Pat Montandon I never think about my writing style if, indeed, I have one.

photo credit: Afomia

Author Biography

Pat Montandon was born in Texas and lived in Oklahoma as the daughter of a two ministers. At eighteen she became the tenth person in the world to undergo successful (blind surgery as it was then called) heart surgery.
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Influences

When I learned to read at about age six, I found a musty storage closet and would nestle into one of my mother's patch work quilts and stay there reading-Pilgrim's Progress, David Coperfield, comic books,The Bible-until it was time for supper. I devour books like some eat popcorn, relishing every word. Thinking about the books that have influenced me, my mind flipped through a catalog of titles until I finally settled on the following books.

Roots: Alex Haley. Alex was a dear friend. During the time he lived in Rome, New York, he invited me there so he could show me how to write a book outline. He was patient, funny, and inspiring. Alex was a master storyteller. When he talked, in soft melodious tones, about the Gambia river, how he went to Africa to discover his roots,and what led him there, I would sometimes weep. He believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself. Alex was working on Before This Anger a book that was to become Roots. When Alex and his assistant George Sims and my beau went to New York City together. One day, outside fifth Avenue's Brentano's book store, Alex said, Patsy Lou, someday your book will be right here in this window. Do you really think so, I asked. Honey, I know so, he said. And it was.

Earth Abides, George R. Stewart. I recently re-read this book and was as taken with it as when I was first introduced to it many years ago. Stewart captures what it must be like to be a survivor when no one wishes to survive, in much the way McCormac does in The Road.

Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck. Having experienced the depression and Oklahoma's dust bowl when I was a kid, Grapes of Wrath reads like non-fiction to me. The Joad family, Rose of Sharon, Tom, are still working the fields in my mind. Steinbeck's delineation of character is a study in how it should be done.

Gone With The Wind!

The Road

Love and Will, Rollo May

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Message of Gratitude for Red Room

A message of thanks for all my friends and supporters on Red Room.

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Pat Montandon says:

Thanks to the Red Room

Thanks to the Red Room community!

Sun, 05/17/2009 - 8:55pm

Kunzang Drolma says:

i am grateful to have met you through Red Room, and to have you as family. I was touched by everything you said, but when you described your visualisation for your surgery, i inhaled with a short sharp breath of wonder and joy. may the gentle hand of Buddha bring you comfort, may our hearts hold you with love, may I be the candle lighting the way through the darkness. many many thanks for your gift of gratitude. best wishes to Sean and all your family.

Sun, 05/17/2009 - 9:23pm

Rosy Cole says:

You are one very special lady, Pat,

who gives out generous inspiration even at such a time as this. Thank you. I endorse all you say about Redroom and it is a privilege to be here.

I lit a candle for you last Friday as you prepare for surgery and will continue...

And not to forget your all-important carer...

God Bless both.

Mon, 05/18/2009 - 7:07am

Ellen R. Sheeley says:

Pat, I just viewed your

Pat, I just viewed your video now and am incredibly moved that you and Sean would choose to spend some of your last pre-surgery moments putting together this video of gratitude for us.

Coincidentally, I was lighting a candle earlier today for you. It wasn't a vanilla-scented one because it was located in a church. But I hope it sent out the light and the goodwill that you just sent us. It all reinforces my belief in karma.

Hope you have come out of surgery by now and that it all went your way. Will light another candle for you tonight. I brought it back with me from Notre Dame in Paris, so it ought to have a little je ne sais quoi about it. Good luck to both of you.

XOXOXOXOXO,
Ellen

Mon, 05/18/2009 - 5:29pm

Catherine Nagle says:

With gratitude to the Red Room and You

Pat, I am deeply touched with your gratitude video. You have been in my thoughts and prayers all day long. That's how much a part of The Red Room you are to all of us here, too. We are truly looking forward to hearing from you, but until then, know that we are with you in our hearts waiting for You:-)

Love and Blessings,

Catherine Nagle

Mon, 05/18/2009 - 6:20pm

Alex Fraser says:

"A Chance Meeting"

Pat: I've known of you since my early days in the Bay Area, and I knew you were a member of Red Room, but our meeting here was quite "by chance." It reminds me of THREE STRANGERS, a little film written on the sly by John Huston. All the imagery seems just right.

I trust that you are well into your recovery, and that you will soon be knocking out new work here and elsewhere.

Macresarf1 -- Glenn Anders -- Alex Fraser

Wed, 05/20/2009 - 10:02pm

jitu rajgor says:

hi patsy

It is great to see you laughing over there with Sean. We want you to be like this for rest of your life, laughing, living life with full of zest. I went to Tirupati temple of Ahmedabad last night with my family to pray for your health. We spent one hour there and offered 'hundi' [ donation] for the temple for your fast recovery. I am happy that you have Sean with you to help in all manners. Wish you all the best for your health pat,and we will really miss you for some days.

Mon, 06/01/2009 - 1:07pm

* Aberjhani says:

Angel of Gratitude

Thank you Pat for this heartfelt and inspired sharing. The following is both an expression of my own gratitude and a kind of prayer for your healing and ongoing well-being. I'm sharing it here because I wrote when "the right group" made me feel exactly what you have expressed.

ANGEL OF GRATITUDE

Each, shaped from a heart
divine—such is the nature
of your humble wings.

Love, Mercy, and Grace,
sisters all, attend your wounds
of silence and hope.

You are the good twin
and the bad. Not arrogant,
but jubilant…sweet…

With grief or without,
your flight commands awareness
of joy beyond pain.

Holy starbright of
endless heavens, for these tears—
truly—I thank you.

Aberjhani
Founder of Creative Thinkers International
author of The American Poet Who Went Home Again

Sat, 05/30/2009 - 1:23pm

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