Simon Maginn

Last updated

Simon Maginn
Born1961 (age 62–63)
Wallasey, Merseyside, England
Pen nameSimon Nolan
OccupationWriter
NationalityBritish

Simon Maginn (born 1961 in is a British horror/thriller writer. He is best known for the 1994 novel Sheep , which was released as a film under the title The Dark in 2005. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life

Maginn was born in Wallasey, Merseyside) in 1961. [3] He cites among his early influences films like Psycho, The Amityville Horror and The Shining , as well as novels like Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast and The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty. [4] He studied music at the University of Sussex, specialising in percussion and composition. [5]

Career

Maginn published his first novel, Sheep, in 1994, which won WHSmith Fresh Talent Award. [6] He is also the author of: Virgins and Martyrs (Corgi, 1995), A Sickness of the Soul (Corgi 1995), Methods of Confinement (Black Swan 1996) and the novella Rattus (Pendragon Press 2010). The last of these was published alongside a novella by Gary Fry, in a compilation entitled Feral Companions.

Maginn has also published satirical comedies under the pseudonym Simon Nolan: As Good as it Gets (Quartet Books, 1998), The Vending Machine of Justice (Quartet Books, 2000) and Whitehawk (Revenge Ink, 2010).

In 1993, Maginn was one of six authors chosen by W. H. Smith for a campaign involving a purchase of 20,000 paperback books. [7] At the time, Maginn was a music teacher. [7]

He is politically active, both on and off social media. [8] In 2018, Maginn spoke out on what he called: 'the fabrication of an “antisemitism crisis” in the Labour Party and the smearing of its socialist leader'. [9] As a result he was involved in an online clash with J. K. Rowling over his tweets on this subject. [10] [11]

Personal life

Maginn has spent much of his life suffering from DSPS (Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder), a chronic sleep issue, which meant that he was unable to keep a conventional job, "except for short bursts" during his twenties. This problem, he says, has since been resolved. [12]

Bibliography

Maginn, Simon (1994). Sheep. UK: Corgi. ISBN   9780552141222.

Maginn, Simon (1995). Virgins and Martyrs. UK: Corgi. ISBN   9780552142496.

Maginn, Simon (1996). A Sickness of the Soul. UK: Corgi. ISBN   9780552142502.

Maginn, Simon (1996). Methods of Confinement. UK: Black Swan. ISBN   9780552997089.

Maginn, Simon (2010). Feral Companions. UK: Pendragon. ISBN   978-1906864040.

As Simon Nolan:

Nolan, Simon (1998). As Good as it Gets. UK: Quartet Books. ISBN   0704381087.

Nolan, Simon (2000). The Vending Machine of Justice. UK: Quartet Books. ISBN   0704381060.

Nolan, Simon (2010). Whitehawk. UK: Revenge Ink. ISBN   978-0955807879.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. K. Rowling</span> British author and philanthropist (born 1965)

Joanne Rowling, known by her pen name J. K. Rowling, is a British author and philanthropist. She is the author of Harry Potter, a seven-volume fantasy novel series published from 1997 to 2007. The series has sold over 600 million copies, been translated into 84 languages, and spawned a global media franchise including films and video games. The Casual Vacancy (2012) was her first novel for adults. She writes Cormoran Strike, an ongoing crime fiction series, under the alias Robert Galbraith.

<i>Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone</i> 1997 fantasy novel by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a fantasy novel written by the British author J. K. Rowling. It is the first novel in the Harry Potter series and was Rowling's debut novel. It follows Harry Potter, a young wizard who discovers his magical heritage on his eleventh birthday when he receives a letter of acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry makes close friends and a few enemies during his first year at the school. With the help of his friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, he faces an attempted comeback by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, who killed Harry's parents but failed to kill Harry when he was just 15 months old.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William F. Nolan</span> American writer (1928–2021)

William Francis Nolan was an American author who wrote hundreds of stories in the science fiction, fantasy, horror, and crime fiction genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Radcliffe</span> English actor (born 1989)

Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor. He rose to fame at age 12 when he began portraying Harry Potter in the Harry Potter film series. Radcliffe plays Potter in all eight films in the series, beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and concluding with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011).

<i>Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets</i> 1998 fantasy novel by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling and the second novel in the Harry Potter series. The plot follows Harry's second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, during which a series of messages on the walls of the school's corridors warn that the "Chamber of Secrets" has been opened and that the "heir of Slytherin" would kill all pupils who do not come from all-magical families. These threats are found after attacks that leave residents of the school petrified. Throughout the year, Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione investigate the attacks.

<i>Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</i> 1999 fantasy novel by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is a fantasy novel written by the British author J. K. Rowling. It is the third instalment in the Harry Potter series. The novel follows Harry Potter, a young wizard, in his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Along with friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry investigates Sirius Black, an escaped prisoner from Azkaban, the wizard prison, believed to be one of Lord Voldemort's old allies.

