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Mary Melton photo

Mary Melton

Mary Melton is Alta’s editor at large. The former editor in chief of Los Angeles magazine, she founded the editorial consultancy company Smakdab.

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writer, julia cameron, the artist's way

Here in Spirit

How Julia Cameron’s “small California book” continues to unblock creativity for millions.

band mom, rose parade, pasadena community college honor band

Confessions of a Band Mom

Mary Melton on helping her musician son over the finish line at the Rose Parade.

craig lee, san francisco, lighting storm

A Year Like No Other

We asked 14 of our favorite photographers: If you had to pick one of your images to sum up 2020, what would it be?

en route to their final destination of santa monica, the author far right, her husband, ed, and their son, isaac, stop at the bagdad cafe located in the mojave desert, it was the filming location for the 1987 german film of the same name

A Mother’s Road

Alta Editor at Large Mary Melton searches for a deeper connection with her autistic son—and with a divided country—on a 15-day journey along Route 66.