Maggie Furey was born in Northumberland, England. She was not only a respected teacher, but also worked to organize children's book fairs, served as an advisor in the Durham Reading Resources Centre and even was a book reviewer for BBC Radio Newcastle. She later relocated to County Wicklow, Ireland and is best known for her Artefacts of Power series, with publication of her debut novel, Aurian in 1994.

     Aurian was also my introduction to her work. I fell immediately in love with the spirit, fortitude and inner strength of the title character and the impression was so deeply ingrained, I ultimately named my own daughter after her. Maggie's descriptiveness draws you right into her world and I devoured the subsequent novels in the series, and purchased more of her works. Tragically, her life was cut shorter than I think was fair. She passed away in 2016, just two days before her 61st birthday. Her husband gave one of the most moving eulogies I have ever read in her obituary, stating,

"I am empty. I am distraught.

She was my North, my South, my East and West,

My working week and my Sunday rest,

My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;

I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one;

Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;

Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.

For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Farewell my beautiful lass, you were my everything”

​Maggie Furey was cremated at Mount Jerome Crematorium, Dublin.