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Peter May (writer)
Encyclopedia
Peter May is a Scottish
television
screenwriter
, novel
ist and crime writer.
. From an early age he was intent on becoming a novelist, but took up a career as a journalist
as a way to start earning a living by writing. At the age of 21, he won the Fraser Award and was named Scotland's Young Journalist of the Year. He went on to write for The Scotsman
and the Glasgow Evening Times. At the age of 26, May's first novel The Reporter, was published. May was asked to adapt the book as a television series for the British television network, the BBC
and left journalism in 1978 to begin to write full-time for television.
in 1978. May went on to create another major TV series for the BBC
- Squadron
- a drama involving a RAF rapid deployment squadron
. In the following fifteen years, May earned more than 1000 TV credits. He created and wrote major drama serials for both BBC and the Independent Television Network in the UK including Machair
which he co-created with Janice Hally
for Scottish Television
. The long-running serial was the first major television drama to be made in the Gaelic language and was shot entirely on the Isle of Lewis location in the Outer Hebrides
. The show, which May also produced, achieved a 33% audience share and made it regularly into the top ten in the ratings in Scotland, in spite of the fact that it had to be broadcast with English subtitles as only 2% of the population are Gaelic speakers. During his time working in television, May wrote the novels Hidden Faces (1981) and The Noble Path (1992), and in 1996 May quit television to devote his time to writing novels.
As a mark of their respect for his work, The Chinese Crime Writers' Association made him an honorary member of their Beijing Chapter. He is the only Westerner to receive such an honour. He has also contributed a monthly column to the Chinese Police Magazine Contemporary World Police.
May's latest series, "The Enzo Files", is set in France and is centred on the work of half-Italian, half-Scottish Enzo Macleod. This former forensic scientist, now working as a biology professor at a French university becomes involved in applying the latest scientific methods to solve cold cases.
May continues to ensure authenticity in the details of his books by researching in France just as he did in China. When writing "The Critic" - which involves the wine industry and is set in Gaillac, France - May took a course in wine-tasting, picked grapes by hand, and was invited by the winemakers of the region to be inducted as a Chevalier de la Dive Bouteille de Gaillac in December 2007.
It won the Prix des Lecteurs at L'Havres Ancres Noires Festival in 2010 and won the French national literature award, the Cezam Prix Littéraire Inter CE
at an award ceremony in Strasbourg in October 2011.
'The Blackhouse' went on to be published all over Europe and was bought by British publishers Quercus who brought it out in February 2011. It is the first in three planned books to be set in the Scottish archipelago, the Outer Hebrides.
'The Blackhouse' was chosen for the Richard & Judy Book Club autumn 2011 list.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist and crime writer.
Early life
Peter was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. From an early age he was intent on becoming a novelist, but took up a career as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
as a way to start earning a living by writing. At the age of 21, he won the Fraser Award and was named Scotland's Young Journalist of the Year. He went on to write for The Scotsman
The Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
and the Glasgow Evening Times. At the age of 26, May's first novel The Reporter, was published. May was asked to adapt the book as a television series for the British television network, the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and left journalism in 1978 to begin to write full-time for television.
Television career
May's novel, The Reporter became the prime-time 13-part television series entitled The StandardThe Standard
The Standard is an English free newspaper of Hong Kong with a daily circulation of 231,018. It was called the Hong Kong Standard and changed to HKiMail during the Internet boom, but it changed back to The Standard in 2001....
in 1978. May went on to create another major TV series for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
- Squadron
Squadron (TV series)
Squadron is a British television series produced by the BBC in 1982.The series dealt with the adventures of 370 Rapid Deployment Squadron of the Royal Air Force. The Squadron operated a mix of operational RAF aircraft including the Harrier GR Mk 3, Hercules C Mk 1, Puma HC Mk 1 and the first...
