Murder in the Appalachians by Susan Furlong
Guest Post + Book & Author Info + a Giveaway!
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Murder in the Appalachians
On the run in the mountains…
with a killer on their trail.
After unearthing secrets from her late brother’s police notebook, journalist Emma Hayes discovers his death was no accident—he was murdered. Only someone doesn’t want Emma to find out the connection to the cold case her brother was investigating…and they’ll kill to keep it that way.
Now Emma must rely on local ER doctor Logan Greer to help her stay alive and follow a trail of elusive evidence. But as they unravel a conspiracy, they realize that the killer could be anyone hiding in the mountains…
Book Details:
Genre: Love Inspired Suspense – Romantic Suspense
Published by: Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense
Publication Date: April 1, 2025
Number of Pages: 206
ISBN: 9781335980533 (ISBN10: 1335980539)
To purchase your copy, click any of the following links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Harlequin
Guest Post: Murder in the Appalachians
Writers Life: Learning from Rejections
By: Susan Furlong
Rejection happens to every author. It’s not a reflection of talent but simply part of the journey. Even famous writers have faced it—Stephen King’s Carrie was rejected thirty times before it saw the light of day, Gone With the Wind received thirty-eight rejections, and Lord of the Flies was turned down by twenty-one different publishers.
But for new authors, rejection can be devastating. I know this firsthand. When my first book was rejected, the editor’s response was particularly harsh. Her note said, “Your main character annoyed me.”
What? How could the editor not like my character? I’d poured my heart and soul into bringing that character to life. I was devastated. First, I cried, and then I swore off writing forever. But after a few days of sulking and eating too much ice cream, I revisited her rejection. The editor’s words still stung, but this time, I was able to view the feedback with a more objective perspective.
And with more humility.
My rejection wasn’t personal; I’d never met the editor. It was just one person’s opinion. But was there a tiny, tiny bit of truth in her comment? I decided to take a step back and reevaluate my character. I reread the manuscript with fresh eyes and realized that yes, my character was a little over-the-top.
I began revising.
The next couple of months were spent reshaping the main character. And once I finished, the story was undeniably stronger for it. I began resubmitting the novel, and this time, it was accepted by a small press. That book became the first of many, and each subsequent one taught me something new about writing, rejection, and perseverance.
Rejection is something we all encounter in many areas of our lives, but it doesn’t define us. Instead, it’s an opportunity to grow. The key is persistence, because sometimes all it takes is one “yes” to turn everything around. So, if you’re feeling defeated, remember that perseverance is what turns dreams into reality. Keep going.
Author of Murder in the Appalachians Susan Furlong
Susan Furlong grew up in North Dakota where she spent long winters at her local library scouring the shelves for mysteries to read.
Now, she lives in Illinois with her husband and children and writes mysteries of all types. She has over a dozen published novels and her work has earned a spot in the New York Times list of top crime fiction books of the year.
When not writing, she volunteers at her church and spends time hiking and fishing.
To learn more abut Susan click on any of the following links: www.SusanFurlong.com, Amazon Author Profile, Goodreads, BookBub – @SusanFurlongAuthor, Instagram – @susanfurlong, Threads – @susanfurlong, X – @Furlong_Suem, Facebook – @SusanFurlongAuthor & Pinterest – @S_FurlongAuthor
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Elena Taylor/Elena Hartwell
Great guest post! I love to be on the inside of the writing process.
I’ll be reading this one soon, can’t wait!
Rejection is so hard! I love that Susan was willing to talk about her experiences.
Thank you for having me as a guest on your site, Elena!
It’s always a pleasure to host you, Susan!