Life rarely goes the way we planned

There are twists and turns in life that take us to places we never dreamed of. My thanks to podcaster Ryan Wright for letting me tell my story. I’ll let him handle it from here.

“In the 1970s, a teenage Anne Montgomery declared she wanted to be a sportscaster β€” and was told, again and again, that women simply didn’t do that. She did it anyway, working her way through sports officiating (football, hockey, baseball, basketball, and soccer) and into broadcasting, eventually anchoring SportsCenter at ESPN. But at 40, she was let go β€” deemed no longer “pretty enough” for TV β€” a loss that was abrupt and confusing.

In this episode, Anne opens up about what it was really like being one of the only women in sportscasting and officiating, the “stubborn resilience” she traces back to a bullied, dyslexic childhood, and why she now says getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to her. From there, Anne rebuilt an entirely new life β€” becoming a teacher, a foster mom, and eventually a published author of six books.  It’s a conversation about reinvention, resilience, and choosing to embrace the next chapter β€” even when it wasn’t the one you planned.”

NEXT CHAPTER PUBLISHING

Suspense/Thriller

Ancient ruins. Haunted memories. A ruthless predator. Can Maggie survive the ghosts of her past – and the monster hiding in plain sight?

When she returns to her job as a National Park Ranger at “The Castle”β€”an ancient Native American pueblo carved into an Arizona cliffβ€”Maggie hopes the comfort of familiar ground will help her heal. Battling trauma and the grief of unimaginable loss, Maggie’s days are carefully measured, her life held together by the thinnest of threads.

But strange things are happening at the park. A mysterious child appears and vanishes without a trace. And a predator watches her every move, planning his attack.

With the help of friends, fellow survivors, and the land itself, Maggie begins to reclaim her strength. But the danger is closer than she knows, and soon Maggie will have to face a deadly threat… and her deepest fears.

UNIVERSAL BOOK LINK

AMAZON

APPLE BOOKS

BARNES & NOBEL

GOOGLE BOOKS

RAKUTEN KOBO

Bookstores, libraries, and other booksellers can order copies directly from the Ingram Catalog.

Praise for The Castle

β€œA deftly written and riveting read from cover to cover, β€œThe Castle” effectively showcases author Anne Montgomery’s genuine mastery of the Romantic Suspense genre.” β€“ Midwest Book Review

β€œA slow burn thriller, mixed in with a touch of mystical realism…A true five-star experience!” β€“ Sara Steven Chick Lit Central

β€œA beautifully considered, sumptuous novel from a skilled storyteller.” β€“ SaraRose Auburn Writing & Reviews

β€œThis is a novel about good rage, about channeling the injustices of the world around us and fighting to do some good with both words and deeds. Lucky for readers, it was penned by a maestra like Anne Montgomery, so that we got a tense, powerful novel in the bargain too.” β€“ Jennifer deBie-Rosie Amber Book Reviews

β€œMs. Montgomery manipulates uncomfortable subjects and dark suspense into a gripping tale with hints of romance and humor carefully guiding readers on an informative journey of survival and self-discovery.β€œ Tonya Mathenia InD’tale Magazine

β€œSoul-stirring. A brilliant book…Truly a masterpiece.” β€“ Anu Menon Thought is Free Book Blog

β€œI was gripped from start to end.” β€“ Katherine Hayward PΓ©rez Just Katherine Blog

β€œMs. Montgomery has an almost magical talent to draw the reader into the worlds she creates through her words. Her characters are interesting, vulnerable and strong. While describing the locations in which her books are set, she weaves history with vivid images, immersing the reader in a hard-to-put-down story full of history, beauty and mystery.” – Margaret Millmore Author

I never met a microphone I didn’t like, so I love podcasts!

Over the last two years, I’ve tried something different: Podcasts! I’m a bit too lazy to create my own, so I’ve offered myself to those lovely folks who take the time and effort to put podcasts together and it’s been great fun. I like talking about things: books and sportscasting and officiating, teaching and current events, rocks and cats. (Don’t judge.) And I’ve met so many cool people along the way.

Those who know me understand that I never met a microphone I didn’t like, so I’m ready for more. Now, pull up a seat, click on the link, and have a listen.

Anne Montgomery Podcasts

Wolf Catcher

Anne Montgomery

Historical Fiction

In 1939, archeologists uncovered a tomb at the Northern Arizona site called Ridge Ruin. The man, bedecked in fine turquoise jewelry and intricate bead work, was surrounded by wooden swords with handles carved into animal hooves and human hands. The Hopi workers stepped back from the grave, knowing what the Moochiwimi sticks meant. This man, buried nine hundred years earlier, was a magician.

Former television journalist Kate Butler hangs on to her investigative reporting career by writing freelance magazine articles. Her research on The Magician shows he bore some European facial characteristics and physical qualities that made him different from the people who buried him. Her quest to discover The Magician’s origin carries her back to a time when the high desert world was shattered by the birth of a volcano and into the present-day dangers of archeological looting where black market sales of antiquities can lead to murder.

Universal Book Link

Amazon

Apple Books

Barnes and Noble

Google Books

Rakuten Kobo

Bookstores, libraries, and other booksellers can order copies directly from the Ingram Catalog.

Anne Montgomery’s novels can be found wherever books are sold.

Goodreads

Amazon