PAT MONTANDON
OH THE HELL OF IT ALL
by Pat Montandon
“OH THE HELL OF IT ALL is like an alternate history of the 20th century, wherein all major figures and events intersect with one woman's epic, occasionally phantasmagoric life. Yes, it was Pat Montandon (“Mom” to me) who taught Frank Sinatra how to ask a lady out on a date: Don't have a flunkie do the asking. She was the original Party Girl, San Francisco society-style, but then changed course to almost single handedly put an end to the Cold War. I ask you, what is next?! You will have to read OH THE HELL OF IT ALL to find out! Having known my mother my whole life, I can testify wholeheartedly to her ability to tell a wild, fascinating, redemptive story, full of heart and wonder and joy.”
―Sean Wilsey
Long before Sean Wilsey penned his bestselling memoir Oh the Glory of It All, Pat Montandon, the legendary doyenne of San Francisco high society, was at work on her own, a story of wealth and betrayal so extreme it could only be told by the heroine herself. OH THE HELL OF IT ALL will rock the city of San Francisco with its revelations, but it is the ultimate story of redemption, of having lost everything but the vision of a better world for oneself and ones children, that will stun and inspire readers from all corners of the globe.
Those in the know, from San Francisco to New York, are well-versed in the story: Pat Montandon escapes her dirt poor upbringing in Oklahoma for the glamour of San Francisco in the 60’s where she reinvents herself as a newspaper columnist, television host, and party girl extraordinaire—even publishing a book by that very title. Montandon’s marriage to multi-millionaire Al Wilsey, her beloved “Prince Valiant”, catapults her to even greater heights, and when her lunches and dinner parties become the most sought after invitation in town, Armistead Maupin christens her “Empress of the Round Table”. Ten glorious years later, however, the ultimate heartbreak befalls her: Wilsey suddenly divorces Pat for her very own best friend, the inimitable Dede Traina… and finally it is here, penniless and virtually suicidal, that Montandon embarks on the most unforgettable journey of her lifetime.
As one of the most glamorous ambassadors for peace the post-Cold War era has ever seen, Montandon continues to travel the world with delegations of children in an effort to open channels of communication between young people and their governments. Her foundation, “Children as the Peacemakers”, has thrice been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. We do hope you will consider featuring OH THE HELL OF IT ALL. Pat is available for interviews and we have fabulous collection of photos to offer you upon your request. I’ll be following up with you shortly.