Patricia Kennealy-Morrison
Encyclopedia
Patricia Kennealy-Morrison (born Patricia Kennely; March 4, 1946) is an American
author
and journalist
. Her published works include rock criticism, a memoir, and a series of science fiction
/fantasy
and murder mystery
novels. Most of her books are part of her series, The Keltiad
.
As first a writer and then the editor-in-chief of Jazz and Pop magazine in the late sixties
, she was one of the first women rock
critics
. Kennealy-Morrison has worked as an advertising copywriter, receiving two Clio
nominations. She is a Dame of the Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani
, a High Priestess
in a Celtic Pagan
tradition and a member of Mensa
.
She attended St. Bonaventure University
for two years, majoring in Journalism. She later transferred to Harpur College (now Binghamton University
) where she graduated with a B.A. in English Literature in 1967. She then moved to New York City
, where she worked first as a lexicographer for Macmillan Publishing, then as an editorial assistant at and, from 1968–1971, editor-in-chief of Jazz and Pop magazine. She was one of the first female rock critics, leaving the field in 1971.
As editor-in-chief of Jazz and Pop she first interviewed Jim Morrison
of the rock band The Doors
in January 1969. After the interview, they began a correspondence, became friends and later lovers. She and Morrison exchanged marriage vows in a Celtic Pagan handfasting
ceremony in June 1970. Before witnesses, one of them a Presbyterian minister
, the couple signed a document declaring themselves wed. In 1992, Kennealy-Morrison published a memoir about her months with Jim Morrison, Strange Days: My Life With And Without Jim Morrison. Her book places great emphasis on the hand-fasting ceremony, even though she told Virginia Balfour, the author of "Rock Wives: The Hard Lives and Good Times of the Wives, Girlfriends, and Groupies of Rock and Roll," published in 1986, that Morrison took their ceremony "probably not too seriously." Jim Morrison's will stated that "I declare that I am a resident of Los Angeles County, California; that I am unmarried and have no children." There are no known witnesses to the hand-fasting ceremony. In the photo section of her book, Kenneally-Morrison includes a picture of a document in her own hand-writing, with her own signature and the signature "J Morrison" at the bottom of the document. The picture's caption states: "Signatures of the witnesses have been obscured to protect their privacy."
Although handfasting, like other religious ceremonies, is not legal unless the appropriate State paperwork is filed, she later changed her legal name
to include Morrison's name, and Morrison allegedly addressed letters and poems to her as "Patricia Morrison" and "my wife, Patricia". Jim Morrison's will, however, left everything to his long-time companion Pamela Courson
.
Keneally-Morrison served as an advisor on Oliver Stone
's movie The Doors
, and played a small role in the film as the High Priestess who marries the Jim and Patricia characters (portrayed by Val Kilmer
and Kathleen Quinlan
). However, in subsequent interviews and writings she was scathingly critical of Stone's portrayal of Morrison, herself, and other people who were the basis for the film's fictional characters, saying Stone's fiction bore little to no resemblance to the people she had known or the events they lived through; Stone admitted that the character named after her was a composite of several of Morrison's girlfriends and regretted not giving her a fictional name. In the film her character is referred to as a "Wicca
Priestess", but Kennealy-Morrison identifies as a Celtic Pagan
, not a Wiccan.
In 2000, Robin Ventura
, third baseman
for the pennant-winning New York Mets
, took the phrase "Mojo Risin" from The Doors
' "L.A. Woman
" and made it the rallying cry for the team that year. Ventura and the Mets invited Kennealy-Morrison to a game just before the playoffs, where she met with them and became a Mets fan.
In June 2007 the author posted that she was in the midst of final preparations to publish Ungrateful Dead: Murder at the Fillmore, the first in a series of murder mysteries set in the turbulent world of Sixties rock & roll. Ungrateful Dead introduces the character of Rennie Stride, rock reporter/detective, and her boyfriend (later husband) Turk Wayland, superstar English
lead guitarist. Kennealy-Morrison has described the series as:
and The Celtic New Year
.
Tales of Aeron
Tales of Arthur
Colloquies of the Ancients
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and journalist
Music journalism
Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of...
. Her published works include rock criticism, a memoir, and a series of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
and murder mystery
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
novels. Most of her books are part of her series, The Keltiad
The Keltiad
The Keltiad is a body of fantasy works written by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison. Currently there are eight novels in the series.The books are set in a star system far from our own, where various Celtic peoples emigrated after the rise of Christianity and the purge of the Old Religion that followed...
.
As first a writer and then the editor-in-chief of Jazz and Pop magazine in the late sixties
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
, she was one of the first women rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
critics
Music journalism
Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of...
. Kennealy-Morrison has worked as an advertising copywriter, receiving two Clio
Clio Awards
The Clio Awards are annual awards bestowed to reward innovation and creative excellence in advertising, design and communication. The categories include work in nearly all types of media, and the judges are advertising professionals from around the world....
nominations. She is a Dame of the Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani
Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem
The Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani , also known as Knights Templar International, is a self-styled order founded in 1945 by Antonio Campello Pinto de Sousa Fontes , claiming to be a continuation of the self-styled l'Ordre du Temple founded in 1804 by Bernard-Raymond Fabré-Palaprat...
