Welcome to the Campfire. Today's guest is Susan Leigh Furlong

Hi, Susan thanks for being such a trooper and jumping in at the last minute. Being flexable is definitely part of the campers personality. As Sheldon Cooper would say, "May I offer you a beverage?"
Cocoa and only cocoa!

Great choice. There's nothing better than sitting around the fire with a cup of liquid heaven. I even make my own. Tell us have you ever camped, or as I call what I do, Glamp.
When our boys were little we camped with my in-laws, first in a pop-up and later in a RV.

That's how many begin. I spoke with my son last night to firm up a trip with the Grands. Tell us about your latest project. 
By Promise Made should have an official publication date within two or three weeks. It is set when Mary, Queen of Scots was four years old and many in power threatened her life. Hugh Cullane and Katherine Payne are pledged to protect her. Hugh Cullane, accused of murder and sentenced to hang, is forced to deliver a message of betrothal to four-year-old Queen Mary of Scotland. He faces death yet again when, in rejecting the proposal, the queen's guardian orders his severed head sent back to England in a jar.
Trained to protect her queen at all costs, Katherine Payne can show no mercy to the handsome messenger, despite the way his stolen kiss unsettles her single-minded sense of duty. Trapped between the English and Scottish armies, she must escape with Mary. Hugh joins her as they are chased by men determined to murder the young queen in their own quest for power.

Sounds intriguing! How long did it take you from conception to publication?  It takes me about a year to complete the book to send to the publisher. Publisher editing takes several months more.

It can be a long process that many are unaware of Are there any mentors, authors, or books, other than yours, you would like to give a shout-out to? This may sound hokey, but since working with Wild Rose Press, I am so impressed by the many other authors at Wild Rose and the quality of what they write.

I don't think it's hokey at all. Since becoming a member of the Garden, I am amazed at the supportive authors, editors  and Rhonda, R.J. and Lisa. I'm also blessed with my own editor, Elf Felder.  Please share with us what you thing literary success looks like.
It may not be on the best seller list, but to hear that people I don’t even know enjoyed what I wrote makes my day like no other.

Amen to that. Do you have any Life Hacks for Authors? Also the pandemic is at the front of most peoples minds what's helped get you through?
None of us have enjoyed this recent pandemic and subsequent quarantine, but we’ve endured as best we could. Some days went well. Others truly sucked. I think I would have gone over to the dark side, if I didn’t have some 400-year-old friends to keep me company.
 Hugh Cullane and Kit Payne in my second novel, By Promise Made, got me through the lock down of March and April. Working on the edits was at times tedious, but I got to watch Hugh and Kit fall deeper into their adventure and their romance. It’s hard to explain to non-writers how much I actually love them! The book should be out very soon, and I can hardly wait to share their story in print. 

It's astounding how an author can get so immersed in their story and characters. And I think, especially in the romance genre we can help our reader a bit of escape, entertainment and hope when they read our books.
Now onto our fun questions ​

• Years ago, there was a commercial that talked about a “Kodak Moment.” It’s a moment in time you catch in a picture. One you never want to forget. What is yours? I have two. The first time I held my son in my arms and the first time I held my granddaughter in my arms.
• Teach me something I don’t know in two sentences. If you eat a live frog in the morning, nothing worse will happen to either of you the rest of the day. 

(🤣🤣🤣)
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• Favorite childhood book? Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
• Last book or movie that made you cry? I cry every time at Cyrano De Bergerac. She loses him twice!
• If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be? My last meal would be lobster, dripping with butter, and a chocolate with more chocolate sundae.
• Last thing you googled? Newsletter D.V. Stone

​Thanks, Susan. Now before you leave, can you tell us more about yourself and your books?

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By Promise Made isn't avialable yet but if the blurb above intrigued you maybe you can whet your whistle with
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Vicious gangs of reivers roam Scotland during the tumultuous reign of James V, and one of these gangs, led by a man with a red stain on his face, threatens all that Robin holds dear. The man steals Robin's ear and then nearly steals his life, but Robin will not let him take anything else, not his home, not his family, and not the woman he loves. Even when accused of murder and facing the hangman's noose, Robin will remain steadfast above all else.

As long as she lives, Suannoch will carry her half of the shilling she and Robin split when they pledged their devotion to each other. Even after she is forced into an unwanted betrothal, their unwavering love is stronger than anything trying to keep them apart. After Robin's arrest, Suannoch vows to rescue him or bring his body back, because where they have chosen, steadfast will they be. 
Available at
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S3Q1FK6/

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Author links.
www.SusanLFurlong.com
[email protected]
Facebook.com/SusanLeighFurlong
Twitter.com/furlongleigh
Susan Leigh Furlong is a lifelong writer about people who were so busy living their lives they didn’t know they were living history. With research and imagination her favorite thing is to drop her hero and heroine in the middle of true historical event. She has written two non-fiction books about her hometown and co-authored a play about the twelve disciples at the Last Supper. Her first book from Wild Rose Press, Steadfast Will I Be, was published in June 2019. The second book, By Promise Made, has a coming-soon publication date.
Although raised a big city girl, she now lives in small town Ohio with her husband and two cats, Calvin and Hobbes.​