Kate Furnivall is a British historical novelist who is well known for the

debut novel A debut novel is the first novel a novelist publishes. Debut novels are often the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to p ...

, '' The Russian Concubine''.

Early life

Furnivall was born to an English father and White Russian mother. She grew up with a

twin Twins are two offspring produced by the same pregnancy.MedicineNet > Definition of TwinLast Editorial Review: 19 June 2000 Twins can be either ''monozygotic'' ('identical'), meaning that they develop from one zygote, which splits and forms two em ...

sister, an older brother and a sister, with the four children raised in Penarth, a small seaside town in Wales, United Kingdom (UK). Furnivall's mother's own childhood was spent in Russia, China and India, and it was her mother who inspired Furnivall to write.

Career

Furnivall's first novel, ''The Russian Concubine'', is based on her mother's life and was written following the latter's death in 2000 (a request to document Furnivall's mother's life came from the author's family in the wake of the passing). Furnivall has cited the origins of her writing career in the prolific oeuvre of her husband, also an author, who has written under the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

, "Neville Steed". The author's books are published by Sphere, an imprint of the English publishing company, Little, Brown.

Personal life

Furnivall attended London University and worked in advertising where she met her future husband Norman. Furnivall has two sons and currently lives with her husband in Devon.

Works

*'' The Russian Concubine'' (2007) Under a Blood Red Sky (2008) *''The Red Scarf (2008)'' (Published as ''Under a Blood Red Sky'' in the UK) *''The Girl from Junchow'' (2009) (Published as '' The Concubine's Secret'' in the UK) *'' The Jewel of St Petersburg'' (2010) *'' The White Pearl'' (2011) *''Shadows on the Nile'' (2012) *''Diamonds in the Dust'' (2012) The Far Side of the Sun (2013) The Italian Wife (2014) The Liberation (2016)

References

External links

Official SiteAt Sphere FictionProfile at Writers of Wales Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:Furnivall, Kate Living people British people of Russian descent British historical novelists British women novelists 21st-century British novelists British twins Alumni of the University of London 21st-century British women writers Women historical novelists Year of birth missing (living people)