Shotgun Lovesongs: A Novel

by Butler, Nickolas

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  THOMAS DUNNE BOOKS.

  An imprint of St. Martin’s Press.

  SHOTGUN LOVESONGS. Copyright © 2014 by Nickolas Butler. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

  www.thomasdunnebooks.com

  www.stmartins.com

  Cover design by Rob Grom

  Cover photographs © John Mitchell; illustration of mason jar © Allison Ball

  The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

  Butler, Nickolas.

  Shotgun lovesongs: a novel / Nickolas Butler.

  p. cm.

  ISBN 978-1-250-03981-1 (hardcover)

  ISBN 978-1-4668-4079-9 (e-book)

  1. Brothers—Fiction. 2. Homecoming—Fiction. 3. Sibling rivalry—Fiction. 4. Families—Fiction. 5. Change (Psychology)—Fiction. 6. Maturation (Psychology)—Fiction. 7. Wisconsin—Fiction. 8. Domestic fiction. 9. Psychological fiction. I. Title.

  PS3602.U876S56 2014

  813'.6—dc23

  2013031435

  e-ISBN 9781466840799

  First Edition: March 2014