat ! I have another writing site at: www.melaniedcalvert.com and at: www.myspace.com/ladyfox250

Inspiration

My inspirationfor my photography and writing has come from remembering the time back when I was raised on my "Granny's" farm back in Meridian, Mississippi. I was a seven year old child when I thrust into my grand mothers loving arms after my parents divorced. I spent eleven years with my grandmother teaching me things about farm life. I was taught to milk cows, churn butter and put up canned vegetables. I went out into the blackberry patches to pick blackberries with her and share a few redbugs with her. She was stern at times and I thought she was the meanest white woman I had ever met. I realize now that she was trying to make sure I was brought up right and knew what I had to know to "get by".I loved most playing with the pony I had and riding her after school to the local veterinarian to help him out. The biggest thing I can remember was Christmas and the stockings she would hang for us kids with fresh fruit and candies on the fireplace mantle. The tree we would decorate and the cedar would smell so good with her cooking the holiday food. I really loved my 'Granny" so a lot of my writing I do to honor her memory, I know she would be happy with what I am doing in my life, I can almost see her smiling down at me...