Ask the Author: Ben Montgomery
Answered Questions (12)
Ben Montgomery
Hi, Don --
Of course. Want to email me at bmontgomery@tampabay.com?
Thanks,
--ben
Of course. Want to email me at bmontgomery@tampabay.com?
Thanks,
--ben
Ben Montgomery
How interesting. Not so far as I know. My mother was born and raised in Beavercreek but she's an Angel (paternal) and Pickett (maternal). Emma was her great aunt, my maternal grandmother's cousin. My paternal grandfather, Paul Montgomery, was born and raised in Oklahoma but did a stint at Wright Patterson. I'm not aware of any connection to Gallia County Montgomerys but I'm sure it's back there somewhere. Thanks for the question, Mr. Clark. I finally subscribed to ancestry.com and plan to do some family tree work soon. I'll let you know if I turn up anything.
Ben Montgomery
Hi there, Anita --
My wife might disagree with you! After 20 years, I'm still trying to understand her. Kidding aside, my mother and grandmother were two of my best friends growing up. And I'm in the process of trying to raise two daughters. So maybe those things help? I don't know. I think I just spent so much time trying to understand Emma in context that maybe I was able to get inside her head just a little. I'm certainly glad to hear that came out on the page.
I first heard the story of Joey Guerrero while I was doing research on Emma Gatewood. I raced to a computer and quickly learned that no one had yet given her serious biographical treatment, and that there was a fine story to dust off. Maybe we have the tendency to remember men as heroes and the women who did amazing things are forgotten. I think it's high time we give them their proper place in human history.
Thanks for your great questions, and here's to your mother.
--ben
My wife might disagree with you! After 20 years, I'm still trying to understand her. Kidding aside, my mother and grandmother were two of my best friends growing up. And I'm in the process of trying to raise two daughters. So maybe those things help? I don't know. I think I just spent so much time trying to understand Emma in context that maybe I was able to get inside her head just a little. I'm certainly glad to hear that came out on the page.
I first heard the story of Joey Guerrero while I was doing research on Emma Gatewood. I raced to a computer and quickly learned that no one had yet given her serious biographical treatment, and that there was a fine story to dust off. Maybe we have the tendency to remember men as heroes and the women who did amazing things are forgotten. I think it's high time we give them their proper place in human history.
Thanks for your great questions, and here's to your mother.
--ben
Ben Montgomery
Yessir, I've done quite a few and they don't seem to be tapering off much. I try to keep folks informed about events here: https://m.facebook.com/authorbenmontg...
Ben Montgomery
Poor choice of words, Joseph. I meant to suggest it was abundant. Have you ever eaten sorrel?
Ben Montgomery
Agree, yes. I don't think you "overcome" painful experiences. I think some of us learn how to ... what? ... channel them, or compartmentalize them. Pain makes some of us better people.
Ben Montgomery
No one gave a damn. I heard that Mayor B gave the coldest of cold shoulders to one of the park's champions at a bike event a few months after the story ran. I gave it my best essay. Someday we'll stop trying to monetize public spaces by turning them into event spaces and cutting down all the trees.
Ben Montgomery
Hi Cher --
Thanks very much for your kind words. You've made my day. I sold my second book proposal to Chicago Review Press a few months ago and my deadline for the manuscript is in December. So, yes. Book two coming soon, I hope. I can't give too much away now, but it's about a woman who helped the US as a spy during World War II and saved thousands of soldiers' lives. An unlikely heroine. I'm super excited to share the story and hope you'll read it.
Thanks very much for your kind words. You've made my day. I sold my second book proposal to Chicago Review Press a few months ago and my deadline for the manuscript is in December. So, yes. Book two coming soon, I hope. I can't give too much away now, but it's about a woman who helped the US as a spy during World War II and saved thousands of soldiers' lives. An unlikely heroine. I'm super excited to share the story and hope you'll read it.
Ben Montgomery
Hi there, Diane --
Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm not entirely sure what the thought process was behind the selection of the first group of AT hall of famers. I know the list included a few visionaries, some folks who helped establish the AT Conservancy, and three pioneer long-distance hikers. The first class was Benton MacKaye, Myron H. Avery, Judge G. Arthur Perkins, Earl V. Shaffer, Gene Espy, and Edward B. Garvey. You'll notice there were no women. I'm glad they rectified that the following year.
See you out there!
Ben
Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm not entirely sure what the thought process was behind the selection of the first group of AT hall of famers. I know the list included a few visionaries, some folks who helped establish the AT Conservancy, and three pioneer long-distance hikers. The first class was Benton MacKaye, Myron H. Avery, Judge G. Arthur Perkins, Earl V. Shaffer, Gene Espy, and Edward B. Garvey. You'll notice there were no women. I'm glad they rectified that the following year.
See you out there!
Ben
Ben Montgomery
Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And congrats on your thru-hike; it's a dream of mine, for sure. Film rights are available, so far as I know. I'm represented by Dystel & Goderich in New York. Again, thank you.
Ben Montgomery
Sorry for the delay, but thank you so much, Mary. One helluva woman is right. Happy hiking, ma'am. Maybe I'll see you out there someday.
Ben Montgomery
That's the best question ever. Thank you, Bonnie. Sincerely.
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