Jill Morgan - 1946
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San Pedro High School in San Pedro, California
I. Biography
For Jill Morgan, best known for her trilogy of ecological thrillers, Desert Eden, Beyond Eden and Future Eden, inspiration comes from day to day life. The seed for most of her works comes from asking what would happen if? The trilogy begins when a team of scientists is trapped within a biosphere after a pandemic virus wipes out most of the Earth's population. It continues as scientists and other humans struggle to survive both within and outside of seven biosphere.
Morgan (December 21, 1946) was born in San Antonio, Texas. All of her family was from Texas so even though she moved to California at the age of four, she was greatly influenced by Texas throughout most of her childhood, and remains so to this day.
Many of her short fiction and novels are set in Texas. An equal number are set in California. At the age of forty the author sold her first novel. Over the next ten years she sold fifteen more novels, and edited six anthologies. Writing has been something she knew she wanted to do since she was a child, and has become the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. She lives in California with her husband, John, and their three children.
Morgan is the author of sixteen novels, ten for adults and six for Young-Adult and Middle-Grade readers. Her fiction has been published in the genres of mystery, suspense, fantasy, horror, historical, action/thrillers, and ecological thrillers. Many of her books have been published under a pseudonym or a variation of her name, such as: Morgan Fields, Meredith Morgan, J.M. Morgan, Meg Griffin and Jessica Pierce, as well as Jill Morgan. Her publishers include: Harper Trophy, Random House,
Dutton/Signet Berkeley Pocket, Pinnacle, Zebra, and ZyFave a children's division of Kensington. With Martin H. Greenberg, Jill Morgan has co-edited six anthologies. Her short fiction has been published in numerous outstanding anthologies. Jill Morgan is an active member of many writing organizations, including the following: Mystery Writers of America, PEN Center USA West, Horror Writers Association, The Authors Guild, Sisters in Crime, and Mysteries for Minors.
II. Mike Appy's Five Telephone Interviews with Jill Morgan (March 31 1999)
M. A.: When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?
J.M.: I believe I first developed my desire for writing at age eleven after reading a historical novel by Sigrid Undset, Christian Laverous's Daughter. At age twenty I enjoyed such authors as James Michener, Ed McBain, Larry McMurtry and Stephen King.
M.A.: Do any of your children have the same desire to write as you do?
J.M.: Yes my older son Jerry is a theater and film critic. He also published a play. My younger son, Chris, has published short stories and has written movies (yet to be published). My daughter enjoys writing as well.
M.A.: Which of your works do you consider your finest?
J.M.: I suppose that would be my trilogy. It became a separate universe for me. The first book, Desert Eden takes place within the enclosed world of Biosphere Seven. The second and third books are titled Beyond Eden and Future Eden.
MA: What advice would you give a high school student who wanted to become a writer?
J.M.: Read all you can. Reading gives you the benefit of appreciating some other person's writing. And write everyday if possible. High school students are very busy with homework and other activities, but find time to write as often as possible.
M.A.: Why do you use pseudonyms?
J.M.: The reason I first began using them is because I was writing many different kinds of books for the same publisher. You write in different names so if, for example, someone reads one of your historical novels and then picked up another of your books the reader would expect another historical novel and not a horror story. So using pseudonyms allows you to write in different genres. The drawback however is that as an author you are unable to build an audience of readers. I do not plan on using them anymore.
M.A.: When did you sell your first novel?
J.M.: I sold my first novel at the age of forty.
MA: How did you go about publishing your works?
J.M.: I had sent books out to agents with no success. Then I joined a writers' workshop. The woman who ran the workshop was a published writer and introduced me to an agent she knew. The agent liked my work and that is how I published my first book. The best way to get published would probably be to somehow contact an agent or a published writer.
M.A.: How long does it take you to write a book?
J.M. : My early works were short books, mainly horror and science fiction. They took about for months each. My children's books take about six months. My novels take at least a year.
M.A.: Where do you like to write?
J.M.: I write everyday using a computer at my kitchen table. I like to be surrounded by family and the daily activities of the home.
MA.: In what city have you done most of your writing?
J.M.: All of my books have been written in La Cafiada, California. Half of them are set in California and about half of them are set in Texas. I was born in Texas and so I am very familiar with it. My first book begins in Ireland but about half way through the setting becomes California. My second book actually takes place in Norway. But the vast majority of my books are set in California and Texas.
M.A.: Are you a member of any writers groups?
J.M.: Yes, I am a member of several writers guilds including Master Writers of America, Horror Writers of America and Sisters of Crime.
III. Literary Works
Emerald Destiny (1989)
Deadly Happiest (1989)
Shaman Woods (1990)
Between the Devil and the Deep (1992)
Desert Eden (1991)
Beyond Eden (1992)
Future Eden (1992)
Wanted to Rent (1993)
Someone's Watching (1994)
Trapped (1994)
Keeper (1994)
Flashflood (1995)
Blood Brothers (1996)
Cradle of Fear (1994)
Cage of Shadows (1995)
Great Writers & Till Death Do Us Part
Anthologies
Kids Write Spooky Stories (1995)
Kids Write My Stories (1996)
Part (1998)
Part (1999)
Mothers & Daughters, Celebrating the Gifts of Love (1998)
Fathers & Daughters (1999)
Mothers & Sons (Forthcoming 2000)
IV. Other Published Work
Writing Horror: A Handbook for Horror Writers, Writers Digest Books, non-fiction,
Capturing Kids" horror for YA and MG. by Jill Morgan. A chapter explaining how to write.
Hi_Five Macmillai/MCGraw_Hill Midnight Snack by Children.
Hi_Five Macmillaii/McGraw_Hill, Stealing Home by Jill children.
The Writer's Handbook, The Writer, Inc., What Makes a Jill Morgan, non-fiction article on writing.
Jill Morgan a play for The Writer magazine, What Makes a Good Historical Novel by Jill Morgan, non- fiction article on writing.
Mysteries, Scene Magazine, My scenes for Minors by Jill Morgan, regular column for writers of YA and juvenile fiction.
Short Stories: Morgan has written over a dozen short stories for anthologies.
V. Contact:
You may contact Jill Morgan at
MorganJill@aol.com.This essay was submitted by a student of Kathy Honda Stein, a teacher at San Pedro High School in California.