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X-WR-CALDESC:2022 MartinArts Award Nominee and full-time Stuart residence\,
  Sonja Mongar\, announces a Summer 2025 book release from her indie publis
 hing imprint\, Paradise Alley Publishing. \n\nTake It as It Comes\, A Mont
 ana 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 w
 ith the now defunct Milwaukee Railroad. The stories represent a testament 
 to the resilience of the human spirit and a reminder that history is not j
 ust something that happens to nations\, or leaders\, or the rich and famou
 s\; it is lived in the day-to-day mettle of ordinary people. It’s a wonder
 ful model for those interested in doing their own family histories. \n\nTh
 e 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 hob
 by. A few years ago\, she hand-made copies for each family member and she 
 thought that was it.  \n\n“Mom always wanted to be a writer. She dabbled i
 n short stories but never published anything. When I saw the project\, I w
 as amazed by its strong literary elements and knew she had something speci
 al. Since I was an experienced publisher\, I convinced her to let me put i
 t into book form. She was reluctant. She kept asking me ‘why would anyone 
 want to read my stories?’” Says Sonja. \n\nFor two years\, Sonja took on t
 he role of project and creative director and editor. She also wrote the pr
 eface and created all the front and back matter. “There’s a lot involved i
 n organizing old photographs and documents with text and putting out a pro
 fessional 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 gene
 rations of women” project. Not only did she design the cover\, but she als
 o repaired the old photographs. \n\n“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 bec
 oming 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\, pro
 ving that you should never give up on your dreams no matter how old you ge
 t.”\n\nMongar 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.”  \n\nSonja
  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. \n\nContact: Sonjamongar.author@gmail.co
 m | 813-442-3773\n
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UID:9a8dab2a-ff6a-48cd-a961-cb7855ec1763
DTSTAMP:20260424T184506Z
DESCRIPTION:2022 MartinArts Award Nominee and full-time Stuart residence\, 
 Sonja Mongar\, announces a Summer 2025 book release from her indie publish
 ing imprint\, Paradise Alley Publishing. \n\nTake It as It Comes\, A Monta
 na 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 wi
 th the now defunct Milwaukee Railroad. The stories represent a testament t
 o the resilience of the human spirit and a reminder that history is not ju
 st 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 wonderf
 ul model for those interested in doing their own family histories. \n\nThe
  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 s
 tarted this family folklore project in the 1970s and regarded it as a hobb
 y. A few years ago\, she hand-made copies for each family member and she t
 hought that was it.  \n\n“Mom always wanted to be a writer. She dabbled in
  short stories but never published anything. When I saw the project\, I wa
 s amazed by its strong literary elements and knew she had something specia
 l. 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 w
 ant to read my stories?’” Says Sonja. \n\nFor two years\, Sonja took on th
 e role of project and creative director and editor. She also wrote the pre
 face 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 prof
 essional looking book. For me\, a book is a work of art\, and I treat it a
 s 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 gener
 ations of women” project. Not only did she design the cover\, but she also
  repaired the old photographs. \n\n“Mom kept asking me why I took up all t
 his 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 beco
 ming a writer and I wanted to pay it forward. It really made me proud to s
 ee her at her readings\, presenting herself and her book at her age\, prov
 ing that you should never give up on your dreams no matter how old you get
 .”\n\nMongar 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 A
 mazon for her\,” she says\, because “she wants all the money.”  \n\nSonja 
 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 a
 s teen creative writing classes. \n\nContact: Sonjamongar.author@gmail.com
  | 813-442-3773\n
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260929T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260929T183000
LOCATION:80 SE Ocean Blvd\, Stuart\, FL 34994 US
SUMMARY:Artist Talk | The Art of Family Folklore with Sonja Mongar
END:VEVENT
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