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“I wanted to try and help children and break the stigma of dyslexia once and for all.” The book is loosely based on Montgomery’s own story, even though she wasn’t identified as dyslexic until she was an adult. “At the ripe old age of 37, I was officially diagnosed with dyslexia,” says Montgomery. “I had the ‘Eureka!’ moment of ‘That’s why things have been the way they have!’” In The Back to Front World of Azzie Artbuckle, Azzie suffers through the majority of her school day because of the amount of reading involved. She knows she isn’t stupid, but she has a hard time deciphering letters and numbers. What she lacks in reading ability, Azzie makes up for with creativity, excelling at painting, drawing, and other artistic tasks. Montgomery says she recalls feeling as Azzie does, misunderstood and different from her peers. She wrote the book in the hopes that it will comfort dyslexic children by letting them know they’re not alone and provide other children a glimpse into what it’s like to live with dyslexia. Since she’s always had an artistic bent, it’s not surprising that Montgomery would write and illustrate a children’s book. “I have always been artistic and loved to create things in my room,” she says. “I used to have piles of journals about art and writing, so it’s been a long-standing passion and a way for me to escape into the world of make-believe.” What is remarkable is the journey Montgomery has taken to get to this point. She was born in Nottingham, England, but spent most of her childhood in Greece and New York. Interested in the field of fashion, she earned a degree in textile and fashion design from De Montfort University. Then, to broaden her horizons, she earned a masters’ degree in creative writing from Nottingham Trent University. Her successful career as a freelance writer and illustrator for magazines belied any hint of
a learning disorder. “I didn’t know at the time I was dyslexic,” she says. Eventually, Montgomery stepped into the world of designing shoes. Her work was so well-received, she was chosen to design a pair of boots for Prime Minister Theresa May. “It was wonderful meeting her and having breakfast with her and David Cameron,” says Montgomery. After that high-profile job, opportunities began pouring in for Montgomery, who went on to design custom boots for other celebrities and for runway shows during London Fashion Week. After spending a few years designing shoes, Montgomery was ready for something with more soul. “Fashion is very intense and very much like Absolutely Fabulous,” she says. “I wanted something different.” She chose to enter the field of nursing. “It’s a big change, but I wanted to do something worthwhile and help people,” she says. Shortly after beginning work as a nurse, Montgomery started to feel as though something was wrong. “I was struggling to remember things and organize my time, and felt overwhelmed by things,” she says. A nurse whose son was dyslexic recognized the signs in Montgomery and suggested that she get tested. Following her diagnosis, Montgomery was saddened that so many of her fellow nurses could only see her through one lens. “I was that dyslexic nurse,” she says. It reminded Montgomery of being back in school and feeling so different from her peers. The idea for The Back to Front World of Azzie Artbuckle sprouted from a conversation Montgomery had with one of her patients. “She told me about her young son who was dyslexic and being bullied at school,” says Montgomery. “It took all my willpower not to break StoryMonsters.com | Volume 4, Issue 6 | Story Monsters Ink
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