Ross Montgomery

About Author

Author Ross Montgomery tells ReadingZone about his new book, I Am Rebel, about a dog's quest to save the boy who rescued him.

Ross started writing stories as a teenager, when he should have been doing homework... His debut novel, Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door, was shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book of the Year and Branford Boase Award. His books have also been nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Award.

He lives in London with his girlfriend and their cat, Fun Bobby.

Interview

I Am Rebel (Walker Books)

June 2024

I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery is a powerful and adventure-packed story about a dog's quest to find his boy, Tom, and to bring him home safely when war breaks out in their country. It's a story about rebellion, love and living life in the moment. Read a chapter from I Am Rebel.

We spoke with Ross to find out what inspired the story, who were the 'Rebels' in his life, and what it's like to see the world through the eyes of a dog.

Q&A with Ross Montgomery

"I hope that when people finish REBEL, it makes them think about what they love in their lives
(no matter how small), and stop to appreciate it for whatever it is!"

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself and the kinds of stories you enjoy writing? What are the highlights in your writing career to date?

My first book came out in 2013, when I was still working as a primary school teacher, and I basically haven't stopped since! I like writing weird and wonderful stories with tons of adventure and loads of heart books that will (hopefully) thrill and excite and entertain you, and leave you reeling and glowing at the end.

I think the highlight of my career so far has been the response to The Midnight Guardians in 2020, which is probably my most popular book to date; it was seven years into my writing career before I had a book that took off. But meeting kids at school visits and hearing their ideas is always a daily highlight!

2. What happens in your new book, I Am Rebel?

The story is told from the POV of Rebel, a young dog who lives on a farm in the middle of nowhere with his 12 year old owner, Tom. Rebel loves his simple, quiet life… but one day war comes to the farm, and Tom runs away to join it. The only way that Rebel can save the boy he loves, and make everything go back to the way it was, is to leave the farm for the first time in his life and bring Tom back - before it's too late!

3. What inspired the story and why did you decide to write the book from Rebel the dog's perspective?

The story came from a very simple place namely, my editor saying "you should write a book from the point of view of a dog!" At first I didn't really get how that would work, but it stayed in my mind for weeks and slowly, bit by bit, Rebel's character and voice became more and more obvious, and I realised that it was a brilliant suggestion to have made.

It took a few drafts before I decided on Rebel's name, he was simply called Ben. But as the story progressed, we realised that he needed a name that stood out. As the whole story is about standing up for what you believe in and fighting back, Rebel seemed perfect!

"Dogs live in the moment: they take every second for what it is, and meet it head on."

4. What were the challenges in describing the world from a dog's point of view, and how did you develop Rebel's character and 'voice'?

The moment that I decided to write the book, I knew that it would be in the first person, present tense. Dogs live in the moment: they take every second for what it is, and meet it head on. I also knew that Rebel would use simple language, and he would talk about his feelings in a very clear and honest way.

I also realised that all of his reference points would be the natural world; the things that he sees and smells and tastes every day. Also, the world would be a living thing: the wind would be an animal, as would sunlight and water.

5. How did you go about creating the setting for I Am Rebel? Did you need to map it out to plan Rebel's journey?

You're absolutely right! One of the very first things I did was make a diabolically bad map in MS Paint, and think about how Rebel's journey would work. It was a really useful way to think about all the new and different landscapes he would experience for the very first time.

I also knew that I wanted the story to be set in 'the past'; people have muskets, there's no electricity etc, but I didn't want to set it in a specific time or place. In a way, I thought that would make sense in a book from a dog's point of view since dogs don't know what year it is, or where their home is on a map!

6. You explore what motivates each of the characters Rebel meets during his quest. How do each of the animals in this group contribute to his journey?

Often you don't know what your book is about until you start writing it. I knew that Rebel would meet people and animals on the way who would help him in his quest, or others that would try to hurt him, and he would learn a lot about life as a result. I realised that the book was about him changing and growing, and that it was also about what it means to live as a free animal, and what it means to be kept.

"Rebel learns so much on his journey including what it means to be alive,
and what he wants to fight for."

7. Why did you decide to give Rebel's encounters a spiritual element through the presence of the 'Companion', introduced to us by his friend, Jaxon?

I always loved the Black Rabbit in Watership Down. I loved the idea that rabbits had their own religion, and their own way of thinking about existence and what it means when you're not alive anymore. I wondered what a dog would think about death, and I decided that they love companionship so much that they would imagine death as a dog that comes to visit you and takes you to the 'other side'. Rebel learns so much on his journey including what it means to be alive, and what he wants to fight for.

8. There is much to explore in the novel, including found family, courage and what drives us as individuals and collectively. Other than a great story, what would you like your readers to find in its pages?

I'm very guilty of overthinking things too much I'm always worried about what I'm going to do next, or what could go wrong, and it often stops me from enjoying the moment. Rebel isn't like that: he lives in the moment, and he loves what he loves with everything he has. I hope that when people finish REBEL, it makes them think about what they love in their lives (no matter how small), and stop to appreciate it for whatever it is!

9. Who have been the 'Rebel's' in your life? Has any special pet helped inspire that bond between Rebel and Tom?

My family has always had dogs, and I'd love one of my own, but until I'm home much more, we've settled for a very affectionate and very needy cat called Fun Bobby. I've never had a cat before, and I had to learn how to look after them. Stopping and pausing and thinking about what Bob needs, and making sure that I take moments to stroke him and just be quiet, has been a very good learning curve for me! So, in a way, a cat taught me a lot about dogs.

10. What does a writing day look like for you, and what are you writing currently? What keeps you going, and where do you go to when you need time to relax and get inspired?

After ten years, I finally have a desk! A DESK!! It's been a game-changer. No more hunching over a laptop on my sofa and spilling coffee everywhere!

A typical writing day is getting up early, going for a walk, writing for about 3-4 hours, and then using the afternoon to clear my head. If I'm editing though, I can edit all day long!

I do think the quiet moments are just as important as the busy times, and I have a habit of forgetting to do that. You have to stop and look around you and refill your head, otherwise your wiring simply isn't as good. I'm getting better and better at remembering to do it!

Find out about Ross Montgomery's earlier book, The Spellstone (Walker Books)

In Spellstone, Ross Montgomery (author of The Chimeseekers, The Midnight Guardians) takes us to a London where magic really exists, just out of sight. When Evie discovers she is part of this magical world, she also learns about a battle between good and evil that has been fought for hundreds of years - and that she must play her part in what happens next.... Here, Ross Montgomery tells ReadingZone more about what inspired the story, how he creates his characters, and what he'd like his readers to take from Spellstone. Read an Extract from Spellstone

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