About Author

Susan Leigh Furlong

Susan Leigh Furlong
  • Genre:

    Historical Romance Historical Fiction
  • Country: United States
  • Books: 4
  • Profession: Author
  • Member Since: Aug 2020
  • Profile Views: 13,675
  • Followers: 113
  • VISIT AUTHOR: Website, Facebook, Twitter,
BIOGRAPHY

Susan Leigh Furlong knew she had a special connection with words since she was a child. When she was 9 years old, she wrote and directed her first play for the neighborhood children.

Susan’s love for history fuels her resilience against the sneezes and coughs that old books give her as she delves into research for unique historical events to inspire her historical fiction romance novels. Susan captures her readers’ imagination with a highly enthralling style, chronological events, and smoothly flowing narratives that keep one’s eyes glued on her novels from the first page to the last.

Susan has written two non-fiction books and three novels set in sixteenth century Scotland as well as several short stories published in national magazines. Her most recent release is Desperate Hope, a novel set during the American Revolution. When Susan is not combing through history piecing together her next novel, she writes, directs, and performs with a music and drama group.

Susan Leigh Furlong's Books

Stay in the loop on books by Susan Leigh Furlong. See upcoming and best-selling books by the author here. You'll also find the deals on books by Susan Leigh Furlong.
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Book
By Promise Made
$4.99 kindleeBook,
By Promise Madeby Susan Leigh FurlongPublish: Sep 23, 2020Historical Romance
Steadfast Will I Be
$4.99 kindleeBook,
Steadfast Will I Beby Susan Leigh FurlongPublish: Jun 24, 2019Historical Romance
Keeper of My Dreams
$4.99 kindleeBook, Paperback,
Keeper of My Dreamsby Susan FurlongPublish: Sep 06, 2021Historical Romance Historical Fiction
Desperate Hope
$4.99 kindleeBook, Paperback,
Desperate Hopeby Susan Leigh FurlongPublish: Dec 13, 2022

Susan Leigh Furlong's Awards and Achievements

    Susan Leigh Furlong has earned excellence awards over time. Here is the glimpse of the accolades clinched by the author.

  • N.N. Heaven's Light Finalist
    2021

    Keeper of My Dreams

    award
  • NEST - National Excellence in Story Telling
    2021

    By Promise Made

    award

Susan Leigh Furlong Interview On 21, Mar 2022

"Susan Leigh Furlong always wanted to be a teacher. She always made up stories as a child. Her first officially published work was an article written for a children’s magazine entitled “The Dumbest Kid in School.” Historical Romance is Susan's favorite type of book. A bookstore is her favorite place in the whole world."
What were some of your aims and aspirations growing up?

I always wanted to be a teacher. I was told in Junior High that I could not be a mechanic by the guidance counselor, even though that was my aptitude, “because I was a girl,” but that didn’t matter I was going to be a teacher! I taught first grade and fourth grade, and always emphasized creative writing with my students.

What did your parents think when you decided you wanted to be a writer?

I always made up stories as a child – Wrote and directed my first play when I was nine. My parents were not surprised that I write books, but wished me luck in an often difficult field.

What started your love of history? Was history your favorite subject in school?

For some reason the lives of people from the past always fascinated me. As a child I read all the children’s biography books – the series with the orange covers. Caddie Woodlawn – the story of a pioneer child – was my all-time favorite book. As an adult I am also drawn to historical books – fiction and non-fiction. I love doing historical research even though old books make me cough and sneeze.

What is the best thing about living in southern Ohio? If you had a chance to live anywhere else in the world, where would it be?

I moved around the country a lot as a child, but settled in Ohio after I married. I now live in a small town, and “you couldn’t get me out of here with a crowbar!” I love knowing the people who live here. If I could live anywhere else in the world, it would be Scotland. My heritage is Scottish and I felt drawn to the country when I visited.

Do you think Hugh's story from By Promise Made, is a common one? What were some emotions running through your head when you wrote this book?

Hugh in By Promise Made is a gambler and a ladies-man who hasn’t found his purpose in life. I believe many young people are searching for their purpose, and Hugh found his in Kit and young Queen Mary. As a teacher, I am drawn to “the wounded birds,” the ones who struggle to find direction and need encouragement, so I was “in love” with Hugh from the moment I created him.

Have you ever met anyone like Reid Haliburton in real life? What do you think it takes for a skilled gunsmith like Reid to fall in love and want to settle down?

Reid Haliburton had a great life, a fine occupation, a happy marriage and five sons, until disease took his wife and two oldest sons. His life now shattered, he searches for new purpose. The death of a spouse is devastating and puts everything off kilter until new direction can be found. Reid found his in Leena Cullane.

How did you come up with the plot of your book, Steadfast Will I Be?

