Peter James (writer)
Encyclopedia
Peter James is a British writer of crime fiction and film producer
.
. He was educated at Charterhouse School
and went on to Ravensbourne Film School
. Subsequently he spent several years in North America, working as a screen writer and film producer
. In 1994 Penguin published his novel Host on two floppy discs (in addition to conventional print formats) as The World's First Electronic Novel. Today he divides his life between his country home near Brighton, Sussex and his apartment in Notting Hill
, London. His interests include criminology, science and the paranormal. He also as self-confessed "petrol head", having owned many fast cars over the years, including an Aston Martin Vanquish, AMG and Brabus Mercedes, a Bentley Speed and two classic E-Type Jaguars. He holds an international racing licence, and when not writing competes in the Britcar series in a former British Touring Car Seat Toledo. His website is www.peterjames.com
and in the US by Carroll & Graf Publishers
. James has written supernatural thrillers, spy fiction, Michael Crichton-style science-based thrillers, and a children's novel, as well as the introductions for Graham Masterton's collection 'Manitou Man' and Joe Rattigan's collection 'Ghosts Far From Subtle'.
He also wrote, as 'a labour of love' the children's novelisation for the 1986 movie 'Biggles
', which he also produced. James is a lifelong fan of the Biggles franchise, at one time owning the rights to the books, and having translated some foreign editions.
In 2005 The Merchant Of Venice
, directed by Michael Radford and for which James was executive producer, had a Royal Premiere
in the presence of Prince Charles and received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Costume Design. In 2006 the film also won the Silver Ribbon for Best Production Design (Migliore Scenografia) from the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists.
In 2007 he made an appearance at the Festival International du Roman Noir in Frontignan
, France.
In 2010 Peter made an appearance at Oakmeeds Community College as the special guest of an awards evening to congratulate hard working and high achieving pupils.
On 3 April 2011 he took over as chair of the Crime Writers' Association
, a post he will hold for one year.
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
.
Life
James is the son of Cornelia James, the former glovemaker to Queen Elizabeth IIElizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
. He was educated at Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
and went on to Ravensbourne Film School
Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication
Ravensbourne is a university sector college innovating in digital media and design, with a vocationally focused portfolio of courses, spanning fashion, television and broadcasting, interactive product design, architecture and environment design, graphic design, animation, moving image, music...
. Subsequently he spent several years in North America, working as a screen writer and film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
. In 1994 Penguin published his novel Host on two floppy discs (in addition to conventional print formats) as The World's First Electronic Novel. Today he divides his life between his country home near Brighton, Sussex and his apartment in Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, London. His interests include criminology, science and the paranormal. He also as self-confessed "petrol head", having owned many fast cars over the years, including an Aston Martin Vanquish, AMG and Brabus Mercedes, a Bentley Speed and two classic E-Type Jaguars. He holds an international racing licence, and when not writing competes in the Britcar series in a former British Touring Car Seat Toledo. His website is www.peterjames.com
Work
James has written 25 books, the most recent of which feature Brighton-based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. His books have been translated into 29 languages. In England they are published by Pan BooksPan Books
Pan Books is an imprint which first became active in the 1940s and is now part of the British-based Macmillan Publishers owned by German publishers, Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group....
and in the US by Carroll & Graf Publishers
Carroll & Graf Publishers
Carroll & Graf Publishers, an American publishing company centered in New York City, was an imprint of the Avalon Publishing Group,Publisher Kent Carroll, the editorial director of Grove Press from 1975 to 1981, co-founded Carroll & Graf in 1982...
. James has written supernatural thrillers, spy fiction, Michael Crichton-style science-based thrillers, and a children's novel, as well as the introductions for Graham Masterton's collection 'Manitou Man' and Joe Rattigan's collection 'Ghosts Far From Subtle'.
He also wrote, as 'a labour of love' the children's novelisation for the 1986 movie 'Biggles
Biggles: Adventures in Time
Biggles: Adventures in Time is a 1986 adventure film based on the character of Biggles from the series of novels written by Captain W.E. Johns...
', which he also produced. James is a lifelong fan of the Biggles franchise, at one time owning the rights to the books, and having translated some foreign editions.
In 2005 The Merchant Of Venice
The Merchant of Venice (2004 film)
The Merchant of Venice is a 2004 romantic drama film based on Shakespeare's play of the same name. It is the first full-length sound film version in English of Shakespeare's play; most other versions are videotaped productions made for television...
, directed by Michael Radford and for which James was executive producer, had a Royal Premiere
Royal Command Performance
For the annual Royal Variety Performance performed in Britain for the benefit of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, see Royal Variety Performance...
in the presence of Prince Charles and received a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Costume Design. In 2006 the film also won the Silver Ribbon for Best Production Design (Migliore Scenografia) from the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists.
In 2007 he made an appearance at the Festival International du Roman Noir in Frontignan
Frontignan
Frontignan la Peyrade is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.Frontignan is renowned for its AOC wine, the Muscat de Frontignan, a sweet wine made solely from the Muscat grape variety.-Sights:...
, France.
In 2010 Peter made an appearance at Oakmeeds Community College as the special guest of an awards evening to congratulate hard working and high achieving pupils.
On 3 April 2011 he took over as chair of the Crime Writers' Association
Crime Writers' Association
The Crime Writers Association is a writers' association in the United Kingdom. Founded by John Creasey in 1953, it is currently chaired by Peter James and claims 450+ members....
, a post he will hold for one year.
Awards
- Sitges International Horror Film Festival, 1974, Best Foreign Film for Dead of Night.
- Honorary Fellowship, FHS Emeritus award by the Hypnotherapy Society, 1999.
- Krimi-Blitz, Best Crime Writer of the year in Germany, 2005.
- Prix Polar International, 2006.
- Prix Cœur Noir at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines festival, 2007.
- Dead Man's Footsteps has been shortlisted for Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award 2009.
- Honorary Doctorate of Letters at Brighton University, 2009.
External links
- Peter James his personal website including his own short bio, a bibliography, articles and interviews.
- Review of Dead Man's Grip in Shots Mag Ezine May 2011
- Interview with Peter James in Shots Mag Ezine October 2010
- Peter James on TheCrimeHouse.com Interview published June 21, 2010
- The Deckchair Interview Interview with James by Sarah Hutchings dated 25.5.2007
- Peter James website about the novel Dreamer
- Crime writer Peter James Interview with James in the Sussex Express of 17 August 2007
- Sixty seconds with Peter James... Interview with James on ReviewingTheEvidence.com
- Peter James His entry in The Internet Movie Database
- BBC raw Quick Reads - The Perfect Murder by Peter James
- ABC Talks To: Crime author Peter James Interview with James by the American Book Center in Amsterdam
- Review of Peter James's thriller 'Dead Like You' by Patrick Anderson in The Washington Post 19 December 2010