Simon Murray
Simon Murray began his career in illustration by creating the intricate and imaginative line drawings for the bestselling Mokee Joe series, published to critical acclaim by Hodder Children’s Books in 2004.
After founding his studio SMI Ltd in 2007, Simon went on to create the cute and mischievous character, Icky Doo Dah and continues to both write and illustrate exciting and adventurous picture books around this fluffy little creature.
Simon carries out lively and engaging literacy and illustration workshops in primary schools across the UK and around the world. He lives in Berkshire with his wife Rachel and their two young children.
Peter J Murray
Peter J Murray was born in 1951 and brought up on a council estate in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. He left school with few qualifications, feeling ill-suited to an academic lifestyle, and followed in the family tradition of working in the dangerous steel works of Sheffield. What happened over the next 30 years is an amazing story…
First of all Pete went back to school at the age of 21 – can you imagine that? No discos, no late nights, no girlfriends, no soccer matches, no……Don’t you believe it; he did all of those things and still managed to find time for school work. At the end of his studies he won a place at Cambridge University where he specialised in metallurgy (what’s that?) and gained a Masters Degree in 1979. Not bad for someone who was meant to be no good at maths.
After a spell in Dubai working in the petro-chemical industry he decided he needed a change. He dabbled in teaching – loved working with kids and never looked back. After working in several comprehensive schools he became Assistant Headmaster at Cheam School – quite a ‘posh school’ in Pete’s own words (Prince Philip and Prince Charles are both ex-pupils). From the gritty back streets of Rotherham to the leafy suburbs of Berkshire – quite a transformation. Despite his change in surroundings Pete remained a Yorkshireman through and through; down to earth with a great sense of humour.
To give up the security of teaching in one of the most well-respected schools in the country to become a full time author was a huge gamble for Pete to take, especially when his first book had been rejected by all the leading publishers. Peter self published his first book: Mokee Joe is Coming in 2003. To Pete’s amazement his book won the shorter novel prize for the prestigious Sheffield Children’s Book Award in 2004 voted for by 112 schools. The rest, as they say, is history. Peter is now one of the UK’s leading children’s authors and tours schools all over the UK and abroad. He is one of the most sought after visiting authors in schools and is renowned for inspiring children to want to read (especially the reluctant ones).
Peter has two grown up sons and lives with his wife, Kath, dividing their time between their Northern base in Yorkshire and their ‘escape bolt-hole’ in deepest rural Berkshire. When he is not writing or visiting schools, Peter is a keen fisherman and follower of outdoor pursuits…but is always on the lookout for inspiration for his next nerve-tingling novel!
