Appearing:
Gateshead (Nov 8th)
Author Website
www.peterjmurray.co.uk
Peter J Murray was born in 1951 and brought up on a council estate in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
Like his father and grandfather before him, he entered the steel industry, very much in decline at the time. He trained as a metallurgist and graduated with a Master's Degree from Cambridge University in 1979. Looking for new challenges, Peter dabbled in teaching and finally decided on a career change - he became a mathematics teacher at his local comprehensive school - a move from which he has never looked back.
Since then, Peter has taught mathematics and science in a number of schools, and was, until recently, Assistant Headmaster of Cheam School in Berkshire, reputedly the oldest and most established preparatory school in the country. (Prince Philip and Prince Charles both attended the school - though well before Peter's time!)
Entertaining pupils during long, dark evenings provided an ideal time for storytelling, and this is where Peter gained the inspiration for creating the spooky characters that feature in his current novels.
Peter has two grown up sons; Simon is the youngest and has already established himself as an illustrator. As well as providing the chapter headings for the successful Mokee Joe books, he has just completed Peter's new book (Bonebreaker) and is currently working on his own picture book.
Peter is now a full-time writer, spending much of his time promoting and presenting his books in schools all over the UK. His greatest ambition is to stimulate children everywhere into reading, writing and being creative. Peter lives with his wife on the edge of Ilkley Moor in North Yorkshire. He says that the hills and limestone scenery offer a constant source of relaxation and inspiration - in fact, they also provide the setting for Peter's sixth book, due out next year - but that's a secret!
Recommended Reads
Bonebreaker
Hodder Children's Books
0340911204
Mokee Joe Recharged
Hodder Children's Books
034089296X
Mokee Joe is Coming
Hodder Children's Books
0340884703
Publisher
Hachette