- a drama involving a RAF rapid deployment squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
. In the following fifteen years, May earned more than 1000 TV credits. He created and wrote major drama serials for both BBC and the Independent Television Network in the UK including Machair
Machair (TV series)
Machair was a Scottish Gaelic television soap opera produced by Scottish Television Enterprises between August 1992 and September 1998.The series was created and developed by Peter May and Janice Hally who was also the storyliner and principal scriptwriter...
which he co-created with Janice Hally
Janice Hally
Janice Hally is a Scottish playwright and television screenwriter who has written more than 300 broadcast hours of prime-time British television drama serials and individual screenplays...
for Scottish Television
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
. The long-running serial was the first major television drama to be made in the Gaelic language and was shot entirely on the Isle of Lewis location in the Outer Hebrides
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
. The show, which May also produced, achieved a 33% audience share and made it regularly into the top ten in the ratings in Scotland, in spite of the fact that it had to be broadcast with English subtitles as only 2% of the population are Gaelic speakers. During his time working in television, May wrote the novels Hidden Faces (1981) and The Noble Path (1992), and in 1996 May quit television to devote his time to writing novels.
Chinese connections
Returning to novels, his "China Thrillers" series of books have been published around the world. To research the series, Peter May made annual trips to China and built up a network of contacts including forensic pathologists and homicide detectives. He gained access to the homicide and forensic science sections of Beijing and Shanghai police forces and has made a study of the methodology of Chinese police and forensic pathology systems.As a mark of their respect for his work, The Chinese Crime Writers' Association made him an honorary member of their Beijing Chapter. He is the only Westerner to receive such an honour. He has also contributed a monthly column to the Chinese Police Magazine Contemporary World Police.
French connections
Peter May lives in France, and his China Thrillers have received several nominations for awards in that country. In 2007 he won the Prix Intramuros. This prize is unique in France as it is awarded by juries of readers made up of prisoners in French penitentiaries. The books under consideration are reduced to a shortlist of 6 finalists and the authors of the shortlisted books then have to travel to various French prisons to be interviewed by panels of detainees. In 2007, May was the only non-French author in the shortlist. He received the prize at the annual Polar&Co literary festival in Cognac.http://www.ville-cognac.fr/spip.php?article13May's latest series, "The Enzo Files", is set in France and is centred on the work of half-Italian, half-Scottish Enzo Macleod. This former forensic scientist, now working as a biology professor at a French university becomes involved in applying the latest scientific methods to solve cold cases.
May continues to ensure authenticity in the details of his books by researching in France just as he did in China. When writing "The Critic" - which involves the wine industry and is set in Gaillac, France - May took a course in wine-tasting, picked grapes by hand, and was invited by the winemakers of the region to be inducted as a Chevalier de la Dive Bouteille de Gaillac in December 2007.
Second Life
While working on his standalone thriller 'Virtually Dead', May researched the book by creating an avatar in the online world of Second Life and opening the Flick Faulds private detective agency. He spent a year in Second Life, working as a private detective, and was hired by clients for cases ranging from protection from harassment by stalkers to surveillance and infidelity investigations. He claims to have had a 100% success rate.The Lewis Trilogy
After being turned down by all the major British publishers, 'The Blackhouse' - the first book in 'The Lewis Trilogy' - was published first in May's adopted home of France in French translation at the end of 2009. The book was hailed as "a masterpiece" by the French daily newspaper L'Humanité and was immediately nominated for several literary awards in France.It won the Prix des Lecteurs at L'Havres Ancres Noires Festival in 2010 and won the French national literature award, the Cezam Prix Littéraire Inter CE
Cezam Prix Littéraire Inter CE
The Cezam Prix Litteraire Inter CE is a literary prize which was established in France in 1997. Its judging panel of more than 3600 readers who meet in groups to discuss, critique and individually rate the books, makes it one of the largest adjudicated readers' prizes for literature in the world...
at an award ceremony in Strasbourg in October 2011.
'The Blackhouse' went on to be published all over Europe and was bought by British publishers Quercus who brought it out in February 2011. It is the first in three planned books to be set in the Scottish archipelago, the Outer Hebrides.
'The Blackhouse' was chosen for the Richard & Judy Book Club autumn 2011 list.
The Lewis Trilogy
- The Blackhouse (QuercusQuercus (publisher)Quercus Publishing Plc is an independent publishing house, based in London.It was founded in 2004 by Mark Smith and Wayne Davies, who had previously worked together at the Orion Publishing Group.It is known for its lists in crime Quercus Publishing Plc (PLUS Markets: ) is an independent publishing...
2011)
The Enzo Files
- Extraordinary People (Poisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen Press is a publisher of hardcover mystery fiction in the United States. It is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Poisoned Pen Press typically publishes thirty-six new hardcover mysteries per year, thirty-six new large type editions of those hardcovers, and between thirty and forty new trade...
