Carlisle Montgomery

by Harry Kollatz Jr.

Carlisle Montgomery, that "six-foot-five, redheaded, pigtailed, gap-and-buck-toothed, nine-fingered, guitar-playing freak"Smoking, slugging whisky, arm-wrestling, entangled with women and men as well as her hard-touring band The Live Wires, a Bluegrass band with a Honky Tonk problem they're not trying to fix: "Purebred American Mongrel Music." It's the 1990s, the world divided between grunge and Garth Brooks, as the story delves into the heart of what it means to be a musician and an artist in a changing world.

735 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Shaun Randolph · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all started as a simple painting of the protagonist as a gift for my aunt. She was telling me about this book she was reading, and really felt a kindred connection to the character. She would tell me some exciting adventures that Carlisle had taken. She just kept saying that I needed to read this. She would give me detailed descriptions every so often. What really helped get the project going, was when Harry, allowed me to further my project by sending me a copy of the book, as he knew that I was capturing her essence.

From there, the narration really allowed me to understand her deep character, so that I could capture her personality in the piece.

Carlisle’s many wise cracks and one liners remind of us all our favorite smart ass friends.

I took the musicians/artists journey from this story. How she kept driving through all the untold obstacles of trying to get gigs, the pay and get the crowds moving. I’m glad I took the challenge of painting Carlisle, or I would of missed out on one hell of a ride.

[Tom C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Carlisle Montgomery in her quest for love and music. I also enjoyed all of the Richmond Va scenery and memories.

[Robert Blumenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry Kolatz Jr possesses a wizardry with words that any seasoned reader will enjoy. In Carlisle Montgomery, he visits all the old haunts of Richmond casting an exciting shadow over the city's rich pop music culture. As we tag along with Carlisle in her musical endeavors, we are constantly cheering her on to succeed. A rewarding read.