UNKNOWN

A Map of Her Own is a dual-timeline novel set along the Columbia River, following two working-class women a century apart as they search for autonomy, purpose, and a life of their own.

"The juxtaposition of two women's stories provides an American tale that's been in the shadows far too long. Montgomery has a gift for capturing the raw yearnings of women in search of identity, purpose, and meaning. Their voices spoke to me." -Rosalind Noonan, New York Times Bestselling author And Then She Was Gone

It's 2024 in Astoria, Oregon. Celia's return to another crabbing season is over before it begins when the boat captain suffers a heart attack, hastening her decision that this would have been her final season anyway. Now all she has to do is figure out what to do next. Simple. Right.

It's 1912 In Camas, Washington. Emma is proud of her job making paper bags at the Columbia River Paper Company, but resents her family's expectations for her to also take care of her younger siblings and help with the household chores after her shift is over.

Celia and Emma are both searching for their true selves in a world where women either give in to society's and family's expectations or have the courage to create their own. A Map of Her Own navigates the lives of two women separated by generations and brought together by their strong connection to the Columbia River.

Dede Montgomery is a sixth-generation Oregonian and the author of literary fiction, memoir, and narrative nonfiction. Her work blends personal narrative, historical reflection, and social awareness, often grounded in a deep sense of place—particularly the Pacific Northwest.

Drawing on more than forty years of experience in workplace safety, health, and well-being, Montgomery weaves themes of identity, family legacy, aging, and resilience into both her fiction and nonfiction. Her writing is thoughtful and introspective, often exploring the ways personal lives intersect with broader cultural and historical forces.

Her books include A Map of Her Own (October 2025), a dual-timeline novel of contemporary and historical fiction; From First Breath to Last: A Story About Love, Womanhood, and Aging (memoir, 2024); Humanity's Grace (a novel in stories, 2022); Then, Now, and In-Between: Place, Memories, and Loss in Oregon (nonfiction, 2020); Beyond the Ripples (literary fiction, 2019); and My Music Man (memoir, 2017).

Learn more about her, her books and blogs on her author page at dedemontgomery dot com.