2006) - The Critic (Poisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen Press is a publisher of hardcover mystery fiction in the United States. It is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Poisoned Pen Press typically publishes thirty-six new hardcover mysteries per year, thirty-six new large type editions of those hardcovers, and between thirty and forty new trade...
2007) - Blacklight Blue (Poisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen Press is a publisher of hardcover mystery fiction in the United States. It is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Poisoned Pen Press typically publishes thirty-six new hardcover mysteries per year, thirty-six new large type editions of those hardcovers, and between thirty and forty new trade...
2008) - Freeze Frame (Poisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen Press is a publisher of hardcover mystery fiction in the United States. It is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Poisoned Pen Press typically publishes thirty-six new hardcover mysteries per year, thirty-six new large type editions of those hardcovers, and between thirty and forty new trade...
2010) - Blowback (Poisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen Press is a publisher of hardcover mystery fiction in the United States. It is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Poisoned Pen Press typically publishes thirty-six new hardcover mysteries per year, thirty-six new large type editions of those hardcovers, and between thirty and forty new trade...
2011)
The China Thrillers
- The Firemaker (Hodder & StoughtonHodder & StoughtonHodder & Stoughton is a British publishing house, now an imprint of Hachette.-History:The firm has its origins in the 1840s, with Matthew Hodder's employment, aged fourteen, with Messrs Jackson and Walford, the official publisher for the Congregational Union...
1999), (St Martin's Press 2005), (Poisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen Press is a publisher of hardcover mystery fiction in the United States. It is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Poisoned Pen Press typically publishes thirty-six new hardcover mysteries per year, thirty-six new large type editions of those hardcovers, and between thirty and forty new trade...
2008) - The Fourth Sacrifice (Hodder & StoughtonHodder & StoughtonHodder & Stoughton is a British publishing house, now an imprint of Hachette.-History:The firm has its origins in the 1840s, with Matthew Hodder's employment, aged fourteen, with Messrs Jackson and Walford, the official publisher for the Congregational Union...
2000), (St Martin's Press 2007) (Poisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen Press is a publisher of hardcover mystery fiction in the United States. It is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Poisoned Pen Press typically publishes thirty-six new hardcover mysteries per year, thirty-six new large type editions of those hardcovers, and between thirty and forty new trade...
2008) - The Killing Room (Hodder & StoughtonHodder & StoughtonHodder & Stoughton is a British publishing house, now an imprint of Hachette.-History:The firm has its origins in the 1840s, with Matthew Hodder's employment, aged fourteen, with Messrs Jackson and Walford, the official publisher for the Congregational Union...
2001), (St Martin's Press 2008) (Poisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen Press is a publisher of hardcover mystery fiction in the United States. It is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Poisoned Pen Press typically publishes thirty-six new hardcover mysteries per year, thirty-six new large type editions of those hardcovers, and between thirty and forty new trade...
2009) - Snakehead (Hodder & StoughtonHodder & StoughtonHodder & Stoughton is a British publishing house, now an imprint of Hachette.-History:The firm has its origins in the 1840s, with Matthew Hodder's employment, aged fourteen, with Messrs Jackson and Walford, the official publisher for the Congregational Union...
2002), (Poisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen Press is a publisher of hardcover mystery fiction in the United States. It is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Poisoned Pen Press typically publishes thirty-six new hardcover mysteries per year, thirty-six new large type editions of those hardcovers, and between thirty and forty new trade...
2009) - The Runner (Hodder & StoughtonHodder & StoughtonHodder & Stoughton is a British publishing house, now an imprint of Hachette.-History:The firm has its origins in the 1840s, with Matthew Hodder's employment, aged fourteen, with Messrs Jackson and Walford, the official publisher for the Congregational Union...
2003), (Poisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen Press is a publisher of hardcover mystery fiction in the United States. It is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Poisoned Pen Press typically publishes thirty-six new hardcover mysteries per year, thirty-six new large type editions of those hardcovers, and between thirty and forty new trade...
2010) - Chinese Whispers (Hodder & StoughtonHodder & StoughtonHodder & Stoughton is a British publishing house, now an imprint of Hachette.-History:The firm has its origins in the 1840s, with Matthew Hodder's employment, aged fourteen, with Messrs Jackson and Walford, the official publisher for the Congregational Union...