, a High Priestess
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in a Celtic Pagan
Celtic Neopaganism
Celtic Neopaganism refers to Neopagan movements based on Celtic polytheism.-Types of Celtic Neopaganism:*Neo-druidism, grew out of the Celtic revival in 18th century Romanticism....
tradition and a member of Mensa
Mensa International
Mensa is the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world. It is a non-profit organization open to people who score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardised, supervised IQ or other approved intelligence test...
.
Life and career
Kennealy-Morrison was born in Brooklyn, New York and reared in on Long Island in the hamlet of North Babylon.She attended St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private, Franciscan Catholic university, located in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students....
for two years, majoring in Journalism. She later transferred to Harpur College (now Binghamton University
Binghamton University
Binghamton University, also formally called State University of New York at Binghamton, , is a public research university in the State of New York. The University is one of the four university centers in the State University of New York system...
) where she graduated with a B.A. in English Literature in 1967. She then moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where she worked first as a lexicographer for Macmillan Publishing, then as an editorial assistant at and, from 1968–1971, editor-in-chief of Jazz and Pop magazine. She was one of the first female rock critics, leaving the field in 1971.
As editor-in-chief of Jazz and Pop she first interviewed Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
of the rock band The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
in January 1969. After the interview, they began a correspondence, became friends and later lovers. She and Morrison exchanged marriage vows in a Celtic Pagan handfasting
Handfasting
Handfasting is a traditional European ceremony of betrothal or wedding. It usually involved the tying or binding of the right hands of the bride and groom with a cord or ribbon for the duration of the wedding ceremony.-Etymology:...
ceremony in June 1970. Before witnesses, one of them a Presbyterian minister
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
, the couple signed a document declaring themselves wed. In 1992, Kennealy-Morrison published a memoir about her months with Jim Morrison, Strange Days: My Life With And Without Jim Morrison. Her book places great emphasis on the hand-fasting ceremony, even though she told Virginia Balfour, the author of "Rock Wives: The Hard Lives and Good Times of the Wives, Girlfriends, and Groupies of Rock and Roll," published in 1986, that Morrison took their ceremony "probably not too seriously." Jim Morrison's will stated that "I declare that I am a resident of Los Angeles County, California; that I am unmarried and have no children." There are no known witnesses to the hand-fasting ceremony. In the photo section of her book, Kenneally-Morrison includes a picture of a document in her own hand-writing, with her own signature and the signature "J Morrison" at the bottom of the document. The picture's caption states: "Signatures of the witnesses have been obscured to protect their privacy."
Although handfasting, like other religious ceremonies, is not legal unless the appropriate State paperwork is filed, she later changed her legal name
Legal name
Legal name is the name that an individual is given at birth and/or recognized by a government or other legal entity, or which appears on a birth certificate , marriage certificate , or other government issued document on which a legal name change is evidenced and...
to include Morrison's name, and Morrison allegedly addressed letters and poems to her as "Patricia Morrison" and "my wife, Patricia". Jim Morrison's will, however, left everything to his long-time companion Pamela Courson
Pamela Courson
Pamela Susan Courson was the long-term companion of Jim Morrison, vocalist of The Doors. After the deaths of Morrison and Courson, her parents petitioned an out-of-state court to declare that the couple had a common-law marriage.-Early life and involvement with Morrison:Courson was born in Weed,...
.
Keneally-Morrison served as an advisor on Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
's movie The Doors
The Doors (film)
The Doors is a 1991 biopic about the 1960s-1970s rock band of the same name which emphasizes the life of its lead singer, Jim Morrison. It was directed by Oliver Stone, and stars Val Kilmer as Morrison, Meg Ryan as Pamela Courson , Kyle MacLachlan as Ray Manzarek, Frank Whaley as Robby Krieger,...
, and played a small role in the film as the High Priestess who marries the Jim and Patricia characters (portrayed by Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! , then the cult classic Real Genius , as well as blockbuster action films, including a supporting role in Top Gun and a...
and Kathleen Quinlan
Kathleen Quinlan
Kathleen Denise Quinlan is an Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated American actress, mostly seen on television and in motion pictures.-Personal life:...
). However, in subsequent interviews and writings she was scathingly critical of Stone's portrayal of Morrison, herself, and other people who were the basis for the film's fictional characters, saying Stone's fiction bore little to no resemblance to the people she had known or the events they lived through; Stone admitted that the character named after her was a composite of several of Morrison's girlfriends and regretted not giving her a fictional name. In the film her character is referred to as a "Wicca
Wicca
Wicca , is a modern Pagan religious movement. Developing in England in the first half of the 20th century, Wicca was popularised in the 1950s and early 1960s by a Wiccan High Priest named Gerald Gardner, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft," and its adherents "the Wica."...
