A Conversation with the Author of “The Boy Who Rode the Rails”

From the quiet corners of small-town America emerges a voice that captures both the wonder of childhood adventure and the profound depths of faith. Brent S. Furrow, author of “The Boy Who Rode the Rails” and “Hidden Miracles of the Bible,” writes with the heart of a hopeless romantic and the soul of a seeker.

Furrow’s journey into writing began during the pandemic, when slowed work schedules provided the perfect opportunity to transform years of accumulated notes, biblical insights, and personal reflections into his debut work. But it was a visit to the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia, that sparked the inspiration for his latest novel—a story that weaves together his love of American history, abandoned places, and the relics of bygone eras.

An Eagle Scout who still dreams of dancing with his celebrity crush Brittany Snow, Furrow brings an authenticity to his work that comes from drawing on his own life experiences. His unnamed protagonist in “The Boy Who Rode the Rails” deliberately remains faceless so readers can see themselves reflected in the story, while the faith-centered community he creates serves as both setting and character in its own right.

In our conversation, Furrow opens up about the challenges of the publishing process, his fascination with the intersection of faith and the supernatural, and why he believes the most compelling stories emerge from the delicate balance between personal experience and universal truth.

When did you start writing?

I began writing my first book, “Hidden Miracles of the Bible,” during the coronavirus pandemic. Over time, I had accumulated notes from books I had read, sermons I had heard, and Bible studies and reading plans I had completed. When work slowed, I found myself with an abundance of time, so I thought, “I should put these into chapter format and organize them a bit.” After compiling them, I added anecdotes and wove in personal reflections about how I could relate to these biblical miracles and stories. I wanted to convey to my readers a deeper level of how they can find personal application in their own lives.

What was your favorite part, and your least favorite part, of the publishing journey?

My favorite part of the process was seeing the book cover come to fruition. As a visual person, I know a compelling cover is what makes me pick up a book—if the cover doesn’t pop, I’ll oftentimes pass it by.  Seeing my own book take on that visual identity to connect readers’ eyes to my work was incredibly exciting.

I feel like as a writer, I do a pretty good job putting thoughts to pen, but editing is where I lack skill.  Not just with simple proofreading; I’m talking about the kind of rigorous editing that brings back memories of my high school English papers being marked up with red ink. I mean, does anyone still remember what the difference of an antonym and a homonym is?  And what exactly is a past participle?  And I need outside eyes to show me where I’m speaking in passive voice instead of active. 

Where do you get your inspiration?

My first was certainly influenced by my faith.  I was always fascinated with the large-scale miracles relayed in the Bible.  The ones with which we are all familiar.  But I found it exciting to glean additional wisdom that God is conveying when you look at these miracles on a deeper level.  Once I started reading that way and researching what others’ thought, I was fascinated and hooked.

The inspiration for “The Boy Who Rode the Rails” is more nuanced. It began after I visited the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Georgia during summer of 2024. I’ve always held a deep affection for U.S. history, abandoned places, and relics of a bygone era, and I’m fascinated by how these places and events have shaped our culture.

I also wove in bits of my personal life throughout the novel. For instance, I reference my home state of Pennsylvania where I grew up.  The main character is an Eagle Scout, an achievement I also earned. Some of the foods I referenced are particular favorites of mine.  A few of the names are important to me, including both of my grandfathers’ names, Robert and Charles.

There may even be a character named after a former love interest, or “the one who got away,” but I’ll never tell.

Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?

The main character in “The Boy Who Rode the Rails” is never named, but that was a deliberate choice. While the character embodies some of my own adventurous spirit and hopeful romanticism, I didn’t want readers to see only me. Instead, I wanted them to see themselves—to reflect on their own childhood and imagine how an idyllic life isn’t something we’re necessarily born into, but something we can construct and create within our own community environments.

I think the setting itself holds a place in my heart as much as any of the characters do.  The town might not be a perfect utopia, but it’s one in which faith and prayer is such a part of the setting that it permeates the characters themselves.  Some are closer in their relationship to God than others, and some might only have their toe in the door as they contemplate their faith walk, but that’s the beauty of it.  It’s all about the community, relationships, personal growth, and these deeper thoughts we all have as we wrestle with where God has placed us in life.

What are you reading now?

I tend to read a lot of non-fiction, as well as faith-based books on self-improvement. Recently I finished “Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes (Richards and O’Brien). It really challenged my thinking on how our American culture differs from ancient Middle Eastern culture during Old and New Testament times. It also provided a fresh perspective on how God relates to people, meeting them within the context of a moment—their specific time and place.

