Press Kit

Lyman Montgomery
Lyman Montgomery Success Network Contact: Lyman Montgomery Email: lmontgomery@lymanmontgomery.com Media Relations: Dorsey Group Contact: Makasha Dorsey Website: http://dorseypublications.com Email: pr@dorseypublications.com Phone: 334.246.1170

Dayton Book Expo Press Release Shattered Masks Book Press Release Lyman Montgomery Bio Long & Short Book Synopsis Book Excerpt Q&A

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Local Success Coach is a Featured Author at the Dayton Book Expo

Lyman Montgomery, author and Wilberforce University HR Director, will discuss Shattered Masks during the Readers Round session at the expo
Dayton, OHIO, April 23, 2012Lyman Montgomery will join author Linda J. Hawkins in the Dayton Book Expo Readers Round on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 2:30 PM. Lyman will discuss his book, Shattered Masks: 7 Masks We Wear, the publishing process, and how it is purposed to help others free themselves from the pain of sexual abuse and other traumatic experiences. In an online review of Shattered Masks, Reverend Dion Sampson wrote, GET THE BOOK!! This book reveals if nothing else, the POWER of God, and His ability to RESTORE and HEAL!! This book was RAW, REAL, and RELEVANT! Thanks man of God for revealing to us your pain, but also thank you for allowing God to use it, to offer others hope and healing. This years event marks the third consecutive year that book lovers and authors alike will convene at the Dayton Book Expo. The event is hosted by Sincliar Community College in the David H. Pontz Conference Center on Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 11:00 am until 4 pm. About Lyman Montgomery Lyman A. Montgomery serves as the Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development at Wilberforce University, located in Wilberforce, Ohio. He holds a MBA from American Intercontinental University and BS degree from Ohio University as well as post-graduate training at Harvard University from the W.E.B. Institute for Afro-American Research in Civic Engagement. He is an ordained minister and President of Lyman Montgomery Success Network, a leadership and success coaching company. Lyman hosts Shattered Masks Radio Show on the 2nd Tuesday of each month on 11:00 am until 11:30 am on WDAO 1210 AM.
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Noted Leadership Success Coach and Conference Speaker, Lyman Montgomery, Pens Autobiographical Self-Help Book
Helps readers indentify how past abuse and trauma affect personal perceptions with practical tips on how to move beyond pain into success
DAYTON, Ohio, December 8, 2011Allegations of sexual abuse by trusted coaches coupled with daily news of children being harmed, traumatized, and even killed have plagued the airwaves over recent weeks. The stresses of childhood bullying have even prompted numerous youth to commit suicide. Well -meaning columnists and average Joes have gone as far to ask why does it take so long for the abused to come forward. Shattered Masks: 7 Masks We Wear & the Strategies to Shatter Them (www.shatteredmasksbook.com) answers this and other questions by giving readers a better understanding of how childhood trauma affects us into adulthood as well as why we cant simply get over it. Covered are the following masks people wear: Silence, Avoidance, Association, Relationship, Performance, Accomplishment, and Religion. Lyman Montgomery, the author, suffered in silence about his abuse, avoided dealing with the grief of his grandmothers death by never mentioning her, associated with people who were better off financially, developed unhealthy relationships with women, performed as others expected, used accomplishments to feel better about himself and projected a religious lifestyle that was not rooted in righteousness. Fortunately, Lyman realized that he was hiding behind so many things and fought his way out of living a false life. Now, his focus is helping others move beyond pain into a successful, honest way of life. When Reverend Tawan Baily offered a review of Shattered Masks he wrote, I cant stop reading. My heart is full. All kinds of emotions. The book not only chronicles the sexual abuse Montgomery suffered at the hands of a local teacher, it covers what life turns into after experiencing a series of lifechanging events. I felt as if I was walking side by side with Mr. Montgomery as I read, Shattered Masks... The emotional roller-coaster that the main charter went through was very intense...It is an exquisite way of telling a story that needs to be heard, Christian Chapman explained. About Shattered Masks Shattered Masks: 7 Masks We Wear & the Strategies to Shatter Them is an autobiographical account of how masks are made in a young person's life. It is also a self-study to help you identify the mask makers in your life and to shatter the masks youve grown accustomed to wearing. Shattered Masks can be purchased at BN.com, Amazon.com, AuthorHouse.com, and other retailers or from the authors website, www.lymanmontgomery.com. About Lyman Montgomery Lyman A. Montgomery serves as the Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development at Wilberforce University, located in Wilberforce, Ohio. He holds a MBA from American Intercontinental University and BS degree from Ohio University as well as post-graduate training at Harvard University from the W.E.B. Institute for Afro-American Research in Civic Engagement. He is an ordained minister and President of Lyman Montgomery Success Network, a leadership and success coaching company. ###

