Jay Montana

As a child I was always an avid reader. When my older siblings were outside playing I had my nose in a book. When I was six years old I had a dream of a magical world, and that world still lives in my head. My mom gave me a notebook and pens and I've been writing ever since. When golf became my main priority I always thought of my characters and worlds on the course. 

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I received an athletic scholarship for golf. The university I was attending was no longer offering English as a major, so I went with my second favorite program -- psychology. I received my bachelor's degree in psychology with a double minor in addictions counseling and leadership. 

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I had a five year plan of getting my masters in counseling to work with children. However, life had other plans. In 2023, I faced a health scare that seemed larger at the time, but it changed my life. I started to think of what I really wanted my future to be. Not one of practicality, but one of passion. 

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Weighing the odds, I chose passion over practicality. I am currently pursuing my degree in creative writing and finishing my first novel. Most of my characters would be diagnosed with one or more mental disorders if they lived in our world, not their fantasy world. Nonetheless, my characters face physical and mental challenges but are resilient through it all. I hope readers will one day find their inner strength just as my characters and I have.