About the Author

Christopher Cromwell is a Black Canadian brought up in Northern Ontario whose family has been in the country since the mid 1700's, hailing from Nova Scotia. He like so many others moved initially to Edmonton, Alberta in the early seventies to find a future and has been in the province ever since. His work has taken him all over North America, but primarily to Alberta's north where he garnered a passion for the people he's come to know there.

Christopher now resides in Calgary where he manages a business that still takes him into the far north.

He has two grown children, one living in Yellowknife, NWT and a son attending Mount Royal College. Christopher is above all a family man - a family that's anchored by his wife of 30 years, Debra, who is not only a wife but a confidant and friend.

Note from the Author

What's pleased me most with feedback from readers of Melody's Fire, is that they found it to be a good story set in Northern Alberta and not just a story about Northern Alberta.while still maintaining a vivid image of the spectacular country. My hope is that new readers will have the same experience of enjoying what some have said are colourful characters reacting to a peculiar circumstance of abundance.

It was also my hope to demonstrate that Albertans, whether they be Indian, Cowboy, Transplant or Newfie have the same concerns as everyone else on the planet. Only their stress's have been accelerated by one of the most environmentally disruptive oil booms the world has ever seen, fueled by prices per barrel that seem to have no limit. With the zeal of Canadians that have gone before the new Albertan's are tackling the environment, culture shock and diverse relationships that have been flayed open like the pits the tar-sand oil is extracted from.

As Albertans enjoy the bounty that has been bestowed on them and as you read Melody's fire please be mind-full of these words of wisdom.

Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between 2 'wolves' inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."