R. A. Montgomery
Encyclopedia
Raymond Almiran Montgomery (born 1936) is an American
author
and key figure in the Choose Your Own Adventure
interactive children's book
series.
, Montgomery graduated from Williams College
(17 June 1962) Constance Cappell Is Married To Raymond Montgomery Jr., The New York Times
and attended graduate school
at Yale University
and New York University
(NYU).
Montgomery was one of the most prolific authors in the Choose Your Own Adventure
series, created in the late 1970s. Working from a book manuscript written by Edward Packard
, he and his then partner/wife, (Constance Cappel) published four books at Vermont Crossroads Press that would later be included in the Bantam "Choose" series (The Cave of Time, Journey Under the Sea, By Balloon to the Sahara, and Space and Beyond). Montgomery penned more than 50 books for this series and its various offspring, including books in a series for younger readers.
The Choose Your Own Adventure series published 184 titles through Bantam Books
between 1979
and 1998
, including many by Montgomery himself and several by his sons Ramsey and Anson. It was one of the most popular children’s series of all time, with over 250 million books in print. Since its original publication, the series has been popular with both reluctant and advanced readers. It has also been used in classrooms from elementary school
to college
. At the advent of the Internet age, the series was used frequently in curricula focused on explaining the interactivity of the world wide web
to young children.
Montgomery and partner Shannon Gilligan
are currently reissuing some books of the initial "Choose" series through Chooseco
LLC, in Waitsfield
, Vermont
. The re-release has been featured in the LA Times and Newsweek
magazine, and an electronic version of the first book in the relaunch, The Abominable Snowman, is available as an interactive download for iPod
. He is currently rewriting a 450 page draft of a novel about modern day China. Montgomery has said that he would like to travel and encourage culturally distinct Choose Your Own Adventure books from writers and illustrators in all parts of the world.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and key figure in the Choose Your Own Adventure
Choose Your Own Adventure
Choose Your Own Adventure is a series of children's gamebooks where each story is written from a second-person point of view, with the reader assuming the role of the protagonist and making choices that determine the main character's actions and the plot's outcome. The series was based on a...
interactive children's book
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
series.
Career
Born in ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Montgomery graduated from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
(17 June 1962) Constance Cappell Is Married To Raymond Montgomery Jr., The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and attended graduate school
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
(NYU).
Montgomery was one of the most prolific authors in the Choose Your Own Adventure
Choose Your Own Adventure
Choose Your Own Adventure is a series of children's gamebooks where each story is written from a second-person point of view, with the reader assuming the role of the protagonist and making choices that determine the main character's actions and the plot's outcome. The series was based on a...
series, created in the late 1970s. Working from a book manuscript written by Edward Packard
Edward Packard
Edward Packard is an American author, in addition to his work as a lawyer, essayist, and poet. He was born in Huntington, New York. He is a graduate of Princeton University and Columbia Law School...
, he and his then partner/wife, (Constance Cappel) published four books at Vermont Crossroads Press that would later be included in the Bantam "Choose" series (The Cave of Time, Journey Under the Sea, By Balloon to the Sahara, and Space and Beyond). Montgomery penned more than 50 books for this series and its various offspring, including books in a series for younger readers.
The Choose Your Own Adventure series published 184 titles through Bantam Books
Bantam Books
Bantam Books is an American publishing house owned entirely by Random House, the German media corporation subsidiary of Bertelsmann; it is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group. It was formed in 1945 by Walter B. Pitkin, Jr., Sidney B. Kramer, and Ian and Betty Ballantine...
between 1979
1979 in literature
The year 1979 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Douglas Adams - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*V.C...
and 1998
1998 in literature
The year 1998 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*March 5 - Tennessee Williams' 1938 play, Not About Nightingales, receives its stage première....
, including many by Montgomery himself and several by his sons Ramsey and Anson. It was one of the most popular children’s series of all time, with over 250 million books in print. Since its original publication, the series has been popular with both reluctant and advanced readers. It has also been used in classrooms from elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
to college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
. At the advent of the Internet age, the series was used frequently in curricula focused on explaining the interactivity of the world wide web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
to young children.
Montgomery and partner Shannon Gilligan
Shannon Gilligan
Shannon Gilligan is an author of interactive fiction and computer games. She graduated from Williams College in 1981 and spent a year abroad at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. She has been extensively involved in the Choose Your Own Adventure series, having written five books in the main...
are currently reissuing some books of the initial "Choose" series through Chooseco
Chooseco
Chooseco is a publishing company founded by children's author R. A. Montgomery to reissue volumes in the Choose Your Own Adventure gamebook series. Chooseco is starting with reissues of Montgomery's own works, as well as those of other authors, as rights are negotiated...
LLC, in Waitsfield
Waitsfield, Vermont
Waitsfield is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,659 at the 2000 census. It was created by Vermont charter on February 25, 1782...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. The re-release has been featured in the LA Times and Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
magazine, and an electronic version of the first book in the relaunch, The Abominable Snowman, is available as an interactive download for iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
. He is currently rewriting a 450 page draft of a novel about modern day China. Montgomery has said that he would like to travel and encourage culturally distinct Choose Your Own Adventure books from writers and illustrators in all parts of the world.
Other projects
- A six book non-interactive series for YA readers entitled Trio
- A CD-ROM, Beyond the Wall of Stars