My Writing Corner : A Romance With The Written Word

As someone who has spent years enjoying reading, writing, and meeting other authors, I always enjoy the stories behind the many guests who visit My Writing Corner.

Visiting us once again is author Susan Leigh Furlong, who says she knew she had a special connection with words beginning when she was a child. At nine years old, she wrote and directed her first play for the children in her neighborhood.

She says her 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.

Her first three books, published by The Wild Rose Press, center on a family living in the Scottish Highlands in the sixteenth century. Her most recent novel takes place during the American Revolution, featuring the same family but across the pond. A fifth book takes the reader back to Scotland. She also has two non-fiction books filled with over 200 photographs and tales about her home town.

When she is not researching and creating her stories, she writes, directs, and performs with a music and drama group. She married a small-town boy, and they have lived there ever since. Although born a “big city” girl, she says you now couldn’t get her out of that small town--even with a crowbar!

Let's find out more about Susan's latest book and how she came up with the idea to write Forgiven Never Forgotten?

I love to write historical stories based on true events, and during some research, I came across the Glencoe Massacre in 1692. King William wanted all the Highland clans to sign a loyalty oath to ensure the stability of his monarchy. However, some thought the “Highland barbarians” could only be coerced by violence, so troops were sent to Glencoe, Scotland where the small clan of MacDonald paid their tax by feeding and housing the soldiers. After two weeks of MacDonald hospitality, the king’s men were ordered to put to the sword “every man, woman, and child under seventy.” The attack began at dawn, and many were killed in their beds while others escaped only to freeze to death in the hills.

That got me to thinking about how people could forgive such a murderous betrayal of trust and go on with their lives. I wanted to explore how my hero and heroine from enemy clans could first overcome clan bitterness to find their own path to commitment and love – a Romeo and Juliet trope but with a happy ending. Once they were in love, and as a writer who must make things worse, they now had to deal with the greater betrayal, death, and murder of her clan and his seeming blame for it. As to be expected, despite bitterness and separation, Rory and Joneta created their own HEA destiny through determination and devotion.

In reality, it took three years of public outcry to convince King William to hold the true perpetrators of this tragedy responsible. The consequences turned out to be minimal, but in true Highland fashion, the MacDonald clan rebuilt their homes and their lives. No one inhabits the glen today, but the memory of the Glencoe Massacre remains. Forgiven, but never forgotten.

Let's get a blurb:

Rory Campbell, falsely accused of participating in the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe killings, is sentenced to hang as a sacrificial lamb while the real agents of the slaughter escape blame. He risks everything to convince the love of his life, Joneta MacDonald, of the truth. He can never forget how completely she owns his heart.

Joneta MacDonald watches helplessly as her family is murdered by the king’s men, but forgiving Rory for his seeming participation is harder than she imagined. What must she endure besides the clan’s hatred? With the overwhelming odds against them, she clings to her love for a man labelled a traitor.

Want more? Then let's get an excerpt:

Rory left his letters tucked inside Clyde’s books. A different book every time, and part of the fun for Joneta was searching for it. She found today’s letter in a red bound book about the ancient world. Rory wrote with broad strokes and often smeared the ink because he was left-handed, one more thing his father disapproved of.

Joneta, My chridhe,

Ye come to me every morning as soon as I open my eyes. Ye fill my thoughts all day until I close my eyes, and then my dreams are of ye. Even when ye are not with me, I ken we are working together toward a better life. Not a minute goes by that I dinna miss ye, kenning that when we are together again, it will be all the sweeter.

Rory

Joneta slipped her letters to Rory in and among Lorna’s pans, jars, and bowls on the shelves. Her handwriting was small and the words tightly packed together, often two letters on one page.

Rory, My Love,

I never kenned what love meant until I met ye. But its power is greater than anything I could ever imagine. I am waiting for the day when we can walk hand-in-hand, with naught to keep us apart, and build our lives as one. I love you in ways words canna say. Only my heart kens the truth.

Yer love, Joneta.

Joneta read Rory’s letters over and over until she memorized them. At home in her bed, she repeated the word softly, and they lulled her to sleep.

Lorna, knowing neither of them could carry the letters with them, saved each one in colorfully painted boxes she kept on the shelf beside her chair. Clyde made the boxes out of scraps of wood and Lorna painted them, Joneta’s with yellow flowers and birds, and Rory’s in blue stripes.

On days they were together, they read the letters aloud to each other. “I want to hear yer voice say the words, and I ne’er want to forget even one of them.” He often read them in funny voices, sometimes high and squeaky and other times, deep and scary. Her laughter only encouraged him to come up with new accents….

Joneta dropped Rory’s latest letter into her lap. “The Lairds of the Highlands were called to Achallander Castle to talk about signing a loyalty oath to King William,” she told Lorna. “Da is no’ in favor but says he will wait until our deposed King James in France releases us from our allegiance to him. He doesna want his loyalties divided.”

“When must he sign this oath to King William?” asked Clyde.

“All clans have until December 31 this year.”

Forgiven Never Forgotten will be officially released on 12/20/2023 – Until then it can be pre-ordered.

Here are the Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)

Books are available on Susan's website - Https://SusanLFurlong.com

UNIVERSAL LINKS

Booklinker - https://mybook.to/pCg1

Books2Read - https://books2read.com/u/mYDKDp

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199723206-forgiven-never-forgotten?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=3G6EzuBBhL&rank=5

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/search?search=Susan+Leigh+Furlong

Susan's Social Media Links:

Facebook@SusanLFurlong