For more information about Lyman A. Montgomery, please visit www.LymanMontgomery.com

www.facebook.com/LymanAMontgomery www.twitter.com/Shattered_Mask

Short Bio
Lyman serves as the Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development at Wilberforce University. He holds a MBA from American Intercontinental University and BS degree from Ohio University as well as post-graduate training at Harvard Universitys W.E.B. Institute for Afro-American Research in Civic Engagement. He is an ordained minister and President of Lyman Montgomery Success Network.

Long Bio
As a child, Lyman A. Montgomery had a number of physical and mental challenges to overcome; he wore corrective shoes, failed in school, had a severe speech impediment, and was sexually abused by his six grade teacher; he also endured the suicide of his grandmother and murder of grandfather whom he loved very much. Despite his personal setbacks and adversities, he applied some specific techniques to his life and within a few weeks saw a dramatic positive change in his personal life. Today, he is a well sought-after conference speaker, workshop facilitator and Success Coach to individuals around the country struggling with the transitions of life and work. As a Human Resources professional, Lyman A. Montgomerys expertise are: strategic planning, competency-based interviewing, labor negotiation, and organizational leadership development. He currently serves as the Director of Human Resources & Organizational Development at Wilberforce University located in Wilberforce, Ohio. He holds a Masters in Business Administration from American Intercontinental University and BS degree from Ohio University as well as post-graduate training at Harvard University from the W.E.B. Institute for Afro-American Research in Civic Engagement. In 2010, Lyman Montgomery Success Network was established, providing workshops and training seminars on a range of topics dealing with successful living and overcoming adversity. Mr. Montgomery's much anticipated book, Shattered Masks: Seven Masks We Wear will be release February 2011. Lyman Montgomerys motto:

For more information about Lyman A. Montgomery, please visit www.LymanMontgomery.com

Shattered Masks: 7 Masks We Wear

by Lyman A. Montgomery, III

Are you ready to stop hiding behind a lifetime of pain, hurt and disappointment but lack courage? In todays world, image is everything? Imagine navigating through childhood and your adult life carrying the baggage of being bullied because you wore corrective shoes or being called a sissy by your stepfather because he didnt understand why you were unable to stand up for yourself. Lyman Montgomery lived that life and suffered great and consistent losses. All before the age of 14, he was sexually abused by a trusted teacher and experienced the death of two of his grandparentsone of which took her own life. Lyman kept silent about his abuse, avoided dealing with the grief of his fathers death by never mentioning him, associated with people who were better off financially, developed unhealthy relationships with women, performed as others expected, used accomplishment to feel better about himself and a projected religious lifestyle that was not rooted in righteousness. Which mask are you wearing?

Silence Avoidance Association Relationship

Performance Accomplishment Religion

Are you ready to expose the truth? Removing a mask is not enough. It is necessary to know why you put it on so you can resolve the deep rooted emotions which caused you to hide behind facades. Shattered Masks equips you to not only unveil the behaviors preventing you from reaching your full potential but also to eradicate the actions that mold your masks. Shattered Masks: Seven Masks We Wear & the Strategies to Shatter Them is an autobiographical account of how masks are made in a young mans life. It is also a self-study to help you identify the mask makers in your life and to shatter the masks youve grown accustomed to wearing. The purpose: personal freedom.

