My new book, The White Pearl, is published by Little Brown/Sphere on Thursday 1st December 2011 in export edition worldwide and on Kindle.

The White Pearl is set in the heat and jungle of Malaya 1941. As the glamorous wife of a plantation owner, Connie Hadley’s life appears pampered and comfortable. But when the Japanese launch their attack on Pearl Harbour and invade Malaya, Connie finds her world torn apart. She flees with her family and friends on her yacht, The White Pearl, but danger confronts them and the course of her life is changed for ever.

This is an exciting new setting for me and presented many unforeseen challenges, but it is a world that fascinates and entices me into taking new risks. My publisher, Sphere, has again come up with a beautiful cover that evokes a world that is on the brink of disaster.

The Jewel of St Petersburg

published November 2010 by Sphere

Today is publication day in the UK. A day of excitement and jangling nerves. A day for cruising the bookshops. Interviews, book-signing, photographs, talks - it's all part of the process of launching a new book. And my publisher, Little, Brown/Sphere, does it with style.

The Jewel of St Petersburg is the dramatic story of Valentina Ivanova, set in pre-Revolution Russia in an extravagant and decadent tsarist world. She struggles to find an independent life for herself and tries to protect her young sister from the tumult sweeping St Petersburg, as sabres rattle and Russia is bound for rebellion.

Early reviews:
"Full of rich history, heart-stopping romance and delicious dangers … a sweeping sumptuous epic." Lancashire Evening Post
"An impressive novel … an absorbing story that will enthral from start to finish." Ulster Tatler
"High drama and old fashioned passion make this perfect escapist reading." Marie Claire
"It's fast-paced, has wonderfully drawn characters and somehow manages to melt truckloads of research into a super-smooth read." Next Magazine
"Delicious turns of plot as the characters are caught between cultures and ideologies." Weekend Herald
"A fast-paced and exciting read." Historical Novels Review
"As potent and heady as vodka and as glittering as a Fabergé egg." Night Owls Review

My latest book, The Jewel of St Petersburg, is published in the US by Berkley this month. It is the dramatic story of Valentina Ivanova, set in pre-Revolution Russia in an extravagant and decadent tsarist world. It is always a great moment when your latest book is on display in bookstores and is receiving good reviews. Here's a taste of what they are saying so far:

1) 'Gripping, elegant and fierce, this is a classic war-torn love story, and Furnivall's best yet.' Library Journal
2) 'Furnivall skilfully intertwines historical fact with a heartfelt love story. This will be a delight for Furnivall's fans, and equally a joy for those new to her work.' Publishers Weekly
3) 'Furnivall's vivid descriptions and the shimmering beauty of the era combine with a memorable love story that will speak to readers' hearts and minds.' Romantic Times Magazine
4) 'A completely captivating read. Kate Furnivall has an exceptional writing style, with fluid dialogue and rich descriptions … a jewel of a book.' Barnes & Noble .com
5) 'This is one of the best historical romance books I've ever read.' Goodreads.com
6) 'A classy, elegant and very impressive novel. One of the outstanding reads of this year.' Marjoleinbookblog.com

The Jewel of St Petersburg, my latest book will be published on 3 August in US by Berkley, and in June (large format) and November (paperback) in UK.

I've loved the shift of mood in this book and relished the delight of immersing myself in the lavish lifestyle of the final glory days of the tsarist regime in Russia. It was an extravagant and decadent world of self-indulgence and gaudy excess, of Imperial balls, glittering diamonds and romantic sleigh rides - a sharp contrast to the privations of the underpaid workforce. It's a story of passion and treachery set against a backdrop of danger. And isn't the cover gorgeous? As lush and lavish as the world it describes.

No Man ebook for Haiti : I and other authors have contributed to an eBook called No Man published by Little, Brown UK, and its publication marks the hundredth day since the earthquake occurred. There are stories by Alexander McCall Smith, Dorothy Koomson, Louise Candlish and Bernadette Strachan, among others, and all proceeds go to UNICEF's Haiti Earthquake Children's Appeal. Everyone involved gave their services free of charge and the eBook costs just £4.99 from Waterstones.com. Please, please, please buy and enjoy, while helping the victims of the earthquake.

