Friday 31 July 2009

Displacement Activity

Displacement activity seems to be the order of the day. This morning I have been penning an interview for the Book Queen Club website about The Concubine's Secret/The Girl From Junchow. That means removing my thoughts from the pincer grip of my present book (title - The Jewel Of St Petersburg) and sliding them back into Lydia's convoluted mind. I know Lydia so well it is like falling into the arms of an old friend and I am enjoying pondering the interesting questions posed by Queenie C, my interviewer.

I've also just finished a short story that I was invited to write for a UK woman's magazine. As this was the first short story I had ever attempted, I found it a challenging exercise, vastly different from novel writing. This is just a sliver of time in someone's life. I especially adored the fact that I could see my way through the beginning, the middle and the end all in one day. Bliss! Can't wait to see it in print in September.

You see what I mean about displacement activity?

19 comments:

Unknown said...

Not really a comment about the book (although I will get around to reading it - honest!). More interested in what branch of the Furnivall's you are from. My family are mostly Bristol, although links to Shropshire and probably Lancashire.
Regards
Ann Jones (nee Furnivall)

Anonymous said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you for a wonderful read in The Russian Concubine and The Concubine's Secret - which I bought together. I have just this minute finished them and dashed to find your website. I am desperate to hear that you will continue the story of Lydia. I just love her. Please, please do.
Thanks,
Debbie from Chester

Kate Furnivall said...

Hi Anngjones,
Good to hear from another Furnivall. I believe much of my family did come from the West Country - but I've not heard of Shropshire or Lancashire connections. It's certainly more unusual with the double 'l' at the end. An illustrious Norman-French name. All the best to you.

Kate Furnivall said...

Hi Debbie,
Thanks for the comments. I like to hear of people reading the two books together - that's cool. As for another sequel, ideas are spinning in my head whether I want them to or not.

Anonymous said...

just wanted to say that I love your writing!! Only complaint is that you don't write fast enough to keep me in books constantly lol Oh, is the "concubine's Secret" actually the Girl from Junchow in the US?

Kate Furnivall said...

Hi Anonymous 5th August,
Thanks for the enthusiasm for my books. Lovely to hear. And yes, The Concubine's Secret is the UK title for The Girl From Junchow. My next book will have the same title both sides of the Atlantic - The Jewel Of St Petersburg.

Sveta said...

Hey Miss Kate, thanks for writing the Russian Concubine, i really enjoyed reading the book. I love writing as well and am wondering if you might have any advice for a hopeful writer? Good luck with Jewel in St Peterburg, and hopefully there will be another novel about Lydia and Chang in the near future.

Kate Furnivall said...

Hi Sveta,
I'm pleased you liked The Russian Concubine. The sequel to it - called The Girl From Junchow (USA title) or The Concubine's Secret (UK title)- is in the shops now, continuing Lydia's story.
Two pieces of advice to a writer:- I would say write about something you feel strongly about. If the author cares passionately about what's on the page, so will the reader. And secondly, discipline yourself to get to the end of the book. The world is littered with unfinished manuscripts gathering dust in cupboards. I wish you every success. Happy writing.

Karen said...

sounds like you have been a busy bee, which magazine have you written for or is it a secret ;o)

Anonymous said...

Hi Kate

I have, like everyone else visiting your website presumably! read The Russian Concubine and the Concubine’s Secret. After reading the first novel there was an empty void whilst waiting for the sequel so I read Under a Blood Red Sky and again that is also a great book written by you. Well done for everything you have achieved and thank you for providing such good reads!!

I know you are writing The Jewel of St Petersburg and I am looking forward to reading this, do you have any rough dates in mind for when the release will be so that I can keep track and get the book as soon as it is released? And are you or will you be working on any more books re Lydia and Chang or are you currently thinking of writing something different?
As you can probably tell I really like your style of writing and the way you bring your characters to life...hope to hear from you soon.

Ruky,
West Yorkshire

Kate Furnivall said...

Hi Karen,
Good to hear from you again. The magazine is My Weekly, in their Big Name Story slot. It's due out in September - not sure which week. Take a look at it. Quite a challenge to adapt my style to suit the mag but happily they were delighted with it. See what you think.

Kate Furnivall said...

Hi Ruky,
Thanks for your support. As you have gathered, Russia has been very much my focus for the last few years after I discovered my Russian ancestry, but after The Jewel of St Petersburg I am planning on moving on to a different area of the world. I say 'planning' because I can never be sure that my intentions will not be sidetracked. I have had many requests for a sequel to the Lydia/Chang sequel, so I shall have to see how the muse takes me at the end of this year.
As for publication of The Jewel of St Petersburg in the UK, I'm not certain of the date but towards the end of next year I think. I shall post the date on my website as soon as I have it from my publisher. Happy reading.

Karen said...

Hi Kate I will start keeping and eye out, not a mag I usually get but will try for that one

Fernanda said...

Hi Kate,

I've just finished reading "The Russian concubine" and I have to say that I loved the novel so much. I just couldn't stop reading! It is that kind of book that grabs the reader from the first page until the last. And when only a few pages were left for reading, I was already missing the book.
So, am very pleased to know that Lydia's story will continue.

This is really the first time that am writing to an author, but it was an unexpected surprise to find your blog 

Best greetings from Portugal.
Fernanda

Kate Furnivall said...

Hi Fernanda,
Apologies for not replying before but I've only just found your post. Great to hear from you and to know Lydia and Chang are making waves out in Portugal. When I receive a copy of one of my books in a foreign language I skim through the pages and can only hope that the translater has done a good job. I'm delighted you enjoyed it.

Stephanie said...

Hi Kate. I have just finished reading The Russian Concubine and The Concubine's Secret. WOW!!! You are truly gifted. I loved the story and am quite sad that there is no more... You can definitely follow up with Lydia's new adventures in China??? Your description of Chang as her soul mate is breathtaking! Who could be so lucky to find a soul mate like that? Your story makes our dreams a reality - even though it's just while we are reading your books! Thanks so much.

Kate Furnivall said...

Hi Stephanie,
Lydia and Chang's relationship just seemed to fall into place in my mind. I never had to work at it - they fitted together so perfectly. It gives me great pleasure to read that you derived such enjoyment while reading their story.

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