MORRIS, Gilbert (Leslie) 1929-

PERSONAL: Born May 24, 1929, in Forrest City, AR; son of O. M. and Jewell Irene (Gilbert) Morris; married Johnnie Yvonne Fegert, May 20, 1948; children: Valerie, Stacy Lee, Alan. Education: Arkansas State University, B.A., 1948, M.S.E., 1962; University of Arkansas, Ph.D., 1968; also attended University of Washington—Seattle. Religion: Christian, First Assembly of God. Hobbies and other interests: Restoring houses.

ADDRESSES: Home—Orange Beach, AL. Office—c/o Author Mail, Bethany House, 11400 Hampshire Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55438.

CAREER: Ordained Baptist minister, 1950; pastor of Baptist churches in various parts of Arkansas, 1952-58; English teacher at public schools in Reyno, AR, 1958-61; Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, AR, assistant professor, 1962-70, professor of English, c. 1970. Has also taught at the Jimmy Swaggart Bible College.

MEMBER: National Council of Teachers of English.

WRITINGS:

"SEVEN SLEEPERS" SERIES

The Seven Sleepers, Perfection Form, 1983.

Flight of the Eagles, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1994.

The Gates of Neptune, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1994.

Winged Raiders of the Desert, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1995.

The Sword of Camelot, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1995.

The Caves That Time Forgot, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1995.

Empress of the Underworld, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1996.

Voyage of the Dolphin, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1996.

Attack of the Amazons, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1996.

Escape with the Dream Maker, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1997.

The Final Kingdom, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1997.

"THE OZARK ADVENTURES" SERIES

The Bucks of Goober Hollow, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1985.

Barney Buck and the Flying Solar Cycle, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1985, published as The Rustlers of Panther Gap, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1994.

Barney Buck and the Phantom of the Circus, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1985, published as The Phantom of the Circus, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1994.

Barney Buck Rides Again!, Tyndale House (Wheaton,IL), 1985, published as Barney Buck and the Kamikaze Charger, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1985.

Barney Buck in Car Number Five, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1985, published as Barney Buck and the Rough Rider Special, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1985.

Barney Buck and the Wild, Wild Wedding, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1985, published as Barney Buck and the World's Wackiest Wedding, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1986.

"RENO WESTERN SAGA" SERIES

The Drifter (western novel), Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1985, published as Reno, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1992.

Reno's Star (western novel), Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1985.

The Drifter, Living Books (Wheaton, IL), 1986.

The Deputy, Tyndale, 1986, published as Rimrock, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1992.

The Vigilante, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1987, published as Boomtown, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1992.

The Runaway, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1987, published as Ride the Wild River, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1992.

Lone Wolf, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1995.

Valley Justice, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1995.

"THE HOUSE OF WINSLOW" SERIES

The Honorable Imposter, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1986.

The Captive Bride, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1987.

The Indentured Heart, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1988.

The Gentle Rebel, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1988.

The Saintly Buccaneer, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1988.

The Holy Warrior, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1989.

The Last Confederate, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1990.

The Reluctant Bridegroom, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1990.

The Wounded Yankee, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1991.

The Dixie Widow, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1991.

The Union Belle, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1992.

The Final Adversary, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1992.

The Valiant Gunman, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1993.

The Crossed Sabres, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1993.

The Jeweled Spur, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1994.

The Gallant Outlaw, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1994.

The Rough Rider, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1995.

The Yukon Queen, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1995.

The Iron Lady, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1996.

The Silver Star, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1997.

Voyagers to Freedom, Arrowood Press, 1997.

The Shadow Portrait, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1998.

The White Hunter, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1999.

The Flying Cavalier, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1999.

The Glorious Prodigal, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.

The Golden Angel, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

The Amazon Quest, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

The Heavenly Fugitive, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

The Fiery Ring, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

The Pilgrim Song, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

The Beloved Enemy, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

"DANIELLE ROSS" SERIES

The Final Curtain, F.H. Revell (Tarrytown NY), 1991, published as The End of Act Three, Crossway Books (Wheaton, IL), 2001.

Guilt by Association, F. H. Revell (Tarrytown, NY), 1991.

Deadly Deception, F. H. Revell (Tarrytown, NY), 1992.

The Quality of Mercy, F.H. Revell (Grand Rapids, MI), 1993.

Revenge at the Rodeo, F. H. Revell (Grand Rapids, MI), 1993.

Race with Death, F. H. Revell (Grand Rapids, MI), 1994.

And Then There Were Two, Crossway Books (Wheaton, IL), 2000.

Four of a Kind, Crossway Books (Wheaton, IL), 2001.