<i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</i> 2007 fantasy novel by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a fantasy novel written by the British author J. K. Rowling. It is the seventh and final novel in the main Harry Potter series. It was released on 21 July 2007 in the United Kingdom by Bloomsbury Publishing, in the United States by Scholastic, and in Canada by Raincoast Books. The novel chronicles the events directly following Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005) and the final confrontation between the wizards Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Freedland</span> British journalist (born 1967)

Jonathan Saul Freedland is a British journalist who writes a weekly column for The Guardian and used to write for the Jewish Chronicle until, along with Hadley Freeman, David Aaronovitch, David Baddiel and others, he resigned dramatically in September 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malorie Blackman</span> British writer (born 1962)

Malorie Blackman is a British writer who held the position of Children's Laureate from 2013 to 2015. She primarily writes literature and television drama for children and young adults. She has used science fiction to explore social and ethical issues, for example, her Noughts and Crosses series uses the setting of a fictional alternative Britain to explore racism. Blackman has been the recipient of many honours for her work, including the 2022 PEN Pinter Prize.

<i>Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</i> 2005 fantasy novel by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a fantasy novel written by the British author J. K. Rowling. It is the sixth novel in the Harry Potter series, and takes place during Harry Potter's sixth year at the wizard school Hogwarts. The novel reveals events from the early life of Lord Voldemort, and chronicles Harry's preparations for the final battle against him.

<i>Harry Potter</i> Series of fantasy novels by J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story arc concerns Harry's conflict with Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who intends to become immortal, overthrow the wizard governing body known as the Ministry of Magic, and subjugate all wizards and Muggles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balmoral Hotel</span> Luxury hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland

The Balmoral Hotel is a hotel and landmark in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located in the heart of the city at the east end of Princes Street, the main shopping street beneath the Edinburgh Castle rock, and the southern edge of the New Town.

<i>Sheep</i> (novel) 1994 horror novel by Simon Maginn

Sheep is a horror novel by British author Simon Maginn, originally published in 1994 and reissued in 1997. It is now out of print. The book provided the basis for the 2005 film The Dark, although the plot changed drastically in the conversion from book to film. It was Maginn's debut novel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shabana Mahmood</span> British politician (born 1980)

Shabana Mahmood is a British politician and barrister who has been serving as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice since 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Ladywood since 2010. Between 2010 and 2024 she held various shadow junior ministerial and shadow cabinet positions under leaders Ed Miliband, Harriet Harman, and Keir Starmer.

Neil Blair is an English literary agent, television producer, and film producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Political views of J. K. Rowling</span>

British author J. K. Rowling, writer of Harry Potter and other Wizarding World works, has garnered attention for her support of the Labour Party under Gordon Brown and her criticism of the party under Jeremy Corbyn and Keir Starmer, as well as her opposition to the American Republican Party under Donald Trump. She opposed Scottish independence in a 2014 referendum and Brexit during the 2016 referendum to leave the European Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lloyd Russell-Moyle</span> British Labour Co-op politician

Lloyd Russell-Moyle is a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Brighton Kemptown from 2017 to 2024. A member of the Labour and Co-operative Party, he was a member of Brighton and Hove City Council from 2016 to 2017.

Simon Bestwick is an English author of British contemporary horror.

<i>Troubled Blood</i> 2020 detective novel by J. K. Rowling

Troubled Blood is the fifth novel in the Cormoran Strike series, written by J. K. Rowling and published under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. The novel was released on 15 September 2020.

References

  1. ↑ "Leading film role for Abigail, 12". BBC News. BBC. 9 June 2004. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  2. ↑ "The Dark (2005) Review - My Bloody Reviews". 19 January 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  3. ↑ Wilson, Michael (14 January 2013). "Simon Maginn". This Is Horror. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  4. ↑ "Simon Maginn". This Is Horror. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  5. ↑ "Simon Maginn". www.fantasticfiction.com. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "Simon Maginn". This Is Horror. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  7. 1 2 Joseph, Joe (30 September 1993). "New writers join fast lane to bestseller list". The Times.
  8. ↑ "The Long Coup". Jewish Voice For Labour. 23 March 2021.
  9. ↑ "How to destroy a political party by waging a fact-free propaganda war which can't be answered". prruk.org. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  10. ↑ "J.K. Rowling calls out writer over Jeremy Corbyn and anti-Semitism: 'What other minority would you speak to this way?'". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  11. ↑ "J.K. Rowling Slams British Author for Calling Jewish Outrage at Corbyn 'Synthetic'". Haaretz. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  12. ↑ Simon (7 March 2016). "Simon Bestwick: The Lowdown with... Simon Maginn". Simon Bestwick. Retrieved 12 June 2024.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.