Jacqueline Jane Murhall

Background

Jacqueline Jane Murhall was born on April 22, 1964, in London, United Kingdom. She is the daughter of Colin and Gwendoline Goodwin Murhall.

Education

Jacqueline Murhall grew up reading books, written by Roald Dahl and C. S. Lewis, among others. She attended Reigate School of Art Design & Media where she earned a degree in surface decoration and three-dimensional design.

Career

After graduation, Jacqueline Murhall traveled to Europe, at one point paying her way as a jewelry salesperson on a beach in the south of France. Returning to London, she worked for Virgin Records, then decided to start her own business selling clothing from the 1950s and 1960s in a market stall on London's trendy Portobello Road.

Although Murhall had lots of ideas for books spinning around in her head, she never had time to slop and write them down. Finally, in 1988 with the birth of her daughter, she found herself at home with some free time. Eddie and the Swine Family (1994) was the result, and Harper Collins publishers quickly snapped it up.

With the popularity of her first book, her success as a children's author was assured, and she has gone on to publish many other titles, all of which contain her irreverent humor and energetic, likable characters. The second book, Stinkerbell, which was published in 1996, features a dirty, ill-tempered fairy who lives in a garbage can and has to contend with a group of goblins. Another book by Murhall is a sequel to Stinkerbell, titled Stinkerbell and the Fridge Fairies (1997).

Her book series include Magnificent Misfits (1998), Star Pets (1999), St. Misbehaviour's (2001), Horse Force (2002). She also appeared on television and radio programs in England, and at numerous writers' festivals.

Achievements

• Jacqueline Murhall is known as a recognized author of children's books. They were translated into various languages. Murhall is a series winner of a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award and two prestigious awards from Italian Cartoons on the Bay animation festival.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Stick 'Em Up, Bunny!

    (A rabbit in suspiciously large sunglasses is the prime su...)

    2002
  • Riddle of a Rich Rat

    (Celebrity rat Giselle D'Arc is missing, so the Horse Forc...)

    2002
  • Star Pets in the Spotlight

    (The end-of-term show is the chance for pupils at YAPPS (t...)

    1999
  • Star Pets Make it Big

    (The end-of-term show is the chance for pupils at YAPPS (t...)

    1999
  • Star Pets on Screen

    (The end-of-term show is the chance for pupils at YAPPS (t...)

    1999
  • Star Pets on Stage

    (The end-of-term show is the chance for pupils at YAPPS (t...)

    1999
  • The Terrible Toddler

    (The Magnificent Misfits are six unsuspecting children who...)

    1999
  • The Ghastly Granny

    (The Magnificent Misfits are six unsuspecting children who...)

    1999
  • The Great Mistake

    (The Magnificent Misfits are six unsuspecting children who...)

    1999
  • The Misfits Ride Again

    (The Magnificent Misfits are six unsuspecting children who...)

    1999
  • Smash 'n' Grab Squirrels

    (A gang of tearaway squirrels is trashing Prospect Park un...)

    2002
  • Disco Inferno

    (At St. Misbehaviour's - real name St. Saviour's - the kid...)

    2001
  • Roman Around

    (At St. Misbehaviour's - real name St. Saviour's - the kid...)

    2001
  • Go Wild!

    (At St. Misbehaviour's - real name St. Saviour's - the kid...)

    2001
  • No Surrender

    (At St. Misbehaviour's - real name St. Saviour's - the kid...)

    2001
  • Stinkerbell 1996
  • Stinkerbell and the Fridge Fairies 1997

Views

For a number of years, Jacqueline Murhall was an Ambassador for the charity Reading is Fundamental, as well as the National Literacy Trust, promoting and encouraging children throughout England.

Quotations: "I take my work extremely seriously, but not myself."

Personality

Jacqueline Murhall is a huge music fan and also a specialist in vintage clothing. She loves film noir, as well as dark comedy on TV, films, and novels. She likes going to the cinema, restaurants, and the occasional club to watch live bands play.

She gets up about 8:00 a.m. After three or four cups of coffee, she finally starts writing about 9:30 a.m. She tries to write until about 1:00 p.m. and break for lunch. She then continues to write from about 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Interests

• reading, theater, cinema, traveling, music, and dogs

Connections

Jacqueline Murhall's partner is Michael Tourney. They have one child, Saoirse Ruby Murhall-Toumey.

Father:

Colin Murhall

Mother:

Gwendoline Goodwin Murhalll

Partner:

Michael Toumey

Michael Toumey trained as an actor at the Poor School and as a director at the Gate Theatre in London. As an actor, he worked in theatre, TV, and film. His professional directing credits include Arrivederci Millwall, Runaways, Scopa, Someone's Son, Dancing With The Angels, and others.