2004), (Poisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen Press is a publisher of hardcover mystery fiction in the United States. It is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Poisoned Pen Press typically publishes thirty-six new hardcover mysteries per year, thirty-six new large type editions of those hardcovers, and between thirty and forty new trade...
2009)
Standalone novels
- Virtually Dead (Poisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen PressPoisoned Pen Press is a publisher of hardcover mystery fiction in the United States. It is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Poisoned Pen Press typically publishes thirty-six new hardcover mysteries per year, thirty-six new large type editions of those hardcovers, and between thirty and forty new trade...
) 2010 - The Noble Path (Piatkus, 1992), (St Martin's Press 1993)
- Hidden Faces (Piatkus, 1981), The Man With No Face (St Martin's Press 1982)
- Fallen Hero (N.E.L.New English LibraryThe New English Library was a United Kingdom book publishing company, which became an imprint of Hodder Headline.- History :New English Library was created in 1961 by the Times Mirror Company of Los Angeles, with the takeover of two small British paperback companies, Ace Books Ltd and Four Square...
, 1979) - The Reporter (CorgiTransworld (company)Transworld Publishers Inc. is a British publishing division of Random House and belongs to Bertelsmann, one of the world's largest media groups. It was established in 1950, and for many years it was the British division of Bantam Books. It publishes fiction and non fiction titles by various...
, 1978)
Television drama
- The StandardThe Standard (TV series)The Standard was a television series produced by BBC Scotland in 1978.The series dealt with an ailing Scottish newspaper - the eponymous Standard - and the attempts to reverse its declining fortunes by its team of journalists and administrators....
(BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
1978) (13 episodes) creator, writer - SquadronSquadron (TV series)Squadron is a British television series produced by the BBC in 1982.The series dealt with the adventures of 370 Rapid Deployment Squadron of the Royal Air Force. The Squadron operated a mix of operational RAF aircraft including the Harrier GR Mk 3, Hercules C Mk 1, Puma HC Mk 1 and the first...
(BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
1982) (10 episodes) co-creator, writer - Take The High RoadTake the High RoadTake the High Road was a Scottish soap opera produced by Scottish Television, and set in the fictional village of Glendarroch , and claims to have about 2 million fans, including the Queen Mother...
(Scottish TelevisionScottish TelevisionScottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
1980 - 1992) writer (200+ episodes), story & script editor (700+ episodes). - The Ardlamont Mystery (BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
1985) (Single drama) writer. - MachairMachair (TV series)Machair was a Scottish Gaelic television soap opera produced by Scottish Television Enterprises between August 1992 and September 1998.The series was created and developed by Peter May and Janice Hally who was also the storyliner and principal scriptwriter...
(Scottish TelevisionScottish TelevisionScottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
1992-96) (99 episodes) co-creator and producer.
Film
- The Killing Room (Les Disparues) (movie in development with The French Connection, scheduled for filming Jan 2012) screenplay adaptation of his book,The Killing Room, with Janice HallyJanice HallyJanice Hally is a Scottish playwright and television screenwriter who has written more than 300 broadcast hours of prime-time British television drama serials and individual screenplays...
Awards
- Fraser Award (1973) winner of Scottish Young Journalist of the Year Award
- 17th International Celtic Film and Television Festival (1996) Machair nominated for Best Drama Serial Award
- Elle Magazine, Grand Prix de Litterature (2006) The Firemaker runner up in category Best Crime Novel
- Prix Intramuros (2007) Snakehead winner at the Salon Polar & Co, Cognac
- Prix International (2007) Snakehead shortlisted at the Salon Polar & Co, Cognac
- Prix International (2008) Chinese Whispers shortlisted at the Salon Polar & Co, Cognac
- Prix Ancres Noires (2010) L'Île des chasseurs d'oiseaux (The Blackhouse) winner of the Prix des Lecteurs at the Les Ancres Noires book festival, Le Havre
- Cezam Prix Littéraire Inter CECezam Prix Littéraire Inter CEThe Cezam Prix Litteraire Inter CE is a literary prize which was established in France in 1997. Its judging panel of more than 3600 readers who meet in groups to discuss, critique and individually rate the books, makes it one of the largest adjudicated readers' prizes for literature in the world...
L'Île des chasseurs d'oiseaux (The Blackhouse) winner of the CEZAM Prix Litteraire Inter CE national French Literature Prize.