Kat Flannery - Strong-Willed Women in the Western Frontier

Kat Flannery - Strong-Willed Women in the Western Frontier
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Kat Flannery’s love of history shows in her novels. She is an avid reader of historical, suspense, paranormal, and romance. A member of the National Romance Writers of America (RWA), and other writing groups. Kat enjoys promoting other authors on her blog. She volunteers her time teaching writing classes and giving back to the community. Kat has been published in numerous periodicals throughout her career, and continues to write for blogs and online magazines. A bestselling author, Kat has been on Canadian, USA and International bestseller lists. The BRANDED TRILOGY is Kat’s award-winning series. With seven books published, Kat continues to produce up to two novels a year. Creativity is in all aspects of Kat’s career. She does Social Media and Marketing for her own career and other businesses, writing ads, and other content. Kat is the CEO and owner of Picco Press where she writes, publishes, markets and mentors other authors. As our Author of the Day, Flannery tells us all about her Montgomery Sisters Boxed set.

Please give us a short introduction to what The Montgomery Sisters Boxed set is about.

Be captivated by these strong-willed women forced to make it on their own in the western frontier.

FERN is a gardener who uses plants to heal, Fern Montgomery is an outcast who refuses to be pushed out of town.

When her friend is murdered and all fingers point to Fern as the only suspect, she must find a way to prove her innocence while fighting off unwanted feelings for the sheriff.

Sheriff Gabe Bennett has his mind set on arresting Sarah Fuller’s killer. But his key suspect isn’t what he expected. He soon realizes there is more to the quiet gardener than he’d first anticipated. As passion blooms, Gabe is forced to face his feelings—and the woman who has stolen his heart.

POPPY has always been good with a gun and could fight her way out of anything. Tough as nails and a sharp shooter, her beauty deceives the outlaws she’s after.

Pinkerton, Noah Shaw is investigating a ring of stage robberies and knows the Clemmons gang is behind them. Told to track down the infamous redheaded bounty hunter, Noah gets more than he bargained for when he arrests Poppy for assault. Handcuffed together the pair must work together to stop the robberies, and figure out who is behind them.

But what happens when love interferes and thrusts Poppy into discovering emotions she never knew existed? Will she choose the solitude she’s always known, or Noah’s sweet embrace?

IVY is tired of her sister’s constant nagging and protectiveness. Blind, she decides to escape in the middle of the night when she is captured and brought far from home. With no understanding of the outside world, Ivy must use her keen abilities to navigate the wilderness around her. Anger and hopelessness are her only defenses against the things she cannot do. Until she meets a strong-minded Lakota Chief, who will not let her cower to the blindness any longer.

Was there something in particular that made you want to tackle this series?

Yes, writing about three women, a gardener, bounty hunter and blind who are trying to make it on their own in a time when these things were frowned upon, or looked at as a burden. Through their journey they discover how strong they are and the special men who tackle these wild women.

Did you plan from the start to make this into a series?

Yes, I did. The names FERN, POPPY and IVY are what came to me first and I just went with it.

Why did you use plant names to title the books in this series?

For a few reasons, their father was a doctor who used medicine and also plants and herbs to heal the sick. He named them for the healing elements the plants had. I also chose the names because of what they were and how people immediately judged them for it.

In which ways are the three Montgomery sisters different from one another?

In every way except their resilience. Fern, is more practical, a forward thinker who is more of a mother to her sisters. She is caring and kind looking out for the wellbeing of others before herself. Poppy is all spit and fire. She is not practical in anyway, a hothead she often goes off on a tangent using her guns or fists. She is caring but very leery of those around her and the thought of giving her heart to someone scares her to death. Ivy is the strongest of all three sisters, she just doesn’t know it yet. Blind, Ivy has been treated like a baby by her sisters and she escapes the homestead in the middle of the night. She has fortitude and grit, but is unsure of her own abilities until she is forced to overcome her fear and utilize the senses she does have making her the strongest of them all.

Are the characters in your books based on anybody you know?

All of my characters are based on certain characteristics or personalities of a lot of different people rolled into one. But not one person individually.

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

Hmmm, well I’d like to say baking but that would be a lie. I’ve never explored any other skills because I have been content and fulfilled with writing.

What did you have the most fun with, when writing these books?

Being able to write women who were way beyond the time. Their actions, characteristics, and grit was not common back then and I had a blast putting it all together.

Can the books be read as standalones?

Yes! You can buy them individually in eBook and Paperback. The boxed set is only available in eBook.

Which book in this set is your personal favorite and why?

I love them all, but if I had to choose it’d be Poppy because she is a fire-cracker who is good with her colts and not afraid to use them, but she is also very caring and doesn’t think worthy of being loved.

When working on a new book, what is the first thing you do?

I’d like to tell you I plot it all out, but again that is not the truth. I generally have an idea in my head write down a few notes to get me going and allow the characters to tell me the rest. I have the story in my head by this time and I just go with it.

Do you have any interesting writing habits? What is an average writing day like for you?

I do! I have to write with a foot heater on no matter what the temperature outside is, a candle burning and coffee nearby…sometimes whiskey.

What are you working on right now?

A new series called The Kelly Brothers. I’m hoping to have the first book out in March.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

I am always on social media, Facebook or Instagram follow me there, and you can find all my books on my website.

Merry Christmas, and thank you for having me as the Author of the Day!