From the Pen of a Decorated Veteran and Poet Stewart T Monti Sr Brings a Timeless Tale of Courage and Kindness to Life in Mary and Sir Edward
NORTH CAROLINA, USA – August 21, 2026 – In an age of grand battles and chivalrous knights, the most heroic act in Stewart T. Monti Sr.’s enchanting narrative poem Mary and Sir Edward: A Poetic Narrative for Readers of All Ages belongs not to a seasoned warrior but to a 12-year-old girl trying to hold her family’s farm together while her father is away at war.
Mary and Sir Edward is a beautifully illustrated poetic tale set in the heart of the Middle Ages. When young Mary encounters a wounded knight in desperate need of help, she makes a choice that will change both of their lives. With villains lurking in the shadows, humor woven throughout the pages, and a heartwarming ending that will leave readers smiling, this is a story perfectly crafted to be read aloud to children or savored independently by older readers.
Brought to life through vivid illustrations and lyrical, accessible verse, Mary and Sir Edward is the rare book that bridges the gap between picture book and literary narrative — a story that parents, grandparents, and children can share together and return to again and again.
“Mary is a character who shows that real courage isn’t about strength or size — it’s about making the right choice even when it’s difficult,” says author Stewart T. Monti Sr. “I wanted to create something families could read together, something that sparks conversation and stays with you long after the last page.”
For readers captivated by Mary’s story, Monti’s companion novel Hillary and Sir Edward offers another thrilling journey into the medieval world. Set in 12th-century England during the reign of King Henry II, Hillary and Sir Edward follows 13-year-old Hillary — a girl gifted in swordsmanship, chess, and horsemanship — as she dares to pursue the unthinkable: becoming a Knight’s page in a world that says she cannot. Bold, adventurous, and deeply empowering, Hillary and Sir Edward is the perfect next read for anyone who falls in love with the courageous young heroines Monti brings to life. Together, these two books paint a vivid and inspiring portrait of the medieval world through the eyes of extraordinary young women.
About the Author
Stewart T. Monti Sr. is a retired United States Air Force Major, accomplished poet, and former adjunct instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Born in 1951 in the Appalachian mountains of Bland, Virginia, Monti served his country with distinction, flying C-130E aircraft for more than 2,000 hours around the world before serving as a Behavioral Scientist practicing Industrial Psychology and as an Intelligence Officer for the balance of his 20-year military career. During that time, he conducted training research at Headquarters Air Training Command (1982), monitored training effectiveness at the Strategic Air Command B-52/KC-135 Combat Crew Training School (1986), and ran a division conducting air and space technology research — specializing in the field of space — with Air Force Intelligence Command’s Foreign Technology Division (1989). Finishing his Air Force career in Dayton, Ohio, he also served briefly and proudly as an adjunct instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for less than three years. He holds two master’s degrees, and his poetry has graced the walls of churches, community spaces, a railway museum, and countless private homes across the Greater Sanford, NC area. Mary and Sir Edward, originally born from a narrative poem, was published in 2023 and represents a natural evolution of Monti’s lifelong love of storytelling through verse. His published works include 135 Poems for Today (2017), Mary and Sir Edward (2023), and Hillary and Sir Edward. He lives in Sanford, NC with his wife and son.
Both Mary and Sir Edward: A Poetic Narrative for Readers of All Ages and Hillary and Sir Edward are available now on Amazon. For more information Stewart T. Monti Sr. and his works, please visit www.stewarttmontisr.com.
Hillary and Sir Edward
Mary and Sir Edward
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