Interview about The Girl From Junchow

BOOK CLUB QUEEN interview http://www.book-club-queen.com/kate-furnivall.html

(one of numerous book websites I've recently enjoyed doing interviews for)

Today is publication day in the UK for The Concubine’s Secret (titled The Girl from Junchow in the US). My publisher Sphere/Little Brown has produced a gorgeous cover that conveys the drama of the story. It is the sequel to The Russian Concubine and follows Lydia Ivanova as she journeys through Stalin-controlled Russia in search of her father.

She travels with her half-brother Alexei, but tension grows between the two of them and when Alexei disappears, Lydia is left almost penniless. Surrounded by dangers, she finds herself entangled with a Russian officer. But Chang An Lo has not forgotten Lydia …

On Saturday 4th July I will be doing a book signing in Torbay Bookshop, Torbay Road, Paignton, Devon, at 10.30am. I look forward to meeting and greeting readers.

Today The Girl from Junchow (titled The Concubine’s Secret in UK) is published in America by Berkley. Yes, at last, it is the long-awaited sequel to The Russian Concubine, so it has a lot to live up to after the first book’s success. I think readers will find themselves just as involved as before. I loved exploring the world through Lydia’s eyes once again and discovering where her habit of seizing life by the throat would take her this time. The answer is, of course, to Russia.

May 2009

My new book - called The Concubine's Secret in the UK and called The Girl From Junchow in the US - will be published in America on 2nd June and in the UK on 2nd July. So I am fascinated to start hearing feedback as the first copies go out to reviewers and reps. This is a exciting time for an author but nail-biting as well. I loved writing this sequel to The Russian Concubine and seeing where Lydia would take me this time. I wish her well on this second outing.

The events announced here last month were clearly jinxed and again had to be cancelled for reasons beyond my control. Apologies.

Under a Blood Red Sky

published November 2008 by Sphere

Publication: Great excitement for publication at the beginning of next month and already the first good reviews are coming in. It's wonderful to see what a great emotive cover Sphere has again come up with which will help it jump off the shelves.

Asda: Under a Blood Red Sky has been chosen by Asda as its pick for November for its Book Club and has printed a special edition for it. This contains a long interview with myself about the book, about what drove me to write it and some fun personal questions. Also a list of discussion points for Readers' Groups. So great value. This is a real honour for me. Thank you, Asda.

My new book is now published. It has different titles in the UK and the USA - but I assure you it is the same book.

In USA from Berkley,

The Red Scarf

In UK from LittleBrown/Sphere,

Under a Blood Red Sky

The new book is a sweeping novel set in Russia 1933. Only two things keep Sofia Morozova alive in Davinsky labour camp: her friendship with fragile Anna Fedorina and the thought of freedom. When Anna falls ill, Sofia swears to help her. She escapes to seek out Anna's childhood love,a revolutionary named Vasily, to enlist his aid. Her quest leads her to the Ural mountains and Mikhail Pashin. She falls passionately in love with him, knowing he is Vasily and belongs to Anna. Torn between loyalty and desire, danger and passion, Sofia must make crucial choices.

The Red Scarf is published by Berkley in the USA in June 2008.
Under a Blood Red Sky is published by LittleBrown/Sphere in July 2008 and in the UK in November 2008.

Huge good news today. The Russian Concubine is on the extended New York Bestseller list at #30. This is what every author dreams of and I've been celebrating in style, champagne corks popping.

The Russian Concubine was also selected as BBC Radio Five Live's Book of the Month for November. Discussed by Radio Five Live's Simon Mayo Book Panel, it was described as:

'A splendid book … tremendous vibrancy … I adored it … a fabulous very affecting love story full of wonderful characters' - Sarah Harrison

'Totally compelling' - Boyd Hilton

'A great read' - Helen Dunning

'Extraordinarily lush' - Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize winner

It was also described by New Woman as an 'achingly beautiful epic' and by Marie Claire magazine as 'breathtakingly good'.

This is a great first month in the UK for The Russian Concubine.