MINI BIO

Candice "Cam" Montgomery (enby she/her) spends her time teaching dance, tending bar and writing Young Adult novels. Two of her novels—HOME AND AWAY and BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY—are available now and she is one-third of the team editing an anthology titled ALL SIGNS POINT TO YES (out Winter 2022 with Inkyard Press).

She lives in Seattle and spends too much time complaining about the weather even though she secretly loves it.

SHORT BIO

Candice “Cam” Montgomery (non-binary she/her) is an LA transplant now living in the woods of Seattle, where she writes Young Adult novels. Her debut novel, HOME AND AWAY can be found online and in stores now, and her sophomore novel, BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY was released October of 2019. Now, she finds herself the editor of an anthology. ALL SIGNS POINT TO YES (ed with cara davis-araux and Adrianne White) is to be published by Inkyard Press in winter of 2022!

By day, Cam writes about Black teens across all their intersections. By night, she tends bar at a tiny place nestled inside one of Washington’s greenest trees. Cam is an avid Studio Ghibli fan and will make you watch at least one episode of Sailor Moon before she’ll call you “friend.”

Cam is represented by Jim McCarthy of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.

Long Bio

Candice "Cam" Montgomery (non-binary she/her) is a graduate from a diverse commuter university in southern California, where she earned a BA in English and Deaf Studies and a minor in Psychology.

Though she's been a dancer of ballet and contemporary for over 20 years, by day, Cam writes books about Black teens across all their intersections. By night, she tends bar at a local, tiny hipster joint with bad lighting. She is the author of the Young Adult novels HOME AND AWAY and BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY (both published with Page Street Publishing; a Macmillan imprint).

Cam's shorter works have also been featured in anthologies such as: HABIBI (ed. al-Massari), ONCE UPON AN EID (ed. Ali/Saeed) and OUT NOW: QUEER WE GO AGAIN (ed. Mitchell).

She has long had a love of anthologies and their vast potential to reach readers, which is how she came to be one third of the team editing ALL SIGNS POINT TO YES (out winter 2022 from Inkyard Press).

It is the goal of her stories to interrogate the spaces of race, love, the body, gender and sexuality, all while being a witness of life.

Cam, having ditched Los Angeles, now resides in Seattle.

She is represented by Jim McCarthy of Dystel, Goderich and Bourret.

Social Media URLS

Twitter:

https://www.twitter.com/saygoodnightcam

Instagram:

https://www instagram.com/camstagram.jpg

Facebook:

https://www facebook.con/candiceamanda

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17161181.Candice_Montgomery

Author Photos

Published Novels

HOME AND AWAY

Publisher: Page Street Publishing (Distributed by Macmillan)

Pub Date: 8 October 2018

ISBN-10: 1624145957

PRAISE:

A Kirkus Reviews “Best of 2018” Pick!

“A love letter to the intricacies of family and multitudinous black girlhood.” ― Kirkus, starred review
“A stunning tapestry of texture and culture.” – Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin
“You'll wish you were friends with Tasia Quirk." – Emery Lord, author of When We Collided
“This book is an emotional touchdown.” – Lily Anderson, author of Undead Girl Gang

Tasia Quirk is young, Black, and fabulous. She's a senior, she's got great friends, and a supportive and wealthy family. She even plays football as the only girl on her private high school's team.

But when she catches her mamma trying to stuff a mysterious box in the closet, her identity is suddenly called into question. Now Tasia’s determined to unravel the lies that have overtaken her life. Along the way, she discovers what family and forgiveness really mean, and that her answers don’t come without a fee. An artsy bisexual boy from the Valley could help her find them―but only if she stops fighting who she is, beyond the color of her skin.

ReviewS

* “Montgomery's thoughtful craft is driven by immediacy and tension and grounded in emotional authenticity… The juxtaposition of Taze's exploration of her black biracial identity alongside the unfettered diversity of identity and experiences among the supporting cast goes beyond refreshing all the way to restorative for readers weary of the search for intersectional mirrors. A love letter to the intricacies of family and multitudinous black girlhood.” ― Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“The consistently strong writing and overall story arc will engage teens. Fans of Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon will enjoy this gripping story of the love, family, and forgiveness.” – School Library Journal

"Debut author Montgomery pulls no punches...This smart, compassionate coming-of-age story about a sensitive, talented black girl in the midst of pivotal growth is a great pick for fans of Brandy Colbert." – Booklist

“A stunning tapestry of texture and culture that doesn't shy away from tough topics or the messiness of humanity, Home and Away shines a multicolored light on the myriad meanings of 'family' and how each plays a role in shaping who we are, what we do, and who we become. I didn't want it to end!” – Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin

"With honesty and grace, Home and Away tackles the complexity of growing up: family, identity, old friends, new loves, and what it means to be you in this world. Through every laugh and wiped-away tear, you'll wish you were friends with Tasia Quirk." – Emery Lord, award-winning author of When We Collided 

“With beautifully diverse characters so real they might be your own neighbors, Home and Away is an achingly earnest look at discovering who you are and who you could be. Poetic, honest, and trope-defying, this book is an emotional touchdown. Candice Montgomery is going to be a star.” – Lily Anderson, author of Undead Girl Gang

“Tasia Quirk is bold, funny, talented, passionate, vulnerable, fierce, and just plain fabulous. Get ready to meet your new favorite YA heroine in Taze, and your new favorite YA voice in Candice Montgomery.” – Dahlia Adler, author of Just Visiting

BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY

Publisher: Page Street Publishing (Distributed by Macmillan)

Pub Date: 16 October 2019

ISBN-10:

PRAISE:

 Heart-wrenchingly honest, fans of Brandy Colbert and Nicola Yoon will anticipate this poignant reflection on what it means to choose yourself.

On the day Torrey moves and officially becomes a college freshman, he gets a call that might force him to drop out before he’s even made it through orientation: the bank is foreclosing on the bee farm his Uncle Miles left him.

Torrey’s worked hard to become the first member of his family to go to college, but while the neighborhood held him back emotionally, Uncle Miles encouraged him to reach his full potential. For years, it was just the two of them tending the farm. So Torrey can’t let someone erase his uncle’s legacy without a fight.

He tries balancing his old life in L.A. with his new classes, new friends, and (sort of) new boyfriend in San Francisco, but as the farm heads for auction, the pressure of juggling everything threatens to tear him apart. Can he make a choice between his family and his future without sacrificing a part of himself?

ReviewS

"Readers will fall in love with this honest novel, which will instruct them to employ self-care and live their best lives." ―School Library Journal

"Through Torrey’s struggles and vibrant, first-person voice, Montgomery (Home and Away) sheds light on larger social issues... Rather than providing pat answers to complicated problems, this contemporary coming-of-age novel raises essential questions to ponder." ―Publishers Weekly

"A fresh take on gentrification and the impact it has on both individuals and community." ―Kirkus Reviews

Covers & Press Photos

Anthology Story Contributions

HABIBI: A Muslim Love Story Anthology

Edited by Hadeel al-Massari

ISBN: 1988715032

Cam’s Contribution: “Love God Herself”

ONCE UPON AN EID

Edited by Aisha Saeed and S.K. Ali

ISBN: 1419740830

Cam’s Contribution: “Just Like Chest Armor”

OUT NOW: Queer We Go Again

Edited by Saundra Mitchell

ISBN: 1335018263

Cam’s Contribution: “Kick. Push. Coast.”