Mark Morris (writer)
Encyclopedia
Mark Morris is an author known for his series of horror novels, although he has also written two novels based on the BBC Television
series Doctor Who
. He currently lives in Tadcaster
, North Yorkshire
, with his wife (the artist Nel Whatmore). He has used the pseudonym J. M. Morris for the novel 'Fiddleback'.
Novellas:
Collections:
As Editor:
Doctor Who:
Torchwood:
Hellboy:
Mark began his writing career in 1988 as part of the (now defunct) Enterprise Allowance Scheme
, which was at that time paying claimants £30 a week to be self-employed. His first novel, Toady, was published in 1989 (re-titled The Horror Club and shortened by ⅓ for the US market) and several further books followed: Stitch, The Immaculate, The Secret of Anatomy, Mr Bad Face, Longbarrow, Genesis and Nowhere Near an Angel. Before 'Toady' he had written a novel called 'The Winter Tree', which was rejected by publishers by at least gained him some familiarity with them. In addition to his major works, Morris has published the novellas The Dogs (for Barrington Stoke, an imprint for 'reluctant readers') and The Uglimen.
He has also published two volumes of short stories, Close to the Bone and Voyages into Darkness (with Stephen Laws) and a novel as "J.M. Morris": Fiddleback (which was re-named The Lonely Places and had a slightly longer epilogue for the US market, which the author claims was "in order to (quote from US editor): 'clarify matters for a US readership.'"). A further collection of short fiction, 'Separate Skins' was due for release from British small press publisher Tanjen, but the publisher went out of business around that time and the book - introduced by Graham Joyce - remains unpublished.
A fan of Doctor Who since being terrified by the show as a child, Mark has so far written 4 books for the BBC, as well as 1 of the Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood
: The Body Snatchers
for BBC Books
' Eighth Doctor Adventures
range, and the novel Deep Blue
for their Past Doctor Adventures
range, Forever Autumn
and Ghosts of India as part of the New Series Adventures range, with the Torchwood novel Bay of the Dead being released on 29 May 2009. He has also written Doctor Who audio plays for Big Finish
including False Gods, Plague of the Daleks
and House of Blue Fire
which is due to be released in November 2011.
The novel 'Nowhere Near An Angel' was intended to be his second J. M. Morris novel for Macmillan, but they rejected it as they considered 'J. M. Morris' to be a female writer ('Fiddleback' was written from a female point of view), despite Mark's publicity appearances for the novel. 'Nowhere Near An Angel' was published by P. S. Publishing, and no further J. M. Morris novel are planned.
He is currently published by the small press publishers PS Publishing
and Humdrumming, Ltd., who are planning to reissue each of his early horror novels in new hardback additions with bonus material. His next novel will be the American-published 'The Deluge', in Winter 2007.
Mark's work in the literary field are not limited to writing, as he also works in the retail sector for Borders in Leeds.
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. He currently lives in Tadcaster
Tadcaster
Tadcaster is a market town and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England. Lying on the Great North Road approximately east of Leeds and west of York. It is the last town on the River Wharfe before it joins the River Ouse about downstream...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, with his wife (the artist Nel Whatmore). He has used the pseudonym J. M. Morris for the novel 'Fiddleback'.
Work
Novels:- Toady (1989)
- Stitch (1991)
- The Immaculate (1993)
- The Secret of Anatomy (1994)
- Mr. Bad Face (1996)
- Longbarrow (1997)
- Genesis (1998)
- Fiddleback (2001)
- Nowhere Near An Angel (2005)
- The Deluge (2007)
- Dead Island (2011)
- Vampire Circus (2012)
Novellas:
- The Dogs (2001))
- The Uglimen (2003)
- Stumps (2008)
- It Sustains (2012)
Collections:
- Close To The Bone (1995)
- Voyages Into Darkness (with Stephen Laws)
- Long Shadows, Nightmare Light (2011)
As Editor:
- Cinema Macabre (2006)
- Cinema Futura (2009)
Doctor Who:
- The Bodysnatchers
- Deep Blue
- Forever Autumn
- Ghosts Of India
- False Gods (audio play)
- Plague of the Daleks (audio play)
Torchwood:
- Bay of the Dead
Hellboy:
- The All-Seeing Eye
Mark began his writing career in 1988 as part of the (now defunct) Enterprise Allowance Scheme
Enterprise Allowance Scheme
The Enterprise Allowance Scheme was an initiative set up by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative UK government which gave a guaranteed income of £40 per week to unemployed people who set up their own business. It was first announced on 13th November 1981, and piloted between January 1982 and July 1983,...