Priestess", but Kennealy-Morrison identifies as a Celtic Pagan
Celtic Neopaganism
Celtic Neopaganism refers to Neopagan movements based on Celtic polytheism.-Types of Celtic Neopaganism:*Neo-druidism, grew out of the Celtic revival in 18th century Romanticism....
, not a Wiccan.
In 2000, Robin Ventura
Robin Ventura
Robin Mark Ventura is the current manager of the Chicago White Sox. He is a former professional baseball player, a third baseman who played for four major league teams, most notably for the Chicago White Sox...
, third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
for the pennant-winning New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, took the phrase "Mojo Risin" from The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
' "L.A. Woman
L.A. Woman
The band embarked on a tour to promote the album, although it would only comprise two dates. The first was held in Dallas, Texas on December 11 and reportedly went well. The second performance took place at The Warehouse in New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 12, 1970, where Morrison apparently had...
" and made it the rallying cry for the team that year. Ventura and the Mets invited Kennealy-Morrison to a game just before the playoffs, where she met with them and became a Mets fan.
Lizard Queen Press
On May 19, 2007, Kennealy-Morrison announced via her blog that she will be starting her own publishing house, Lizard Queen Press, and self-publishing more novels and non-fiction. The next Keltiad novel will be The Beltane Queen, and another memoir is in the works, as well.In June 2007 the author posted that she was in the midst of final preparations to publish Ungrateful Dead: Murder at the Fillmore, the first in a series of murder mysteries set in the turbulent world of Sixties rock & roll. Ungrateful Dead introduces the character of Rennie Stride, rock reporter/detective, and her boyfriend (later husband) Turk Wayland, superstar English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
lead guitarist. Kennealy-Morrison has described the series as:
Seamlessly blending the fictional with the real: the stars, the bands, the music, all the excitement of the most incredible decade of the last century... Full of rockworld dish and attitude, created by someone who was not only there for it but made some of it happen herself, and who took just enough drugs to get into it and not so many that she can't remember it...Ungrateful Dead was published on November 1, 2007, to coincide with both the Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in many cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality...
and The Celtic New Year
Samhain
Samhain is a Gaelic harvest festival held on October 31–November 1. It was linked to festivals held around the same time in other Celtic cultures, and was popularised as the "Celtic New Year" from the late 19th century, following Sir John Rhys and Sir James Frazer...
.
Errata
The author's legal name is "Patricia Kennealy Morrison". As a rock critic and editor, she published under her birth name, "Patricia Kennely", and later as "Patricia Kennealy". From 1994 - 2007 her books were published as "Patricia Kennealy-Morrison", with the hyphen. Ungrateful Dead is her first book to be published as simply "Patricia Morrison".The Keltiad
- Blackmantle: A Triumph (1997)
Tales of Aeron
- The Copper Crown (1984)
- The Throne of Scone (1986)
- The Silver Branch (1988)
Tales of Arthur
- The Hawk's Grey Feather (1990)
- The Oak Above the Kings (1994)
- The Hedge of Mist (1996)
Colloquies of the Ancients
- The Deer's Cry (1998)
The Rennie Stride Mysteries
The Rock & Roll Murders- Ungrateful Dead: Murder at the Fillmore (2007)
- California Screamin': Murder at Monterey Pop (2009)
Anthologies
- Rock She Wrote: Women Write About Rock, Pop, and Rap, eds Evelyn McDonnell and Ann PowersAnn PowersAnn Powers is an American writer and pop music critic.Powers has been writing about popular music and society since the early 1980s...
(1995), "Rock Around the Cock". ISBN 0-385-31250-4 - The Faces of Fantasy: Photographs by Patti Perret, intro Terri Windling, ISBN 0-312-86182-6
- Crusade of FireCrusade of FireCrusade of Fire is an anthology edited by Katherine Kurtz.Crusade of Fire is the third anthology in the "Tales of the Knights Templar" series about the Templars. It consists of eight different tales that concern the more mystical and mysterious side of the military religious order...
: Mystical Tales of the Knights Templar, ed Katherine KurtzKatherine KurtzKatherine Kurtz is the author of numerous fantasy novels, most notably the Deryni novels. Although born in America, for the past several years, up until just recently, she has lived in a castle in Ireland...
(2002), "The Last Voyage". ISBN 0-446-61090-9
External links
- Mrs Morrison's Hotel - Patricia Kennealy-Morrison's official blog
- Patricia Kennealy Morrison's LiveJournal
- An interview with Patricia Kennealy-Morrison about the 1991 film The Doors
- Interview with Patricia Kennealy in Taliesin's Successors: Interviews with Authors of Modern Arthurian Literature
- Author's Dragon*Con biography (from the February 12, 2008 version at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
, accessed June 6, 2008) - "Mets have only themselves to blame after trading Ventura" Kennealy-Morrison comments on the New York Mets and the career of Morrison fan, third basemanThird basemanA third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Robin VenturaRobin VenturaRobin Mark Ventura is the current manager of the Chicago White Sox. He is a former professional baseball player, a third baseman who played for four major league teams, most notably for the Chicago White Sox...