Keota

by Toni Volk, Marsue Renee (Illustrations)

KEOTA is the story of three women troubled by their Keota, who runs out on her young daughter and alcoholic husband; Chris, the daughter she abandons; and Rainy, whose childhood friend dies around the time that Keota disappears. When Keota leaves, she is twenty-three, reckless and unstable. She heads toward Chicago into one problem after another, then moves on to settle in New York City. When something freaks her out there, this master of spontaneity takes the first flight available that night—a non-stop red-eye to Mexico. Surprisingly, life is easier here and she eventually meets someone she's comfortable with, an American with a mysterious past. When aspects of this man's life come to light, Keota begins running again, this time into circumstances that will both soften her and threaten to destroy her. In Keota's absence, Chris grows up on 'story' at her father's yellow-rag newspaper office and the AA meetings he drags her to. Later, about the age Keota was when she left, Chris finds herself stuck in several areas of her life. Realizing that she will never move forward until she knows what happened to her mother, she quits her job and pesters her friend Rainy to go with her to Mexico. Rainy, smarting from a sudden end to a hot affair, and against her better judgment, agrees. Guided by a handful of postcards and brochures sent by Keota over the years, the two set off on an ill-conceived, but daring road trip. Here in this land of gentle, caring people, ever-present danger and incredible beauty, these three women will search for what they each need most.

364 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2013

About the author

Toni Volk grew up in Montana, earned a BA in journalism from the University of Montana and an MFA from the Iowa Writers Workshop where she received a James A. Michener Fellowship. She is the author of Montana Women and Maybe in Missoula. Her short fiction has appeared in Redzine Magazine and CURA.