, which was at that time paying claimants £30 a week to be self-employed. His first novel, Toady, was published in 1989 (re-titled The Horror Club and shortened by ⅓ for the US market) and several further books followed: Stitch, The Immaculate, The Secret of Anatomy, Mr Bad Face, Longbarrow, Genesis and Nowhere Near an Angel. Before 'Toady' he had written a novel called 'The Winter Tree', which was rejected by publishers by at least gained him some familiarity with them. In addition to his major works, Morris has published the novellas The Dogs (for Barrington Stoke, an imprint for 'reluctant readers') and The Uglimen.
He has also published two volumes of short stories, Close to the Bone and Voyages into Darkness (with Stephen Laws) and a novel as "J.M. Morris": Fiddleback (which was re-named The Lonely Places and had a slightly longer epilogue for the US market, which the author claims was "in order to (quote from US editor): 'clarify matters for a US readership.'"). A further collection of short fiction, 'Separate Skins' was due for release from British small press publisher Tanjen, but the publisher went out of business around that time and the book - introduced by Graham Joyce - remains unpublished.
A fan of Doctor Who since being terrified by the show as a child, Mark has so far written 4 books for the BBC, as well as 1 of the Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood
Torchwood
Torchwood is a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. The series is a spin-off from Davies's 2005 revival of the long-running science fiction programme Doctor Who. The show has shifted its broadcast channel each series to reflect its growing audience, moving from...
: The Body Snatchers
The Bodysnatchers (Doctor Who)
The Bodysnatchers is an original novel written by Mark Morris and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
for BBC Books
BBC Books
BBC Books is an imprint majority owned and managed by Random House. The minority shareholder is BBC Worldwide, the commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation...
' Eighth Doctor Adventures
Eighth Doctor Adventures
The Eighth Doctor Adventures are a series of spin off novels based on the long running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and published under the BBC Books imprint. 73 books were published overall...
range, and the novel Deep Blue
Deep Blue (Doctor Who)
Deep Blue is a BBC Books original novel written by Mark Morris and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
for their Past Doctor Adventures
Past Doctor Adventures
The Past Doctor Adventures were a series of spin-off novels based on the long running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and published under the BBC Books imprint. For most of their existence, they were published side-by-side with the Eighth Doctor Adventures...
range, Forever Autumn
Forever Autumn (Doctor Who)
Forever Autumn is a BBC Books original novel written by Mark Morris and based on the long running science fiction television series Doctor Who. It features the Tenth Doctor and Martha Jones...
and Ghosts of India as part of the New Series Adventures range, with the Torchwood novel Bay of the Dead being released on 29 May 2009. He has also written Doctor Who audio plays for Big Finish
Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
including False Gods, Plague of the Daleks
Plague of the Daleks
Plague of the Daleks is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It contains a three part story and a one part story as well...
and House of Blue Fire
House of Blue Fire
House of Blue Fire is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It contains a four part story...
which is due to be released in November 2011.
The novel 'Nowhere Near An Angel' was intended to be his second J. M. Morris novel for Macmillan, but they rejected it as they considered 'J. M. Morris' to be a female writer ('Fiddleback' was written from a female point of view), despite Mark's publicity appearances for the novel. 'Nowhere Near An Angel' was published by P. S. Publishing, and no further J. M. Morris novel are planned.
He is currently published by the small press publishers PS Publishing
PS Publishing
PS Publishing is a Hornsea based publisher founded in 1999 by Peter Crowther. They specialise in novella length fiction from the fantasy, science fiction and horror genres. It has quickly become established as one of Britain's premier small presses...
and Humdrumming, Ltd., who are planning to reissue each of his early horror novels in new hardback additions with bonus material. His next novel will be the American-published 'The Deluge', in Winter 2007.
Mark's work in the literary field are not limited to writing, as he also works in the retail sector for Borders in Leeds.