Jill Murphy

Jill Murphy (born 5 July 1949 in London) is an English children's author, best known for "The Worst Witch" series and the "Mr and Mrs Large" picture books. She has been described as "one of the most engaging writers and illustrators for children in the land" [ [http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/childrenandteens/0,,1604348,00.html Kate Kellaway, reviewing "The Worst Witch Saves the Day", 2005-10-30] . Retrieved on 2008-04-17.] .

Biography

Jill showed an interest in writing and drawing at the age of 4, and despite not excelling in other school subjects, had written 91 books before her late teens. She attended the Ursuline Convent in Wimbledon which, together with the boarding school stories she enjoyed reading, provided much of the material and inspiration for Miss Cackle's Academy in "The Worst Witch" series. She grew up a Roman Catholic but is no longer a practising Catholic. Her mother was a working class woman but a "book maniac" and her father was an Irish engineer.*cite news | last = Craig| first =A | coauthors = | title =Parenting: The longest goodbye | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = The Times | date =2005-10-16 | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article578865.ece| accessdate =2008-04-17 ]

She started to write "The Worst Witch" at the age of 15, but put the book on hold while she attended Chelsea and Croydon Art Schools. She continued to write it during a year living in a village in Togo, West Africa and later while working as a nanny back in the UK. The book was published when Jill was 24 and proved an instant success. Jill continued working as a nanny until the publication of "The Worst Witch Strikes Again" prompted her to devote herself to writing full-time. [ [http://www.imagesofdelight.com/client.asp?id=56 Images of Delight illustrator profile] . Retrieved on 2008-04-17.]

She gave birth to her son Charlie in Spring 1990, having divorced his father while pregnant at the age of 40. Charlie, now 17, is dyslexic. Jill put on weight after the birth of her son, reaching 14st 2lb in 1990, but eventually lost three and a half stone with LighterLife.*cite news | last = Deeley | first =L | coauthors = | title =Back on top after a bad spell | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = The Times | date =2007-10-27 | url = http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/body_and_soul/article2745146.ece | accessdate =2008-04-17 ]

In 1995 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a partial mastectomy and a year of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and after five years on Tamoxifen she was given the all-clear. She chooses to wear a padded bra rather than undergo reconstructive surgery.

Jill was extremely close to her Aunt Kit and in 1997 her aunt began to show signs of dementia. Jill looked after her for two years, commuting to Wimbledon from her home in Cornwall to do so, and in 1999 she moved her aunt to a nursing home in Cornwall near Jill's own house, where she died later that year. Six months after Kit's death, Jill's mother began to show signs of dementia, and Jill ended up taking her mother into her own home to care for her for a number of years. In 2003 her mother went into a nursing home where she later died. Jill could not work properly during the ten years she was caring for her aunt and mother, hence the reduction in books published around this time.

The Worst Witch stories have become some of the most outstandingly successful titles on the Young Puffin paperback list and have sold more than 3 million copies. They were also made into a successful ITV series.

She is also well known for her picture books, in particular for the very popular "Mr and Mrs Large" picture books, which detail the domestic chaos of an elephant family. In 1996 "The Last Noo-Noo" was adapted as a play and performed at the Polka Theatre, London. [cite web | title = Jill Murphy | work = Biography | publisher = Images of Delight | url = http://www.imagesofdelight.com/gallery14.htm | accessdate =2008-09-17 ]

In 2007 Jill received an honorary fellowship from University College Falmouth. [cite web | title = Postgraduate Awards Day | work = 2007 news archive| publisher = Combined Universities in Cornwall | date = 2007 | url = http://www.cuc.ac.uk/news/2007-news-archive/postgraduate-awards-day.htm | accessdate =2008-09-17 ]

Awards

Bibliography

*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Worst Witch | publisher =Allison & Busby| date =1974 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn =9780850311426
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Worst Witch Strikes Again | publisher =Allison & Busby| date =1980 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn =9780850312515
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Peace At Last | publisher =Macmillan | date =1980 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn =9780333306420
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =A Bad Spell For The Worst Witch | publisher =Kestrel Books| date =1982 | location =Harmondsworth| pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn =9780722657638
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =On The Way Home| publisher =Macmillan| date =1982 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780333324318
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Whatever Next!| publisher =Macmillan| date =1983 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780333350058
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Five Minutes' Peace | publisher =Walker| date =1986 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn =9780744504910
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =All In One Piece | publisher =Walker| date =1987 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780744507492
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Worlds Apart| publisher =Walker| date =1988 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780744508031
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =A Piece Of Cake| publisher =Walker| date =1989 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780744592740
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Geoffrey Strangeways| publisher =Walker| date =1990 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780744519044
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =A Quiet Night In| publisher =Walker| date =1993 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780744525663
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Worst Witch All At Sea| publisher =Viking| date =1993 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780670832538
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Last Noo-Noo| publisher =Walker| date =1995 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780744532289
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =All For One| publisher =Walker| date =2002 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780744549140
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Mr Large in Charge| publisher =Walker| date =2005 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9781844280483
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Worst Witch Saves the Day| publisher =Puffin| date =2005 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780141382180
*cite book | last =Murphy | first =J. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =The Worst Witch To The Rescue| publisher =Puffin| date =2007 | location =London | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 9780141383019

References