Professor of Landscape Architecture, Pete Melby taught landscape architecture courses at Mississippi State University for 32 years. Through his research, he authored several texts for design of irrigation systems at the request of the landscape contracting industry. Through this collaboration, the team was stimulated to work together evaluating eroding beaches along the Gulf Coast which resulted in the establishment of a salt marsh with native plants creating sand dunes, stabilizing the beaches.

It is this work that inspired Pete Melby to create art depicting the scenes he observed along the beautiful Mississippi Sound as well as pen his suspense novel, “Third in Line”. The protagonist finds herself in the salt marshes and on the offshore fishing beds from New Orleans to Bay St. Louis as she inspects the habitats of the oysters, shrimp and blue crabs of the Gulf Coast. The artwork included in this locally relevant and accurate fictional work was created by none other than the author himself.

Artist, author, and retired educator, Pete Melby is married with two children. He enjoys sharing his wisdom and talent through exhibits, book signing and community engagements. Melby’s art and literary works will be available for purchase during this exhibit.