My mother's parents were Russian and Danish. Whaaat? When I found out, wow, you could have knocked me down with a babushka. I had to rethink myself. What did being part-Russian mean? I dived into all things Russian and the result was my first book, The Russian Concubine .
The Liberation
I am the world's most ridiculous optimist. And I do mean ridiculous. It gets me into trouble. I always believe I can overcome the odds, which leads me to take risks. Like when I ended up being rescued from a watery death by an RNLI helicopter and lifeboat. I now do a fundraiser for them every year.
Furnivall is my maiden name. When I started writing, it gave me huge pleasure to reclaim my name. Connecting again with the person I was when I was young. My husband laughs with good grace when he is called Mr Furnivall.
I worked in advertising. For years I filmed commercials all over the world. It gave me the travel-bug and my books are all set in exotic lands - China, Russia, deserts of Egypt etc. I get to explore. It makes me feel like an adventurer. But every time I go on a research trip, bizarre and even dangerous events seems to hound my footsteps - riots, earthquakes, electricity blackouts, landslips etc. Is the world trying to tell me something?
I ride motorbikes. Years ago when I lived in London I buzzed myself around on a cute little red Honda ST70, but now I have a friend who takes me for a blast across Dartmoor on his Triumph 1000. Sheer bliss. Riding pillion teaches trust.
My husband is a writer. He has had 13 crime novels published. That's what started me off. If he could do it, sure as sun-up I could too. As I said earlier, I am an eternal optimist. And competitive. Did I mention that?
Gone With The Wind is my favourite film. I saw it first when I was 10 years old and it blew my wide-eyed mind away. All that head-tossing and female defiance in a man's world, the brutal pain and suffering of war and slavery. They imprinted on me. And I know they emerge each time I pick up my pen to write. I am very aware of a snippet of Scarlett O'Hara glowing in each of my female main characters.
I listen to voices. Everywhere I go, I eavesdrop on others. Not just the words but the voices themselves. I once did a recording session with Orson Welles and had a chat with Richard Burton in a loo about plumbing - two of the greatest dark-chocolate voices to grace this earth. Mine is scratchy due to a throat op, so I am a sucker for anyone who comes at me with honey-smooth tones.
I adore Italy. Everything about it. It is the only other country I could live in. I have set two books there, The Italian Wife, and my latest The Liberation, because I cannot stay away. I don't rule out another book there one day!
I write about people searching. Searching for someone. It surprises me, but it's true. My father left my family home when I was young and I didn't see him again for ten years. Writers try to hide themselves from their readers, but they can't.
The Liberation by Kate Furnivall is out tomorrow.