The Wolf Tone

by Christy Stillwell

Christy Stillwell’s The Wolf Tone won the Elixir Press 2017 Fiction Award. This novel, set in a Montana college town, takes us on a journey through such issues as motherhood and freedom, accompanied by a buoyant soundtrack like no other. Debra Spark had this to say about it: “For me, Christy Stillwell’s novel The Wolf Tone was like a wonderful vacation to a beautiful, arty Montana town, where I got to live for a season among musicians, art patrons, locals, and owls. I met a tough-minded single mother, a solitary classical musician, and a vet with a start-up medical marijuana dispensary. By the time my stay was over, I’d heard the unexpected and profound story of these unlikely literary bedfellows, a resonant tale about the choices we make, the secrets we keep, and our (often misguided) expectations regarding love, children, and career. No Airbnb booking required.”

Genres: Fiction

194 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 15, 2019

About the author

Christy Stillwell earned a BA in English at the University of Georgia before moving west, first to Wyoming, then Montana. She taught college freshman, tutored adults in writing skills, clerked in bookstores and edited manuscripts, textbooks and artist statements. She holds an MA in Literature from the University of Wyoming, and an MFA from the Warren Wilson College Program for Writers. Finishing Line Press published her chapbook of poetry, Amnesia, in 2008. Short stories and essays have appeared in journals such as Pearl, River City, Sonora Review, Sou’wester, The Massachusetts Review, literarymama.com, and The Tishman Review. She has been honored with a Vermont Studio Center residency and a Wyoming Arts Council Literary Fellowship. Her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and was a finalist in the Glimmer Train Short Story Contest. Her debut novel, The Wolf Tone, available January 2019, won the Elixir Press Fiction Prize. She lives with her family in Bozeman, Montana.

Reviews

[Dorothy Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blown away by The Wolf Tone. The prose is confident and fresh, the voice unique. I was thoroughly sucked into the narrative and the characters, which surprised me because this quirky cast and the many plot twists could easily have gone wrong in less skilled hands. I found myself empathizing with the distinct female narratives - from a young, single mother dating a pot grower, to an uber-poised and -polished professional musician - even though their lives and personalities were vastly removed from mine. The ending brings a number of complex threads to a satisfying end, while leaving just enough to the reader's imagination. I spent most of two days devouring Wolf Tone cover to cover - also not something I often do!

[ABBY · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much to love about this book: the way the tension keeps on escalating (really from the very first scene, the pacing just carries you along); the way these very different worlds (pot growing, classical music, second-hand shopping) are so vividly brought to life; the humor, and how it exists alongside some much darker tones. These characters live in a world that's far from the one I inhabit, but their struggles and perspectives felt so familiar, thanks to Stillwell's insightful writing. An interesting and compelling read.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I started this book, I couldn’t stop reading it. I was fascinated by the relationship between Eva and Margot and how they were going to navigate the challenges laid out before them. Music played a large role in this novel. Was it a character? A metaphor for the character’s journey? It was important and I loved it but I can’t nail it down with a label. Read the book and let me know what you think!

[Sara Rushing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It beautifully captures place, people and plot in a way that develops fascinating and complex characters and tells a thrilling story. Once I started it I couldn't put it down, and now that I've devoured it once to find out what happens in the story, I want to go back and reread for the subtler details of the relationships in the book. I want a sequel!

[Ticia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book draws the reader in right away. The two lead characters are strong females that at first are seeming very different, but later are revealed as being kindred spirits in an odd way. The story offers some action and and excitement as well as engaging character development and thought provoking situations that spread light on how messy life can get. I highly recommend this book.

[Mountain Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live in Montana, and my book group chose this book as our yearly "local author" selection. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and Montana is represented perfectly ("Every year March or April were the heaviest snowfall months, and every year the people were shocked"). It is a good, slow burn and I raced through it to see what happens next. Interesting cast of characters. Terrific first novel!

[Devin Juros · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really nicely written novel. The plot is exciting and the characters are developed well, with everyone eventually becoming interconnected in a web of mistakes and support and family. Flows nicely and easy to read.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a perfect blend of character development, locale description, and suspenseful situation! Add in a love of music, a little crime, and a struggle with relationships to get this great novel.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. Love it.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sex, drugs and classical music. Totally worth the read. Love the characters and the setting.

[Marilyn Guggenheim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parenting is never the same again when Margot meets Eva, who reveals that her college-student son is the father of Eva's toddler. Eva wants money to invest in her current boyfriend's medical marijuana business, but it's not what you think. Set in the modern "wild west" of 2008 when legalized medical marijuana shops pop up all over their southwest Montana town, Eva seeks financial stability as a single mom. Meanwhile Margot jeopardizes her lifelong career in classical music as a cellist when she breaks her collarbone and her judgment veers off course. Characters from shady yet seductive criminal to war veteran to wealthy socialites collide in the small town. When the dust of scandal settles, thoughtful human stories glow like a beacon. An unforgettable read!