Paula Morris
Biography
Paula Morris
Paula Morris (Ngati Wai) is a novelist and short story writer from New Zealand.
She is the author of two novels for young adults, both published by Scholastic in the US: the supernatural mysteries RUINED (2009) and DARK SOULS (August 2011). She also writes award-winning novels for adults, published by Penguin New Zealand: QUEEN OF BEAUTY (2002); HIBISCUS COAST (2005); and TRENDY BUT CASUAL (2007). Both RUINED and HIBISCUS COAST have been optioned for film.
Paula’s short stories have been widely published and radio versions have been broadcast in both New Zealand and the US. Her first short story collection, FORBIDDEN CITIES (2008), was a regional finalist in the 2009 Commonwealth Prize. She’s also the editor of THE PENGUIN BOOK OF CONTEMPORARY NEW ZEALAND SHORT STORIES (2008).
Paula writes book reviews and arts features for a number of publications, including a monthly column for NEXT magazine. She holds degrees from universities in New Zealand, the U.K. and the US, including an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. For ten years, she worked in London and New York, first as a publicist and marketing executive in the record business, and later as a branding consultant and advertising copywriter. Since 2003 she’s taught creative writing at universities – most recently Tulane University in New Orleans, and the University of Stirling in Scotland.
Paula Morris
