Amy Montgomery: Long-time Writer and First-time Author Creates a Work All Her Own
For 28 years, Amy Montgomery has written for others. Her words have primarily been driven by clients’ thoughts, ideas and organization. Then in 2004, her own thoughts and creativity prompted Montgomery to complete her first book, Just An Accident published by AuthorHouse in December 2004. As Montgomery proclaims, “All of my career, I’ve been writing for other people. This one is for me.”
While writing for the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, Montgomery was introduced to Scott Remington. Remington started his own benefit fundraiser in 1999, nine months after a logging accident left him paralyzed. Montgomery was to feature him in a CRPF publication called Walking Tomorrow. They quickly became friends and decided to embark on a new writing venture together.
Montgomery began researching Remington’s story. She completed more than 70 interviews with family, friends and medical professionals who helped Scott through his trauma. She quickly discovered that the story she thought would be about a tragedy had evolved into a compelling tale of strong family bonds and community fellowship. Montgomery calls them “an amazing band of family and friends who rallied around a much-loved soul.”
Initially, Montgomery was concerned about her ability to pull the project together. Though she had written countless corporate articles, she had never attempted to write a full-length book and wondered if she had the proficiency required to complete the manuscript. In the end, it took Montgomery eight months to research, draft and edit. She never once procrastinated and was constantly driven by the joy of writing in her own style. “Writing Just an Accident was a completely unexpected joy,” Montgomery recalls.
When Montgomery and Remington started the project, they didn’t originally have thoughts of publishing the work. But after it was complete, they decided to pursue a contract. Montgomery found the agent query process to be labor-intensive because every agent had a different protocol for submissions. Rejection letters soon accumulated on Montgomery’s desk. She recalls that the majority were curt and cold. “Publishing is an unfriendly face. The consolidation of the industry means fewer employees to review masses of manuscripts. They cannot possibly review everything and I had an important story to share,” states Montgomery.
Eventually, Montgomery secured an agent and hoped that he would legitimately shop her manuscript to publishers. For months she waited for a positive response, all the while quietly researching the merits of working with a company like AuthorHouse. Her tipping point came when she realized that Remington could easily sell copies of the book at the upcoming 2005 benefit—if they only had a publishing contract. Montgomery met with Remington one fall day and reviewed the AuthorHouse concept. Together they “made a perfect decision” to leverage AuthorHouse expertise to publish the book and get it to market.
Montgomery soon discovered that just like her liberating experience writing the book, the publishing process would also become her own creative vision. One of Montgomery’s best publishing decisions was to take advantage of AuthorHouse’s copyediting service. Though she edited the book herself several times, she wanted to make sure that everything was correct. “No matter how skilled you are, you can’t under estimate the magic of having a fresh set of eyes to review your writing,” she says.
When Just an Accident was made available for purchase, Montgomery had a professional-grade product that soon caught the attention of readers in many locations including Remington’s home town and surrounding areas. Leveraging the local interest angle put the book in 25 different gift shops, museums and general stores. Together, they have already sold more than 2000 copies of the book.
Earlier this year, Montgomery decided to use writing contests as a way to generate media interest in the book. She researched the opportunities using Google® and discovered a plethora of competitions with entry fees ranging from $30 to $50. She entered six of them and won Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year competition. AuthorHouse has since recreated Just an Accident’s cover to reflect the award’s official seal which adds valuable third-party credibility.
Montgomery admits marketing the book could be a full-time job. She was relieved to know that she wasn’t alone in her marketing experience when she discovered that one of her friends, who published with a major house, had the same experience marketing her book. “Just because you contract with a major publisher doesn’t mean that you automatically get their publicity machine behind you,” she says. “My friend schedules her own events and appearances, too. We’re in the same boat.
“I originally wished an agent would take me under his wing and do everything for me,” she adds. “But now, with all that I have learned, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Being in control of the entire process has been a great education. If I am lucky enough to write another book, I’ll know just what to do.”
Montgomery has employed relationship marketing tactics to sell books and recommends that other authors focus on building strong associations in order to create new opportunities for book sales. She cites a perfect example: “Scott and I had a disastrous signing together in Saratoga Springs, New York. We only sold three copies. But the book store manager read the book, spent a lot of time with us during the signing and took special interest in the story. Now the entire staff hand-sells the book to customers and the store has since reordered three times. Just an Accident was the best-selling biography at the Saratoga Springs Barnes and Noble for four weeks straight.”
When Christopher Reeve read the book before its general release, he wrote a review of Just an Accident just three weeks before he died. In it he said, “Instead of self-pity, Scott has demonstrated relentless energy, drive and willpower that no disability can diminish. Montgomery has captured not only the drama of an accidental tragedy but the power of the human spirit to overcome it.” Montgomery has also captured her own energy, drive and willpower to craft an entirely new creative adventure that is all her own. She can now legitimately call herself an author. “I just love that!” she exclaims.
