New Books Network Caitlin Galway, "A Song for Wildcats: Stories" (Dundurn Press, 2025)
Dec 8, 2025
Caitlin Galway, an acclaimed author known for her novel Bonavere Howl, discusses her captivating short-story collection, A Song for Wildcats. She delves into the connective themes of grief and philosophy, revealing the origins of her stories during the pandemic. With a focus on dark whimsy, Galway explores settings like postwar Australia and the Troubles in Ireland, showcasing the emotional depth of her characters. She reads an excerpt that navigates love and violence, and shares insights into her writing process and future projects.
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Collection Grew From Recurrent Wounds
- Caitlin Galway discovered the collection organically as separate stories coalesced around recurring wounds and obsessions.
- She let connective tissue of grief, healing, and philosophy unify diverse settings and characters into a coherent book.
Writing Order Shifted While Drafting
- The Wisp began early but sat unfinished while Galway wrote and completed The Wisp first as a finished story.
- She repeatedly revisited other pieces like The Lyrebird's Bell to add layers during COVID-era growth.
Grief Resists Logical Closure
- The Wisp uses folklore and grief to show that you cannot assign tidy logic to mourning.
- Galway frames grief as something that transforms but resists neat explanation or closure.
