My husband James and I volunteer at the main campus of our church every other Saturday night. We actually go to services at the North Richland Hills campus, which is closer to our home. One Saturday night, James met a man on the parking lot, where he drives one of the carts, who needed some help with his pickup truck. It was Monty Moncrief Teel. At a later event at church, we spent the evening with Monty, and I found him a very interesting person. So I offered to feature him and his poetry on this blog.
Welcome, Monty. What would you like
for our readers to know about you personally?
Monty Moncrief Teel grew up on a ranch in Northeast
Texas and his family had a ranch in the Texas Hill Country. Monty
has performed his own brand of cowboy and Christian poetry all over “The West.”
Monty is a member of Gateway
Church and serves in the
Fresh Start Ministry.
Tell us about your
family.
Monty has two sisters and a brother. He enjoys spending time
with family. He was born on his mother’s birthday. He has written a book about
his Cowboy and Pioneer Heritage which captures the family’s genealogy. The
Moncrief Clan dates back to 12th century Scotland on his mother’s side of
the family. Monty plans to go to Scotland
this summer with the Clan Moncreiffe Society of North
America .
How long have you
been writing poetry?
Monty has been writing poetry for about 15 years. He has
written three books and has recorded 3 cowboy poetry CDs.
Do you write anything
besides cowboy poetry?
Monty also writes Christian poetry. The last chapter of Tales
from the Teel Ranch features Christian poems. These poems capture his
journey with Christ by his side.
Do you have any other
books in the works right now?
No, I am writing and producing individual poems as art work.
One of my favorite poems in my book Tales from the Teel Ranch was
featured in the February 2008 edition of Western Horseman called “Majestic
Texas.” It has been reproduced to fit an 8 X 10 frame. They are available at $5
each.
What kinds of hobbies
and leisure activities do you enjoy?
Monty enjoys playing tennis and golf. His passion is growing
at Gateway Church and reciting his poetry for fun. He
attends rodeos, cowboy gatherings, and western music and poetry festivals. He
is Superintendent of the 4-H, FFA, and collegiate Dairy Judging Contest at the
Fort Worth Stock Show. He also loves musicals and his favorite is Oklahoma .
Why did you write the
featured book?
Monty’s father, Marion Ray Teel was his cowboy hero. Monty
dedicated Tales from the Teel Ranch to him. The book captures the best
and worst times growing up on a cow calf operation in Texas . Monty thinks it also shares with
readers his love for “The West” and the character and values of the cowboy code
instilled by his Dad.
What do you want the
reader to take away from the book?
Monty wants to share his love for the land and its people
through the eyes of a Native Texas son.
Please share one of
your poems with us here.
Majestic Texas
By Monty Moncrief
Teel © 2007
From the Texas panhandle
To the fertile
coastal plains.
From the mountains
and the basins
To East
Texas sugarcane.
Now Cowboys, Spurs,
and Rockets
They call our Texas home.
It’s the land where George Strait
and
Red Steagall ranch
and roam.
Dale Evans hailed
from here, and
Bob Wills is still
the king.
We love our country
music
And our vintage
Western Swing.
With Bowie , Crocket, and Travis
We relive the Alamo .
And then there is Sam
Houston
A man we honor so.
I love the sprawling
ranches here
And that old rodeo.
So if you live in Texas , just
Put on your boots and
go.
My Texas , I salute you
With all your many
charms.
I love the state of Texas ,
Her cities and her
farms.
Begins the Wild Wild
West,
But of all the Texas greats
The friendships are
the best.
Where on the Internet
can the readers find you?
For Books, Poems, and CDs:
Monty Moncrief Teel
903.243.3305 cell
Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.
7 comments:
I loved meeting Monty Moncrief Teel. From reading Magestic Texas, I know that he is a wonderful writer and I would thoroughly enjoy his book. We are big Ft.Worth Stock Show goers and hopefully one day will run into Monty there. Thank you for a great interview and giveaway.
Melanie Backus, TX
Lena, Monty sounds like a very interesting person. I love the idea of the poems being put on prints. The poem was a nice change of pace from novels. I love the state of Texas (have family there) and this would be a great read.
Thank you.
Ohio
mcnuttjem0(at)gmail(dot)com
A book my Father would have enjoyed a well.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
I wonder if Mr. Moncrief has read Stephen Bly's Cowboy Poetry. Tales from Teel Ranch would make a nice addition to our church library's western section.
Julie (WI)
I love it! He certainly has a talent. Thanks for sharing!
Michigan
We have a SS Class of Christian Cowboys & I would love to win a copy of Monty's book so that it would be available for them to check out.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Florida
I enjoyed Monty's interview and loved the poem he shared. TALES FROM THE TEEL RANCH sounds like a very special book. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy!
Britney Adams, TX
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