"THE APPOMATTOX SAGA" SERIES

A Covenant of Love, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1992.

Gate of His Enemies, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1992.

Where Honor Dwells, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1993.

Land of the Shadow, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1994.

Out of the Whirlwind, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1994.

The Shadow of His Wings, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1994.

Wall of Fire, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1995.

Stars in Their Courses, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1995.

Chariots in the Smoke, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1997.

Witness in Heaven, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1998.

"THE PRICE OF LIBERTY" SERIES; WITH BOBBY FUNDERBURK

A Silence in Heaven, Word (Dallas, TX), 1993.

A Call to Honor, Word (Dallas, TX), 1993.

The End of Glory, Word (Dallas, TX), 1993.

All the Shining Young Men, Word (Dallas, TX), 1993.

The Color of the Star, Word (Dallas, TX), 1993.

A Time to Heal, Word (Dallas, TX), 1994.

"CHENEY DUVALL, M.D." SERIES; WITH LYNN MORRIS

Shadow of the Mountain, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1994.

The Stars for a Light, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1994.

A City Not Forsaken, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1995.

Toward the Sunrising, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1996.

Secret Place of Thunder, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1996.

In the Twilight, in the Evening, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1997.

Island of the Innocent, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1998.

Driven with the Wind, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.

"FAR FIELDS" SERIES

(With Bobby Funderburk) Beyond the River, Starburst Publishing (Lancaster, PA), 1994.

The Remnant, Starburst Publishing (Lancaster, PA), 1997.

"WAKEFIELD DYNASTY" SERIES

The Winds of God, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1994.

The Sword of Truth, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1994.

The Fields of Glory, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1995.

The Shield of Honor, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1995.

The Ramparts of Heaven, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1997.

The Song of Princes, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1997.

A Gathering of Eagles, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1998.

"AMERICAN ODYSSEY" SERIES

A Time to Die, F.H. Revell (Grand Rapids, MI), 1994.

A Time to Be Born, F.H. Revell (Grand Rapids, MI), 1994.

A Time to Laugh, F.H. Revell (Grand Rapids, MI), 1995.

A Time to Weep, F.H. Revell (Grand Rapids, MI), 1996.

A Time of War, F.H. Revell (Grand Rapids, MI), 1997.

A Time to Build, F.H. Revell (Grand Rapids, MI), 1998.

"THE LIBERTY BELL" SERIES

Sound the Trumpet, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1995.

Song in a Strange Land, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1996.

Tread upon the Lion, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1996.

Arrow of the Almighty, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1997.

Wind from the Wilderness, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1998.

The Right Hand of God, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1999.

Command the Sun, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.

"BONNETS AND BUGLES" SERIES

The Secret of Richmond Manor, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1995.

Yankee Belles in Dixie, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1995.

Drummer Boy at Bull Run, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1995.

The Battle of Lookout Mountain, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1996.

The Soldier Boy's Discovery, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1996.

Blockade Runner, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1996.

The Gallant Boys of Gettysburg, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1996.

Encounter at Cold Harbor, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1997.

Bring the Boys Home, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1997.

Fire over Atlanta, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1997.

"THE TIME NAVIGATORS" SERIES

The Dangerous Voyage, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1995.

Vanishing Clues, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1996.

Race against Time, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1997.

"KATY STEELE ADVENTURES" SERIES; WITH ALAN MORRIS

Imperial Intrigue, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1996.

Tracks of Deceit, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1996.

The Depths of Malice, Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1998.

"THE SPIRIT OF APPALACHIA" SERIES; WITH AARON MCCARVER

Over the Misty Mountains, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1996.

Beyond the Quiet Hills, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1997.

Among the King's Soldiers, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 1998.

Beneath the Mockingbird's Wings, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2000.

Around the River's Bend, Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

"THE CHRONICLES OF THE GOLDEN FRONTIER" SERIES; WITH J. LANDON FERGUSON

Riches Untold, Crossway Books (Wheaton, IL), 1998.

Unseen Riches, Crossway Books (Wheaton, IL), 1999.

Above the Clouds, Crossway Books (Wheaton, IL), 1999.

"THE DAYSTAR VOYAGES" SERIES; WITH DAN MEEKS

Secret of the Planet Makon, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1998.

Revenge of the Space Pirate, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1998.

Wizards of the Galaxy, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1998.

Dark Spell Over Morlandria, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1998.

Escape from the Red Comet, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1998.

Invasion of the Killer Locusts, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1999.

Dangers of the Rainbow Nebula, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1999.

Attack of the Denebian Starship, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 2000.

The White Dragon of Sharnu, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 2000.

