Dede Montgomery
Memoir and Fiction author
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Books by Dede Montgomery
After our radio talk Dede shared answers to some questions I asked. I think you will enjoy them.
Question 1:
Most of the time I enjoy aspects of preparing content for sharing on the various social media platforms.
What I find most challenging, is first, my inner voice telling me I’m oversharing my information to my dedicated followers. I try to remind myself that much
of what shows up on feeds goes unnoticed in the midst of so much information coming
at us.
The other bigger challenge is trying to figure out how to get content to others who
haven’t heard of me or my books, rather than those that already follow me. People are
flooded with information about so many books, events and news: it’s hard to create
fruitful ways to share what we lesser known authors have produced.
Question 2:
I feel as if my mom has always been a part of my writing, especially as I began to blog
and write books during the past decade.
She went to all of my first book launches, and was the first person to hear me read early drafts of both My Music Man and Beyond the Ripples, and even my blogs. Because she too had written so much herself and shared it with us, it felt natural to write this memoir.
I feel as though I’ve felt her every step of the way and as if it has been nearly like a conversation between us.
I can imagine us reading this book together as I’ve done short segments of in a few readings with someone else – me reading my words, and Mom reading hers.
And yes, I imagine us laughing and crying together as we read. Yes, I miss her dearly.
Question 3:
I have so many favorite books and authors; I always find questions like this tough.
Many memoirists who have deeply touched me including:
Joy Harjo
Barbara Kingsolver
Bill Kittredge
Amy Bloom
Maggie Smith
Brian Doyle Ann Patchett
Joan Didion
the list goes on and on. And although not memoirists, the writing of Fredrik Bachman and
Elizabeth Strout both influence my writing of character and connection.
Question 4:
I have been surprised and touched by the kindness and support of friends and, especially, professional colleagues.
Early on it felt as if there was a separation between my writing life and my day job or work life.
Now, there seems to be this beautiful intersection where they profoundly touch each other.
I am incredibly appreciative of this support.
Question 5:
Although I was aware of the book my mom published and the classes she taught on
women and midlife, I hadn’t really viewed some of her messaging through my own eyes back then.
After all, I was in my early thirties and busy with work and motherhood.
As I drafted From First Breath to Last, I took on the opportunity to add my own written fairy tale alongside the one she wrote, and her introduction to understanding the power of stories.
As I did this and moved from “Be the Best” to “Enough is Enough” I created this
motto that – without me fully realizing it – floats through my brain during times I might
expect more of myself in an unhealthy way, both professionally and in writing.
This has been particularly important during the release of this book. It’s so easy to compare ourselves with other authors who are far better known, whose books get high profile reviews and sell by the dozens.
This motto very clearly reminds me of why I write: it’s about sharing stories, no matter if there is an audience or how small or large it is.
I never imagined I would get the personal feedback I do from folks who have been inspired and touched by my reading my books and blogs, including some who tell me
they are ready to write their own story for themselves.
Question 6:
This is tough for me to sum up concisely.
First, my message is that we must pay attention to life’s moments as we don’t have forever with the people we love.
Next, it’s about being gentle with ourselves, and maybe sometimes with those we love or who are in family with us.
We each have these stories within us, things that have happened to us in our lives, that formed us.
I also am reminded over and over, about the power of connection with others.
My mom was a testament to that in what she gave others.
Yet, I’m reminded to also preserve my own energy and be good to myself.
Question 7:
This is tough for me to sum up concisely.
First, my message is that we must pay attention to life’s moments as we don’t have forever with the people we love.
Next, it’s about being gentle with ourselves, and maybe sometimes with those we love or who are in family with us.
We each have these stories within us, things that have happened to us in our lives, that formed us.
I also am reminded over and over, about the power of connection with others.
My mom was a testament to that in what she gave others.
Yet, I’m reminded to also preserve my own energy and be good to myself.
Question 8:
I would give similar advice to what I share when folks start journaling.
Try not to put big demands on oneself and be honest in identifying what else is going on in one’s life.
For me, early on I knew the best time of day for me to be creative, and I would make it
special by brewing my favorite English Breakfast tea and throw in a biscuit as I sat down
with my computer.
At first it was mostly weekends or occasionally when work traveling nights in hotels (or occasional pub) where I did my best writing.
I wrote or edited a lot of my first book while taking TriMet to and from work.
Not everyone can write like that, so find what does work and just write for yourself without any intention of sharing it with
others.
Some folks keep it entirely private, but the act of writing helps us process our own beliefs and thoughts.
Others might share it with family, as our mom did with her unpublished memoir.
There is no right way to do it, but I fully believe in our stories as a means to understanding ourselves and others.
Question 9:
I sometimes think because both reading and writing were so present for me growing up
and among my family, that I always knew it was something I could do.
I have clear memories during my childhood of Dad, a journalist, typing away on his typewriter.
I remember always knowing my grandfather had written books on northwest history, and I honestly can’t remember him much without a book in his lap.
My mom of course was also a prolific writer as are several of my brothers.
I think too, it seems my mind is always spinning with thoughts, and in today’s world I harness them when walking so that I’m not only caught up with them by dictating in my phone and holding them for
later.
I remember when younger – and this is an odd memory – often being on a walk and spinning the start of a letter to the editor on some local or political issue.
Putting words on a page is very soothing to me.
Question 10:
A significant theme within my books, especially my fiction (Beyond the Ripples and
Humanity’s Grace) is about the power of human connection.
I link this often to synchronicity as I’m reminded about something I learn about someone and a connection
we have because I actually say something to them.
On the bus or the grocery store or in a park – I come off as far more extroverted than I sometimes feel because I’m so
curious and intrigued by people.
I too care a lot. I find I am especially interested in both
children and elderly, and have had many conversations with folks I don’t know just because of sharing a few words.
Because I have written about this power of connection, I’m much more likely to notice it (and act on it) in real life. I find it both remarkable and
beautiful.
From First Breath to Last has created many conversations for me especially with women, and around the themes of mothers and daughters, and aging.
No matter what your relationship with your mother was or is, we all understand the power and often the struggles in that bond.
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