Kate Furnivall is a renowned literary and historical fiction author, best known for her captivating storytelling and rich historical details. She was born in the small seaside town of Penarth in Wales and was raised with a keen awareness of the volatility of the world. This consciousness was instilled in her by her mother, who had spent her own childhood in India, China, and Russia. Furnivall's mother taught her that the only things of true value were those within one's heart and mind.
Furnivall's upbringing in Penarth, along with her mother's influence, would later become significant inspirations for her writing. After studying English at London University and working in publishing and advertising, Furnivall traveled extensively. These experiences gave her a unique insight into different cultures, which would prove invaluable in her writing, particularly in her debut novel, The Russian Concubine.
The Russian Concubine was inspired by Furnivall's mother's extraordinary childhood experiences as a White Russian refugee in China. While the novel features fictional characters and events, Furnivall drew from her mother's experiences to create the story's backdrop. The novel, published in 2007, marked the beginning of Furnivall's successful writing career, which has since produced ten novels, including The Survivors, The Liberation, and The Betrayal. Her books have been translated into more than twenty languages and have appeared on the Sunday Times and New York Times Bestseller lists.