Morrison, P.R.

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Morrison, P.R.

Personal

Born in the Orkney Islands, Scotland; married; husband's name Andrew (a director); children: Arthur, Ethan.

Addresses

Home—London, England.

Career

Writer. Worked for a legal firm, a community radio station, and a primary school and as a script supervisor for the film industry.

Writings

Wind Tamer, Bloomsbury (New York, NY), 2006.

Wave Traveller, Bloomsbury (New York, NY), 2007.

Sidelights

After working in such varied jobs as legal secretary, radio station administrator, primary school teacher, and script supervisor, P.R. Morrison wrote her first novel as a bedtime story for her two young boys. Morrison's childhood growing up in the remote Orkney Islands of Scotland figures prominently in Wind Tamer, in which the young protagonist Archie lives in an isolated fishing village and believes the wind speaks to him. At age ten Archie learns a family secret: the first-born sons in his family are cursed. Now the boy must break the curse to free not only himself but his father and grandfather as well. A Children's Bookwatch reviewer found that in Wind Tamer "a satisfyingly involving tale of the supernatural emerges with a plot which offers plenty of fine twists and turns." "The characterizations are appealing, and Archie is thoroughly likable," wrote Booklist contributor Sally Estes in another positive review of Morrison's novel. In Kidsreads.com, Sarah Sawtelle commented that, "with plenty of mystery and adventure and some rather humorous moments, Wind Tamer is an exciting debut that promises to delight readers of all ages."

Archie's adventures continue in Wave Traveller, as Archie—now a certified International Curse Exterminator—is sent to investigate several mysterious underwater sightings. The novel's "fantasy elements are original and fun," concluded School Library Journal critic Samantha Larsen, the reviewer dubbing Wave Traveller a novel that will appeal to both "Harry Potter" fans and reluctant readers.

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Booklist, October 15, 2006, Sally Estes, review of Wind Tamer, p. 49.

Children's Bookwatch, December, 2006, review of Wind Tamer.

Kirkus Reviews, October 1, 2007, review of Wave Traveller.

School Library Journal, November, 2006, Elaine E. Knight, review of Wind Tamer, p. 49; March, 2008, Samantha Larsen, review of Wave Traveller, p. 207.