Catching up with Monty Garner

Monty Garner has been writing epic Western stories for a few years now. He came to us in 2021 for help with publishing his first book, Card, Kill Them All. Monty now has eleven books out! Between 2021 and 2024, we had the pleasure of working with on many of those titles. We developed a wonderful working relationship with him, always with the goal of helping him put out the very best book possible.

And the Garner-2Birds team must have done an okay-job, because in the fall of 2024, Monty signed with a major publisher and hasn’t looked back. We are so happy for him! His publisher now takes care of his editing for him, so we’ve lost Monty as a client (sniff-sniff). But we still consider him one of our biggest success stories. He’s got a writing career he loves, and at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.

We recently caught up with Monty via email, and here’s what he’s got to say these days.

Tell us a little about yourself. Where do you live, how to you enjoy spending your time?

I’m Monty R. Garner and I live in Choctaw, Oklahoma. I love to travel, go on cruises, spend time at the lake in the summer months. I like to take walks, swim, read, and of course write.

What genre do you write in, and why?

I write traditional westerns. I grew up around cattle and horses, and I read westerns from some great writers. And like a lot of people, I watch the western movies with John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. It excites me to write about something I understand and I love to share a small glimpse of the places I’ve traveled through the years.

What made you decide to write your first book? And what inspired you to keep going?

One cold morning in January of 2020, I told my wife that I was going to write a book. What a surprise. I sat down at my computer and started pounding the keys. Telling a story is something I have been able to do my entire life. This time I had to put it in print and that was easy, except I didn’t know anything about writing. I contacted Andrea about becoming my editor. She looked over my first chapter and gave me the best advice I could ask for. Rewrite the first chapter and put a hook in it. Okay, what’s a hook?

That wasn’t all. She also sent me assignments to study on how to build a hook, build characters, had me study about head-hopping and other topics that were of great value to me. In our first conversation, she asked me what success looked like to me. My answer was, If I sell two hundred books, I am a success. I was a new unknown author that no one had heard of. The best motivation for continuing was that first month after I released the book, when I sold over one thousand copies. I still to this day credit my success to the mentoring I received from Andrea and Michele.

You started out self-publishing your first book, Card, Kill Them All, in 2021 and you haven’t looked back! What are a few things you enjoyed the most about those early days of your author journey?

I had a huge learning curve to get past with the entire publishing, marketing, and networking process. I read books, watched YouTube videos, and talked to other authors to learn what it took to publish. I loved learning about all of it, and I pass that knowledge on to other authors and writing groups through Zoom meetings and conversations. I even go into high schools and talk to students who are interested in writhing books. You may be surprised how many students are writing books.

What were some of the hardest parts?

I love to write, and that’s where I want to spend my time. None of the process is difficult or hard, but there are stressful moments when you wonder if you will hit your timelines. I lay out all my timelines, from the time I start writing until I want the manuscript published. There have been times when the due date was coming up and I cut it pretty close. Sometimes it’s unavoidable, and that can be stressful.

In 2024 you signed with a publisher. Can you tell us how that came about, and what made you decide to say yes? And how do you feel about that decision today?

I was approached by the publisher in June of 2024. After much discussion and soul searching, we came to an agreement in August or September. The number-one thing that sold me was the simple fact that all I had to do was write the book. The publisher would do the book cover, editing, and marketing. That relieved all my stress and I don’t have to do any of the other duties.

I was hesitant about what my royalty checks would look like, and that a was a consideration with my decision. The publisher has republished four of my Card Jordan books in the series and one new Card book. Two of the republished books were #1 best-sellers on Amazon and so was the new Card book. That tells me that the publisher is reaching new readers for my books. And the checks are still good.

 

We consider you one of our biggest success stories—you started out with the idea of putting out a book, and you’ve now grown as an author and storyteller. What advice would you give to someone just starting out today?

I actually give this advice to new authors: We all have a story in our heads. Write it down on paper and have fun with it. Don’t worry about the finished product, write your story and then put the finishing touches to it later. Be disciplined with your writing. Write every day if you can. That will keep you in your zone and the words will come much easier. I take my computer with me on cruises, road trips, and even to the mountains of Colorado, and try to write every day.

When I get a story in my head, I now sit down and do an initial outline of each chapter. That doesn’t mean I follow the outline in its entirety. It’s there to keep me on track and give me insight as I get started.

Anything else you’d like to tell us?

Listen to the people who know more that you do. Andrea gave me so much advice through those first nine books that I use every day in my writing. She pushed me to become a better writer by sending me topics to study, helping me understand things like head-hopping, action beats, and character development, to name a few. Anyone reading this who might be thinking about writing a book, please reach out to Two Birds Author Services. If I ever walk away for my publisher, Two Birds will be the first people I contact.

I have another new Card book to publish in March. I plan on publishing three more books this year. Thanks for letting me take a few minutes of your time.

Monty

Thank you Monty! We are so happy to have helped you create your very own version of success and happiness in your writing life!

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