| "I yearned for guidance, affirmation, and the type of love that reminds a
young girl of their worth, beauty, and unlimited potential that only a father can give. I'm talking about a male love that is disconnected
from possession, obsession, or penetration."
  n 1996, Melda Beaty was inspired to write a letter to her father.
The letter was an attempt at forgiveness for a relationship plagued by emotional neglect.
She never mailed the letter. Nine years later, she found a way to share her letter/sentiments while exploring
the various types of relationships that exist for black women and their fathers, but more importantly, giving stage
to the voice of the black daughter.
That "voice" has manifested into her first book: My Soul to His Spirit: Soulful Expressions from Black Daughters to Their Fathers. It is a compilation of non-fiction
writings by black women from across the United States.
Melda has taught college compositon for over 15 years at Illinois State University, Northwestern University, Olive Harvey College, Prairie State College, and Joliet Junior College. She has published articles in Black Issues in Higher Education, Illinois Committee on Black Concerns in Higher Education, In Search of Fatherhood Forum, and Proud Parent Journal. She has also written short stories and poems for the Educational
Testing Service California Achievement Test.
Coupled with Melda's teaching and writing experiences are numerous speaking engagements throughout the city of Chicago. Her presentations include
keynote addresses and workshop presentations at churches, libraries, colleges, high schools, and community organizations. The topics range from college
preparation to the empowerment of women.
Melda was raised in Chicago, Illinois and is a graduate
of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois
State University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism and a
M.A. in Writing. She currently resides in the south suburbs of Chicago with her three daughters.
Her debut novel, Lime, is hailed as “America’s Next Top Model meets Burning Bed.” It is a coming of age story of a young bi-racial girl’s rise to the top of the international modeling world, but when her best friend is the victim of a heinous act of violence, Lime is faced with the decision to either give up her successful career or lead a crusade to expose the horrors of violence against women.
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