In doing random research, I found that King James V of Scotland became king as an infant, but was imprisoned by his step-father until he escaped at age sixteen and regained his throne. He floundered without dependable advice and support. I put my orphaned character, Robin, from Steadfast Will I Be, into a similar situation when he was taken in by Laird Bretane and taught how to be a leader.

Do you have any funny stories from when you were a newbie author and still learning your way around?

My first officially published work was an article written for a children’s magazine entitled “The Dumbest Kid in School.” When my first paycheck arrived, I jumped around for joy, shouting and dancing at the mailbox. The neighbors thought I was crazy!!

What is the craziest thing you've ever done to get your book written and published?

Seventeen years ago I was asked by the President of the Women’s Society at our church to prepare a program for their meeting. I said “Yes!” without the faintest idea of what I would do. I got a program together with skits and music based on some of the stories from “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” That was the start of a traveling drama and music group called “LightReaders,” for which I have written and directed hundreds of programs presented at numerous churches and other groups.

Is it harder to write from the point of view of the opposite sex? Is there anyone from the opposite sex whose opinions you ask while writing such a character?

I tend to write male characters based on my observations of men’s behavior with a bit of what I’d like to see in the ideal man thrown in. I enjoy writing male characters, probably because in my books I can control them and make them turn out the way I’d want them to be. Doesn’t every woman? Two of my covers feature a shirtless muscular man, and many men have thanked me for using them as the model!

What inspires you?

Many historical events come under the category of “You can’t make this stuff up!” These fascinate me. So many unbelievable things have happened in the past, and so many continue to happen today! They inspire my plots and storylines. I am also inspired by family. My characters always come from strong, loving families. That may be because I did not come from such a family as a child, but I can make it so for my characters.

Do you prefer going to the library/bookstore to purchase your books or do you just prefer to download books onto your kindle/computer/phone?

A bookstore is my favorite place in the whole world. I could spend hours there, and I have passed this love of books on to my granddaughter who loves our visits there as much as I do. I read snippets from as many books as I can, and I have to rein myself in to keep from buying all of them. I do the same thing with my e-reader. I probably have several hundred books stored on it, always with 20+ I downloaded and have yet to read. One can never have too many books! (Or too much music!)

Have you ever collaborated with other authors? Who is one author you would love to collaborate and write a book with?

I have never collaborated with another author. An author I have read for years I’d like to work with is Jude Deveraux. Her book Velvet Song got me hooked on historical romance a number of years ago when I won a free copy. Another author I’d love to work with is Ken Follet. No one creates the characters who lived in true historical events and settings the way he does.

Are you working on anything currently? If so, what is it about?

I am working on my fourth book for The Wild Rose Press entitled Desperate Hope. It is set during the American Revolution and centers around the spy network George Washington created to free New York City from British control. My hero is a former Continental soldier who becomes a double agent, and when his duplicity is discovered by the British, he must escape the city with the woman he loves and her family.

Lastly, how would you rate your experience with AllAuthor? Will you be recommending this platform to your author friends?

My experience with AllAuthor has been very favorable. I cannot create the photos of my book covers on my own, and using the ones sent by AllAuthor on Facebook or other sites are terrific. I also appreciate the tweets AllAuthor sends on a regular basis about my books. I can also now send out information to my email list through AllAuthor, and the professional style is greatly appreciated. These are a big help to an author on a budget.

Ask Susan Leigh Furlong a Question

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    • AllAuthor AllAuthor 1 year ago
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    • How do you think concepts such as Kindle, and e-books have changed the present or future of reading?
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      • Susan Leigh Furlong Susan Leigh Furlong 1 year ago
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      • E-books make for quick, easy access to books with no limit on storage space, making for fewer overflowing bookshelves! Slim e-readers are easy to carry, so books are available on a moment's notice. Readers can also get books at a much lower cost, allowing them access to a larger variety.
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      • Susan Leigh Furlong Susan Leigh Furlong 1 year ago
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      • I label my books as Historical Adventure Romance. My style most resembles the Outlander series without the time travel aspect. My hero and heroine's love is tested by the circumstances surrounding them, and I love a good villain.
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      • Susan Leigh Furlong Susan Leigh Furlong 1 year ago
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      • The title brings the potential reader/buyer to the book first, and then the cover and the blurb take the reader inside the story. The cover, title, and the blurb must be chosen and edited to showcase the story in a way that attracts the reader/buyer very quickly, and once inside the book, good writing keeps people coming back for more.
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      • Susan Leigh Furlong Susan Leigh Furlong 1 year ago
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      • I have written stories for as long as I can remember, but publishing my first book gave me the experience and confidence to say "I am a writer." This encouraged me to do more research, to write more, and to learn more about the process of creating characters and their stories.
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      • Susan Leigh Furlong Susan Leigh Furlong 1 year ago
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      • Being recognized in public always gives me a chance to meet new people. Quite often we do not talk about the book as much as we get to know each other. I, of course, love to hear that someone has enjoyed one of my books!
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