The next book I’d like to read is “Seeing the Supernatural” (Strobel).  I’ve always had a fascination with where religion, science, and legends & lore all intersect.  Occasionally I’ll read a book about ghosts or haunted places.  While many people discount stories about ghosts or haunted places, the Bible clearly mentions supernatural things like ghosts and spirits, so I believe it’s a topic worth understanding. We can’t simply dismiss them; perhaps we just don’t have the scientific understanding and God hasn’t yet allowed us to fully comprehend what is happening, but that doesn’t make them any less real than any other area of scientific exploration to gain understanding.

Favorite book when you were a kid

I remember in the 1980s there was a book about a bear trying to reach a pot of honey on the “tip, top shelf” and there was a line in there, “Hey bear, be careful!” My parents said we read that book so many times that it literally fell apart, and I still remember that line today.

Another childhood favorite was “The Little Engine that Could,” one of the classics.  Funny how that book was about a train, and I wrote a book about a train—perhaps a bit of a Proustian influence.

Do you have a library membership?

Believe it or not, I don’t—at least not in the traditional sense. Even though I live in a community of over 2,000 people, we are not part of a library district. I inquired at my closest library and was told it would cost over $200 per year for a non-resident card, with the fee based on the equivalent property taxes I would pay if I lived within the district.

I found a workaround, however. Over the years, I’ve flipped several small properties, and one of them was within a library district. I was able to use that address to get a library card with reciprocal privileges, which allows me to use a library closer to my home, until it expires.

What’s for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating?

Uhh, maybe you’ll like it and maybe you’ll cringe, but I’m going to rent an airplane this afternoon for a little “fun” flying, and then catch live music in a park.  In between, I plan to stop at A&W for a mushroom and Swiss burger and a root beer.  Not exactly healthy but it sure sounds savory!

I like a mix of fast food, easy skillet or microwave meals, and things I can pop into the oven at home. I’m very much a bachelor though and it’s rare for me to cook or bake anything extensive. Plus I’m not a big fan of eating the same leftovers for the next week. This morning I went to the local farmers market and bought peaches, and love fresh peaches or berry fruit salads and light deli pasta this time of year.

If you could choose three people to invite for a dinner party, who would they be and why?

People I admire include Warren Buffet, for his business acumen.

Franklin Graham has also impressed me with his humanitarian and altruistic work, filling his father Billy Graham’s footsteps to lead the Samaritan’s Purse organization and carry the gospel around the world.

As for celebrities, perhaps John Stamos because of his confident swag that all of the ladies seem to like.  Oh, and probably my celebrity crush, Brittany Snow.  I always wanted to dance with her when she was on the TV show “American Dreams.”  I don’t even dance, but for Brittany I would have learned.  Haha!

If you could only have one season, what would it be?

I’ve always enjoyed late summer as it fades into early fall—when the days are still warm, the Midwest humidity is lower, and the evenings are cooler as the days begin to shorten.

If my books haven’t already made it clear, I’m a hopeless romantic. I find beauty in the way sunflowers start to dry out this time of year, the crops are ripe for harvesting, and how the leaves begin to crisp and change color. Despite the excitement of summer winding down, there’s a strong sense of anticipation for college football, the upcoming holiday season, and the pivot point toward new things to come during the last third of the year.

“Feeling a bit down, dejected, and despaired, I couldn’t stand the sight of Boone and Samantha anymore, so I excused myself from hanging with the classmates I was sitting with and exited the soirée to go for a walk alone through the dark, empty halls of the school. I wasn’t being fair to myself to get this hung up over one silly girl, but such are the longings of an adolescent boy who believes in his serendipitous mind that his first crush will become his last love. After all, I so seldom met anyone new here in this little backwoods town, and my near-term future prospects seemed dim at best.

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Excerpt from “The Boy Who Rode the Rails”:

When we said our goodbyes around five o’clock, it didn’t feel so much like a “goodbye” as a “see you soon.” That quickly became a trait of our friendship. We never ended one moment that we were together without first longingly discussing the next moment when we could hopefully see each other again. I liked that, how nights and days spent apart from each other only made the moments that we were blessed to spend with each other even sweeter and more cherished. All the while, creating the excitement of having the next opportunity in mind of when we would likely get to share in a warm embrace, a hope to always look forward to.”