Overview

Stunt Mole is a tender, often humorous memoir of childhood and coming of age in the Midwest-an exploration of how music, curiosity, and connection can become lifelines in a world that doesn't always feel safe. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago in the 1960s and 70s, Bill roamed freely through backyards, tree lines, and neighborhood streets, buoyed by imagination, sibling bonds, and the magic of everyday adventure. These early years are remembered as warm and joyful, shaped by family, friendship, and a deep sense of wonder at the natural world. As innocence gives way to adolescence, however, moments of bullying, shame, and social cruelty intrude, subtly altering how the author moves through the world. Threaded throughout the story is music-as refuge, identity, and salvation. From early performances to formative mentors, music offers sanctuary and direction, helping Bill navigate fear, self-doubt, and the search for belonging. Written with warmth, honesty, and reflective grace, Stunt Mole asks enduring questions: What does it mean to be brave? How do we define heroism? And how do we heal from wounds we did not yet have words to name? This memoir will resonate with readers who grew up before constant supervision, who found solace in art or nature, and who believe that resilience is often forged through creativity, love, and the courage to keep showing up.

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9798993855233

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Reviews

""William's tender memoir beautifully reveals the healing power of music. His portrait of our Oak Park musical community-where connection mattered more than perfection-is deeply moving. Stunt Mole reminds us how music can illuminate who we are and guide us toward solace."" - Alex Wurman, Emmy Award-Winning Composer (Temple Grandin, March of the Penguins) ""A delightful and sensitive memoir, written with unusual emotional openness. Through music, nature, humor, and mindfulness, Bill Slayton shows how our early years shape us as we grow and find our way. An eloquent telling of an American boyhood."" - John Graham-Pole, MD, MRCP-UK, Emeritus Professor of Pediatric Oncology & Palliative Care ""In Stunt Mole, Bill Slayton explores resilience not as a slogan, but as a hard-earned transformation. With courage and clarity, he shows how adversity can become the bridge toward purpose, strength, and renewal."" - John Register, Paralympic Silver Medalist, Hall of Fame Speaker, U.S. Army Combat Veteran ""A beautiful and courageous book. Bill shares his pain, resilience, and recovery with honesty and love. His portrait of family, friendship, and music is moving and hopeful-a reminder of the power of creativity and connection to heal."" - Amy Anderson de Jong, Professional Singer & Voice Teacher ""The arts both ground us and free us, allowing possibilities we never imagined. Bill Slayton's story shows how creativity can open doors-to healing, purpose, and compassion."" - Joe Fournier, Visual Artist and Former Political Cartoonist, Chicago Tribune

Author Information

*William Slayton, MD, is a pediatric hematologist-oncologist, writer, and lifelong musician. Raised in the Midwest during the 1960s and 70s, he grew up immersed in neighborhood adventures, sibling bonds, and the transformative power of music. His work explores themes of resilience, creativity, mindfulness, and what it means to grow into a life of service.Stunt Mole is his debut memoir and the first in a planned series tracing a journey from childhood curiosity to medicine, leadership, and healing. Slayton lives in Florida with his wife and family and writes the Substack newsletter Heroes, Heartwork & Healing, where he shares stories at the intersection of art, medicine, and meaning.

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