For more information about Lyman A. Montgomery, please visit www.LymanMontgomery.com

Shattered Masks: 7 Masks We Wear

by Lyman A. Montgomery, III
Chapter 3:

Introduction to the Mask Maker

Liam Holler (not his real name) was a short obese man that lived in a brick mansion a block from my home. He drove a large white Lincoln Continental and often invited neighborhood kids over for cookouts and sleepovers. I was introduced to Liam in 1976 by some local kids my age. The first time I went to his house was for a Boy Scout meeting. Liam had taken over the troop after the old leader received a job promotion and could no longer fulfill his obligations to the scouts. Eager to join the troop I begged my mom to allow me to attend a meeting with some of my friends. A skeptical parent, my mom would not allow me to attend a scout event at his home until she and some of the other neighborhood parents gave him their seal of approval. Everyone agreed that Mr. Holler was a nice guy. At the meeting we enjoyed a variety of food and had an opportunity to play the latest Atari video games. No limits existed at Liam's house. He allowed us to indulge in as much food, snacks, and candy as we could consume. Liam's house became the after-school hangout for homework and school projects. Mr. Hollers educational awards solidified his place in the community as parents allowed their children to take advantage of the free tutoring he offered. For the next six or seven months, I spent at least two days a week at Liams house. As my grades and confidence increased, Liam began talking to parents about Carlson Foreign Language Magnet School. Liam being of German ancestry felt strong that kids needed to be bilingual in the future. Carlson offered Spanish, French, and German. How could anyone pass up this opportunity?

Publisher: AuthorHouse ISBN-13: 978-1463403164 Paperback List Price: $17.00 Available online, in bookstores, and in various ebook formats.

Shattered Masks by Lyman A. Montgomery, III

Chapter 3: Introduction to the Mask Maker (Excerpt Continued) When our parents were convinced changing schools would benefit Robert and me, we were enrolled into the magnet school. I studied Spanish and Robert studied German. This was a time of great anticipation. You will never make it because you can barely speak English, my fifth grade teacher informed me, demolishing my excitement about the Spanish program. Those words cut like a knife. I couldn't believe a teacher responsible for my education would destroy my confidence with such remarks. It crushed me. After I told my stepfather he encouraged me to prove that teacher wrong. Over the years Liam Holler became close to our family and was like a surrogate father to me. At the time, I did not appreciate my stepfather. I thought he was rude, insensitive, and downright mean. He was a taskmaster. I really wanted a relationship with my biological father but he had been absent since I was born. I didnt understand the lessons my step-father Johnny was trying to instill in the four of us. I thank God for his guidance and relentless dedication to raising my brothers, sister, and me. He provided us with a lifestyle of comfort, tampered with strict discipline. When school started at Carlson, I was surprised to discover that Liam was my homeroom teacher. For the first time, I made honor roll three quarters in a row and became popular by winning two speech contests. Helen Keller Rice's poem, "What is a Mother?" and James Weldon Johnson's poem, The Creation," sparked the success in my ability to speak publically. These speeches defined my sixth grade year. The first, gave hope to what I wanted my relationship with my mother to be, whereas the second, spoke to my new self-image and confidence. To prepare for the competitions, I called my old friend Namon who had won numerous speech contests and was an honor student. I asked him how to overcome my speech problems and speak clearly. He told me to stand in front of a mirror and mentally create a character in my mind. Taking his advice, I put on a suit, stood in front of our wall mirror and started rehearsing my speech. At first, there was no noticeable change, then after
For more information about Lyman A. Montgomery, please visit www.LymanMontgomery.com