"DIXIE MORRIS ANIMAL ADVENTURE" SERIES

Dixie & Bandit, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1998.

Dixie & Dolly, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1998.

Dixie & Ivan, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1998.

Dixie & Jumbo, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1998.

Dixie & Sandy, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1998.

Dixie & Stripes, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1998.

Dixie & Perry, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1999.

Dixie & Blizzard, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1999.

Dixie & Champ, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1999.

"TOO SMART JONES" SERIES

Too Smart Jones and the Pool Party Thief, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1999.

Too Smart Jones and the Spooky Mansion, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 2000.

Too Smart Jones and the Stolen Bicycles, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 2000.

Too Smart Jones and the Stranger in the Cave, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 2000.

Too Smart Jones and the Wilderness Mystery, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 2000.

Too Smart Jones and the Disappearing Dogs, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 2000.

Too Smart Jones and the Mysterious Artist, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 2000.

"THE LOST CHRONICLES" SERIES

The Savage Game of Lord Zarack, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 2000.

Victims of Nimbo, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 2000.

City of the Cyborgs, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 2000.

"ADVENTURES OF THE KERRIGAN KIDS" SERIES

Nine-Story Pagodas and Double-Decker Buses: Travels in Hong Kong, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 2001.

Painted Warriors and Wild Lions: Travels in Africa, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 2001.

Buckingham Palace and the Crown Jewels: Travels in England, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 2001.

OTHER

Bunyan (three-act play), first produced in Arkadelphia, AK, at Verser Theater, June 6, 1980.

Root Out of Dry Ground (poems), August House, 1982.

Delaney (detective novel), Tyndale House (Wheaton, IL), 1984.

Captain Chip and the March to Victory, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1994.

Corporal Chip and the Call to Battle, Moody Press (Chicago, IL), 1994.

How to Write (and Sell) a Christian Novel: Proven and Practical Advice from a Best-Selling Author (nonfiction), Vine Books (Ann Arbor, MI), 1994.

Those Who Knew Him: Profiles of Christ in Verse, illustrated by Stan D. Myers, F.H. Revell (Grand Rapids, MI), 1997.

All That Glitters, Crossway (Wheaton, IL), 1999.

Journey to Freedom, illustrated by Angel Dominguez, Crossway Books, (Wheaton, IL), 2000.

Edge of Honor, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2000.

(With Alan Morris and Lynn Morris) Fallen Stars, Bitter Waters (first novel in "The Omega Trilogy" series), T. Nelson (Nashville, TN), 2000.

(With Lynn Morris) Where Two Seas Meet (first novel in the "Cheney and Shiloh" series), Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2001.

Jacob's Way, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2001.

Jordan's Star, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2002.

Heart of a Lion (first novel in the "Lion of Judah" series), Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2002.

No Woman So Fair (second novel in the "Lion of Judah" series), Bethany House (Minneapolis, MN), 2003.

The Exiles (first novel in "The Creoles" series), Thomas Nelson (Nashville, TN), 2003.

The Spider Catcher, Zondervan (Grand Rapids, MI), 2003.

Contributor of about twenty articles and more than a hundred poems to magazines, including Texas Review and Mississippi Review.

SIDELIGHTS: Gilbert Morris is a prolific and bestselling writer of Christian novels for young adults, who discovered fiction writing after many years as a practicing minister and professor of English. His writings span many genres, from science fiction and fantasy, historical novels and westerns, to detective and suspense novels. An author with well over 150 titles to his credit, Morris has also published poetry and shared his secrets for fiction writing in How to Write (and Sell) a Christian Novel: Proven and Practical Advice from a Best-Selling Author. All of his diverse series concentrate on morals and Christian themes, though some novels highlight it more than others. For example, in The Dangerous Voyage, part of the time-traveling "Time Navigators" series, "the stress on Christian values is successfully and logically integrated," according to Patricia Pearl Dole of School Library Journal, and in the "Danielle Ross Mystery" title Deadly Deception, "the Christian slant . . . isn't obtrusive, but it does come into play periodically," noted School Library Journal contributor Diane Goheen.

One of Morris's most popular series, the million-selling "House of Winslow" books, traces several generations of an American family after their arrival in the New World on the Mayflower. In The Honorable Imposter, Gilbert Winslow immigrates to America from England; in The Indentured Heart, Adam Winslow befriends a servant in the eighteenth century; and in The Yukon Queen, Cass Winslow takes part in the Alaskan gold rush of the 1890s. The White Hunter finds Jeb Winslow pursuing his dream as a big-game hunter in Africa, where his girlfriend, Annie, has traveled to become a missionary. But their happily-ever-after doesn't happen until after Annie survives both New York City and the Titanic. Melissa Hudak of Library Journal complimented the The White Hunter, saying that "Morris has his formula just right." The formula is on display again in The Flying Cavalier, in which Lance Winslow is a bitter World War I RAF hero and widower who attracts the attention of a freelance journalist who attempt to lure him out of his shell.

