Bernard Taylor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bernard Taylor is a British author of horror and suspense. He wrote briefly for television and continues to write novels. He currently writes under the pseudonym Jess Foley.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Bernard Taylor was born in 1937 in Wiltshire, but moved to London to study at the Chelsea School of Art, where he was awarded the National Diploma in Design and the Chelsea Diploma. He then worked for several years as an illustrator and teacher before moving to the USA where, based in New York City, he went into the theatre, first as a designer, then as an actor. As an actor he worked on Broadway and in various theatres across the country, later taking up writing as well, such work including several children's plays which were very successfully produced. Following his return to England, he continued with his acting career - appearing in numerous stage, film and television productions -but concentrating on his writing. His first play, Daughter of the Apaches (which he directed and appeared in), was produced in 1975 at the Queen's Theatre Hornchurch. It won for him Thames Television's Most Promising Playwright award, and also had him seconded as Resident Playwright to the theatre for a year. During this time the theatre produced his second play, Mice on the First Floor, starring Frances Tomelty, and, in addition, produced several children's plays that he wrote in partnership with Ginnie Hole. It was during this year also that he wrote his first novel, The Godsend. Between 1976 and 2006 he published ten novels and three non-fiction works under his own name, and five novels under the pseudony Jess Foley. Taylor's three non-fiction works were shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Gold Dagger Award, winning with the second, Perfect Murder, written with the late Stephen Knight. Taylor currently lives in Blackheath, southeast London.
[edit] Adaptations
A film version of The Godsend was released in 1980. It was produced and directed by Gabrielle Beaumont and the screenplay was written by her husband Olaf Pooley. The plot stayed relatively true to the novel, but the ending was changed completely. The film was not well received, however Cyd Hayman received an award for best actress at the Catalonian International Film Festival for her role as Kate Marlowe.
In 1994, Yves Simoneau directed a film version of Mother's Boys which stared Jamie Lee Curtis. With the exception of character names, this film was little or nothing like the novel in which it was based on. Many critics felt that Simoneau borrow from numerous other stalker dramas and attempted to ratchet the action to a feverish pitch in the conclusion. Most critics found Mother's Boys an unconvincing, often over-the-top psychodrama. The film underperformed drastically at the box office and has since faded into obscurity.
[edit] Work in Television
Bernard Taylor was commissioned to write a sitcom series for the BBC, entitled Maggie: It's Me. The plot revolved around a character named Allie who wanted to change her life, so she dumps her boyfriend to "teach him a lesson" and moves in with her friend Maggie. Frances de la Tour was cast as Maggie, and Rosemary Martin was cast as Allie. A half hour pilot was produced, and aired on May 3rd. 1977 but BBC ultimately passed on the series. [1] [2]
[edit] Books
[edit] Horror/Suspense
- The Godsend, 1976
- Sweetheart, Sweetheart, 1977
- The Reaping, 1980
- The Moorstone Sickness, 1981
- The Kindness of Strangers, 1985
- Madeleine, 1987
- Mother's Boys, 1988
- Charmed Life, 1989
- Evil Intent, 1994
- Since Ruby, 1999
Also numerous short stories (published in various anthologies) including:
'Forget me Not' 'Our Last Nanny' 'My Very Good Friend' 'Out of Sorts' 'Travelling Light' etc
[edit] Works of Non Fiction
- Cruelly Murdered, 1979
- Perfect Murder (with Stephen Knight), 1987
- Murder At the Priory (with Kate Clarke) , 1988
[edit] Works written under the pseudonym Jess Foley
- So Long at the Fair, 2002
- Too Close to the Sun, 2002
- Wait for the Dawn, 2004
- Saddle the Wind, 2004
- No Wings to Fly, 2006