Shattered Masks by Lyman A. Montgomery, III

Chapter 3: Introduction to the Mask Maker (Excerpt Continued) about an hour of repeating my lines, I began to see myself transforming into someone else. At some point during the rehearsal, I felt a warm breeze come over my body and suddenly my tone and enunciation echoed that of an older person with years of wisdom and insight. In my mind, I was no longer a pathetic, crippled, tender heart; I had become the embodiment of James Weldon Johnson. The day of the competition, I shocked everyone and won first place. I enjoyed the feeling of winning. I believed I could do anything on my journey to power and success. I stopped using slang, which helped me to perfect my speaking and writing skills. I even changed my school wardrobe from blue jeans to shirts and ties. This alienated my black friends so I started hanging out with Billy and Matt (not their real names). Billy had grown up with an African-American stepfather. He enjoyed basketball, football, and wrestling. The jock of our triad, Billy was funny, smart, and loved to fight. On the other hand, Matt was quiet, suffered from food allergies, and seemed out of place everywhere he went. Yet, he was good at storytelling and historical facts. Matt's parents allowed him to express himself openly without reprimand. This was new to me. He ate and drank whatever he wanted. The idea of refusing to eat at my house was a cardinal sin. Matt also introduced me to sail boating. One of my funniest memories happened while sailing on Matts shellfish boat with Doug. Doug, who was a husky kid, accidentally capsized Matt's boat by leaning over the edge too far, tipping us into the lake. Horror covered Matt's parents faces as they waited for us to emerge from under the boat. In the process of the flip, Doug came out of his life jacket but held onto it to stay afloat. Matts father pulled Doug onto their boat and we spent the next week laughing about our experience on the lake. The laughter I enjoyed with my friends soon turned to sorrow with the death of my identity.

For more information about Lyman A. Montgomery, please visit www.LymanMontgomery.com

Lyman, please tell us a little about yourself. Who are you? What do you do? I am a native of Dayton, Ohio. As a child, I had a number of physical and mental challenges that I overcame. Despite that, I became a well sought-after conference speaker, workshop presenter and HR consultant. I am an ordain minister and Life Change Coach to individuals struggling with the transitions of life. I hold a MBA from American Intercontinental University and BS degree from Ohio University as well as post-graduate training at Harvard University from the W.E.B. Institute for Afro-American Research in Civic Engagement. I am currently pursuing his Doctorate of Business Administration in Executive Leadership Development. Why did you write this book? I wrote Shattered Masks because it is very important for people, especially African- American men, to hear my story because they need to know that there is a way of recovering, or shattering your masks. We hear famous people talk about how they dealt with being sexually abused but I think it is time for the everyday Lymans, Bobs, and Tyrones to discuss this at a level where help is attainable. We must become vocal about how our silence prevents us from getting the healing we need as well as how it makes our children vulnerable to unreported abusers. We have to speak up, be available to listen to our children, and pay close attention to the people we let into their lives. You mentioned that we have to speak up about abuse. It is sometimes understandable why children do not report their abusers because they are often threatened and manipulated by the abuser. But, why do you think so many people keep silence about their abuse even after they become adults? There are various reasons people dont come forward. There is a stigma associated with being abused and no one wants to be judged. To encourage people to come forward we must stop being critical of others. And, when we face the kind of criticism that is spiritually and emotionally stifling we must encourage ourselves. Know that you are a person of worth and value, destined to succeed. What are some signs to look for in children being sexually abused? I think some possible signs people can look for when it comes to a young person being sexually abused are abrupt over/under achievement, depression, lack of sleep, nervousness around abuser; nightmares, sudden change in school performance, and memory loss. These are only are few but they are consistent with what I experienced after I was abused. In addition to being sexually abused, you suffered other trauma and had other issues to deal with in your life that contributed to the masks in your life. What is the significance of these seven masks? And, where can we get this book? The seven maskssilence, avoidance, association, relationship, performance, accomplishment, and religionare significant because most of them can possibly be perceived as good traits. To give you an example, this is how I lived my life. I kept silent about my abuse, avoided dealing with the grief of my fathers death by never mentioning him, associated with people who were better off than me financially, developed unhealthy relationships with women, performed as others expected, used accomplishment to feel better about myself and a projected religious lifestyle that was not rooted in righteousness. If you hide behind anything, you dont allow others to know the real you. It gets lonely. Shattered Masks can be purchased through major online retailers, such as Amazon.com & BN.com, your local bookstore, and in popular eBook formats. For more information about Lyman A. Montgomery, please visit www.LymanMontgomery.com

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