Artist Talk | The Art of Family Folklore with Sonja Mongar
2022 MartinArts Award Nominee and full-time Stuart residence, Sonja Mongar, announces a Summer 2025 book release from her indie publishing imprint, Paradise Alley Publishing.
Take It as It Comes, A Montana Oral History by octogenarian, Olivia Hildahl, is a hybrid collection of oral history, photography, memoir and genealogy that encompasses her family’s experience in early and middle 20th century Montana especially with the now defunct Milwaukee Railroad. The stories represent a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a reminder that history is not just something that happens to nations, or leaders, or the rich and famous; it is lived in the day-to-day mettle of ordinary people. It’s a wonderful model for those interested in doing their own family histories.
The remarkable part is Olivia is not only the author of this project but she’s Sonja’s 88-year-old mother. Primarily a stay-at-home mom of five, she started this family folklore project in the 1970s and regarded it as a hobby. A few years ago, she hand-made copies for each family member and she thought that was it.
“Mom always wanted to be a writer. She dabbled in short stories but never published anything. When I saw the project, I was amazed by its strong literary elements and knew she had something special. Since I was an experienced publisher, I convinced her to let me put it into book form. She was reluctant. She kept asking me ‘why would anyone want to read my stories?’” Says Sonja.
For two years, Sonja took on the role of project and creative director and editor. She also wrote the preface and created all the front and back matter. “There’s a lot involved in organizing old photographs and documents with text and putting out a professional looking book. For me, a book is a work of art, and I treat it as such.” She enlisted the help of her daughter Hillary Wylie who lives in Jensen Beach. She’s a graphic designer and artist making it a “three generations of women” project. Not only did she design the cover, but she also repaired the old photographs.
“Mom kept asking me why I took up all this time to publish her book. I just wanted to help her fulfill her dream. ‘No woman left behind,’ I told her. She was a great influence on me becoming a writer and I wanted to pay it forward. It really made me proud to see her at her readings, presenting herself and her book at her age, proving that you should never give up on your dreams no matter how old you get.”
Mongar printed the book through a local printing company in Spokane, WA and Olivia sells the book at her readings and out of her house. “No Amazon for her,” she says, because “she wants all the money.”
Sonja Mongar is a writer and teacher and an award-winning novelist. She teaches memoir and fiction writing classes for the Martin County Library as well as teen creative writing classes.
Contact: Sonjamongar.author@gmail.com | 813-442-3773