Morris sometimes collaborates with other writers on his books; his son, Alan, coauthored the "Katy Steele Adventures," and his daughter Lynn helped with the "Cheney Duvall, M.D." books. In the first book of the "Cheney and Shiloh" series, also written with Lynn, Dr. Cheney Duvall marries Shiloh Irons-Winslow and the couple honeymoons aboard Shiloh's boat. When a storm washes them ashore on an island where the people are stricken with disease, their marriage undergoes the first of its many trials. Melanie C. Duncan of Library Journal called it "a romance filled with abiding love and swift repartee."

Other writers join Morris at times, including Aaron McCarver, a dean at Wesley College in Mississippi, who shares credit for the "Spirit of Appalachia" series, which features guest appearances by real historical figures such as Daniel Boone, and concentrates on pioneer life in the hills of Tennessee. The series opens with Over the Misty Mountains, in which Jehoshaphat Spencer, grief-stricken after his wife dies in childbirth, loses his faith in God, leaves his newborn son behind in the colonies, and heads for the Appalachian hills. Melissa Hudak of Library Journal called the book "fast-moving" and "energetic." Many of Morris's other series have historical settings as well, including the "Liberty Bell" series, which takes place during the American Revolution, and the "Appomattox Saga" series, which takes place during the Civil War.

Morris veers toward allegory with Journey to Freedom, the story of Chip, a white-foot mouse who is recruited by an elder to be the leader of all the whitefoot mice, who are being attacked by a tribe of brown rats. Chip rises to the challenge and engages in a series of battles with the rats, which culminates in the white-foot mice entering the Promised Land. Shelley Townsend-Hudson of Booklist praised the book as a "Redwall-like tale" that is "poignant" and that will "engage children."

Morris once told CA, "My avocation is building houses." He explained, "I learned from a book and have built seven houses over the last fifteen years. I am in the process of restoring a huge old house built around 1880, and I will spend the rest of my life filling it up with either antiques or replicas built in my workshop.

"I am a pastor in a local church, too, and I am engaged in the construction of a new building that is octagonal in shape and unique in approach. The sanctuary is in the round, partly for the purpose of incorporating drama as a part of the worship activities. I plan to write some of the plays, and also direct and even carry a spear or two from time to time.

"I am an avid reader of popular fiction—mystery, detective, western, and suspense. It is my ambition to write many novels with just a touch of the Christian viewpoint. C. S. Lewis once said to J.R.R. Tolkien: 'If we want books to read that we like, we shall have to write them ourselves!' While I have no hope of writing anything on a level with either Tolkien or Lewis, I share that sentiment. I began with a detective novel, Delaney, in which I tried to show a real Christian (not a plaster saint!) doing a dirty, dangerous job while at the same time trying with at least a partial degree of success to serve God. In the boys' adventure novels and in the adult westerns, I have fought the fight against producing a Sunday school lesson under the facade of a novel. It is a grubby world we live in, with snares laid for all who would serve God. I would like for one stream of American fiction to give the truth about the Christian element. I believe the truth is that there are those like Elmer Gantry—pious hypocrites. There are also, however, those like Corrie ten Boom—strong, attractive Christians who struggle heroically to maintain their faith in a bent world."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, September 15, 1994, review of The Jeweled Spur, p. 112; June 1, 1999, review of All That Glitters and Through a Glass Darkly, p. 1792; December 15, 2000, Shelley Townsend-Hudson, review of Journey to Freedom, p. 820.

Horn Book Guide, fall, 2001, review of Journey to Freedom, p. 312.

Library Journal, November 1, 1991, review of The Captive Bride, p. 67; February 1, 1997, Melissa Hudak, review of Over the Misty Mountains, p. 66; June 1, 1999, review of The White Hunter, p. 96; November 1, 1999, review of The Flying Cavalier and Above the Clouds, p. 66; April 1, 2001, review of Jacob's Way, p. 86; November 1, 2001, Melanie C. Duncan, review of Where Two Seas Meet, p. 76.

School Library Journal, October, 1992, Diane Goheen, review of Deadly Deception, p. 150; January, 1996, Patricia Pearl Doe, review of The Dangerous Voyage, p. 110.

Voice of Youth Advocates, December, 1997, review of Over the Misty Mountains, p. 320; February, 2001, review of Journey to Freedom, p. 434.*