"North of 9-Mile Mountain: Grabbing the Heart Out of the Watermelon," is a collection of stories, poems, pictures, and songs that celebrate the sweetness of life in small-town America. The book spotlights twenty-five years immediately following the end of World War II, a remarkable time in history called by some, "America's Golden Era." Set on the stage of one small city in semi-arid West Texas, the collection tells of challenges faced by all of America's small towns as they adapt to technological and societal change, and of individuals who were remarkable, not for causing or impeding change, but for their every-day contributions to the sweetness of life in their community.

Readers may find descriptions of life, events, and characters offered here echoed in the histories of their own hometowns, wherever those towns are located. Readers will, perhaps, remember individuals in the in their own lives who, like the characters included here, were ordinary folks who left extraordinary legacies of community service.

The stories picture the rugged beauty of the West Texas Callahan Divide country and tough realities of location, wind, and weather. They tell of gentle but determined spirits of West Texas people in poetic and musical tales of courage, resilience, accomplishment, and warm West Texas laughter. And they recount life lessons that transcend the environmental threats, economic chaos, international and societal tensions of the twenty-first century to offer hope for our uncertain future.

Thirty-two original songs (notated in standard lead-sheet format with text, melodies, and chords) are integrated into the narratives, functioning much like the choruses in Greek drama. Forty-two illustrations include original pen and ink drawings by Jackson Fowler, miscellaneous other art artwork, and historic photographs.

The work is based on actual characters and events, and it contains a good deal of factual material. In addition, the author has included pieces of fiction to complete portrayals of persons, the time period, and small town life. Upon hearing the songs, one listener commented: "'Nine-Mile Mountain Morning' and 'One Day Closer to the Rain'...are both prayers as old as the first settlers in our part of the country-and as late as this very morning." Professional guitarist, Sam Swank, said of "Silver Heels: " "Who wouldn't feel happy after hearing a song like that?" And singer/songwriter Bill Staines (called by "Yankee Magazine: "..."One of the 80 gifts New England has given to America) said of Mel's song, "Sweetwater Saddle," "This is a very good song if not a great song."

"Read it, tell it, sing it-there is much more to the small towns of West Texas," the author says, "than just dwindling populations, wind, oil wells, and rattlesnakes "