Wild Mountain by Nancy Kilgore Hayes tells the story of a small town in Vermont that, in three months time, undergoes enough change, tragedy, and novelty to spark its citizens towards entirely new realms of their lives. From floods to historic bridges being demolished and fission over marriage rights, the townspeople come to know what hardship means not only for themselves, but as a collective people.
Among the citizens of Wild Mountain is Mona, a middle-aged store owner with an abusive ex-husband on the prowl to get her back. Then there’s Frank, Mona’s love interest, also middle aged, though more adventurous and also very in love with Mona. And finally, there is Gus, a recluse who lives on top of a mountain who is convinced that a mother goddess makes the mountain her home as well.
These, amidst others, find adventure, love, and hardship over the three months that Kilgore allows the reader to peer into their lives. Battling demons of both the past and present, all of the citizens of Wild Mountain struggle both together and in opposition to one another. While centering around the demolition of the town’s historic bridge, more elements come to bind and divide Wild Mountain.
Overall, Kilgore tells her story with interest and a clear passion for the spirituality of nature and humankind that she writes about.
Slated for released by Green Writers Press on September 1, 2017, you can preorder a copy of Wild Mountain by Nancy Hayes Kilgore at your local bookstore.
Read more fiction book reviews at Centered on Books.
FTC Disclaimer: This book was given to me in return for a fair and honest review of the text.
Centered on Books 
Thanks so much, Jaclyn, for the review. Based on your thoughtful critique, and after a discussion with my publisher, we’ve decided to eliminate the word ‘autistic’ entirely from the final version. I think to some readers the autistic characteristics will be obvious, but perhaps Gus’s character is better without the label. Appreciation for diversity and disability is important to my publisher and to me too. As a psychotherapist for 30 years, I have worked with autistic people, and know that very few people with autism fit the characteristics in a neat way. My hope in this book is to show Gus as someone with a disability who is maligned in the community but then comes through as gifted and brings the community together in a spiritual way.
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Thank you so much for your reply and consideration. It means so much to me. I will update my review ASAP!
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Thanks again, Jaclyn. Your review has been very helpful and thought-provoking. And thanks for revising it! Nancy
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