Kassandra Montag

Kassandra Montag grew up in rural Nebraska and now lives in Omaha with her husband and two sons. She holds a master’s degree in English Literature and her award-winning poetry and short fiction has appeared in journals and anthologies, including Midwestern Gothic, Nebraska Poetry, Prairie Schooner, and Mystery Weekly Magazine. After the Flood is her first novel.

Welcome Author Kassandra Montag

Could you share something about yourself?

I’ve always like to make things—pastel paintings of landscapes I haven’t seen before, rafts that sunk in the creek near my house, my own clothing cut and stitched from discarded bolts of fabric. At seven, I made my first picture book series that featured a man who lived alone in the wilderness with his dog, fighting together for survival.

They say our childhood imaginations and dreams show proof of our passion in life. As a child, what childhood memories brought you joy?

I grew up in rural Nebraska and so many of my childhood memories that bring me joy primarily are from nature—playing near the river, running through fields, climbing trees, ice-skating on the river, picking apples, and sleeping under the stars.

Inspiration for Writing After The Flood

How did you come up with the idea for your amazing story for After The Flood?

It came from the confluence of a dream, an image, and a line in my journal. The dream was of a wave of water coming across the prairie, all the way from the oceans, a flood that spanned the whole continent. After having this dream, I saw the image of a mother on a boat in a future flooded world, sailing with one daughter, but separated from her other daughter. Years before I had the flood dream, I had another image that kept recurring in my mind’s eye and that I detailed in my journal: “A group of people huddle around a campfire, struggling to survive and looking for a safe haven.” These two storylines, of a mother separated from her daughter in a flood, and a group of people trying to survive, began to brush up against each other, suggesting possibilities.

How long did it take you to complete your book?

It took me roughly 2 years.

How hard did you work to get here?

Novel writing is like any other demanding pursuit—everyone who does it works hard. It was particularly a long process for me to learn how to switch from writing poetry to novels. I had to learn a lot about storytelling and prose, and I had to practice and try and fail before I made much progress.

What is the message (theme or takeaway) would you want readers to embrace in your story?

I hope readers will take away a sense of compassion for people and the realization that everyone has a story and challenges we probably don’t know about. I also hope it challenges readers perceptions and assumptions about surviving loss—both that it enlarges their own sense of survival and endurance, but also checks it against the reality that none of us get through this life unscathed. Hopefully that realization will not harden us, but will make us more tender towards others.

What scene or memory brought you joy with writing?

A scene that brought my joy to write was the very last one. I don’t want to spoil it by giving it away but I’ll say that the novel ends on an image that is both haunting and full of hope. It is tonally resonant for the entire book—like ending on just the right note.

What amazing experience did you learn while writing After The Flood?

The main character, Myra, is very brave and the tagline for the book is “Courage is a Force of Nature.” Spending time with Myra reminded me to try to be brave in my own life more often.

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to become a writer?

The other day my husband reminded me of the Samuel Beckett quote to “fail better.” Corresponding with that, I’ve heard other writers talk about the need to not fetishize their successes or failures. Instead, keep moving forward.

Connect with Kassandra Montag

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