Selected Work Personal Essays Appalachian Heritage: “Balance” Belt Magazine: “Nuclear Power” Berea College Magazine: “Through Melissa’s Eyes” Full Grown People: “Crosswords” Rust Belt Girl Blog: “This Woman” SugarSugarSalt: “The Shape of a Heart” Craft Essays Brevity Blog: “Angel Talk” Brevity Blog: “Robe, Coffee, Crossword” Brevity Blog: “Sanctuary” Brevity Blog: “Finishing” Brevity Blog: “On Writing (Ekphrastic) Essays” “Melissa has a talent for bringing the past to life and making her ancestors feel like our shared family.” – Rebecca Moon Ruark, Rust Belt Girl Blog