Maggie Furey

Maggie Furey was an English author, best known for her series of young adult fantasy novels, the Artefacts of Power. Born in 1955 in North East England, Furey spent the majority of her adult life as a resident of County Wicklow, Ireland. She was a qualified teacher and also contributed to BBC Radio Newcastle as a book reviewer. In addition to her work as a reviewer, Furey served as an advisor for the Durham Reading Resources Centre and organized children's book fairs.

Furey's passion for literature and fantasy in particular, can be traced back to her childhood. Due to a rare heart condition, she was unable to participate in many physical activities, and instead found solace in the worlds of books. Growing up in Northumberland, a county rich in legend and lore, Furey was particularly drawn to fantasy novels. She had a vivid imagination and would often daydream about sailing her boat or riding her pony on her way to school. Furey's first encounter with fantasy was when she read "The Silver Chair" in the second grade, which sparked her interest in the genre. By the end of the week, she had read the entire Narnia Chronicles and The Hobbit by the end of the month. The limitless scope of the genre and her vivid imagination convinced her that she was meant to be a writer of fantasy novels, a path that she would follow for the rest of her life.