Greg Morgan is an award-winning novelist, film director, producer, and screenwriter. His acclaimed literary trilogy "Weeper," "Collodion," and his new book, "Sin Eater," masterfully weaves historical themes with characters in rare professions, earning widespread critical recognition. These works are available through Amazon and major booksellers worldwide.
Morgan's storytelling prowess extends beyond the page to the silver screen, where he has carved a distinguished career spanning several decades. His directorial debut, "17 & Under," earned multiple awards and established him as a compelling new voice in filmmaking. He has since produced numerous successful features while continuing to craft memorable screenplays that showcase his narrative versatility. His latest film, "The Boatman," is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Greg Morgan's fascination with America's forgotten death rituals led him to unearth the haunting practice of sin eating—a custom where individuals would ceremonially consume food passed over a corpse, symbolically taking on the deceased's sins. This compelling discovery inspired him to craft "Sin Eater," the third installment in his "Death Shall Have No Dominion" series, weaving together the rich tapestry of 19th-century mourning customs with deeply human stories of love and loss. Morgan's meticulous research into historical practices like professional mourners (weepers) and post-mortem photography brings authenticity to this powerful narrative about grief, redemption, and the lengths people will go to maintain connections with those they've lost.
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Also let me know if you'd like to become a beta reader for me of any new book I come up with. You'd get an early version of the manuscript and get to shape the direction it goes with your comments. I also need a launch team for my new book and you'll get a free read and goodies for that too and help speed the word and write reviews for the book.
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Greg
Although I have a few modern day story ideas in me, I found my passion was mainly writing historical fiction novels. I have always loved history and enjoy taking a unique story or characters and placing them in historical times.
It was around 1993 and I was watching a short film from a film student. Its main character was a Sin Eater. I’d never heard of one, so I went to my library and found reference books on early American funeral & death rituals that fascinated me. I was writing screenplays at the time and thought of a story using characters from that time and the Appalachian area. I wrote “Weeper” the screenplay, but I knew it was too big of a story to put down in ninety screenplay pages after reading it myself. So, I shelved it and wrote the first sixty-five pages of the novel before becoming busy with other films and businesses. Before I knew it, twenty-five years had passed. In late 2018 I took it up again and researched further. This time I had the help of the internet and found far more information. I’ve always been a practicing, but unlicensed historian and my favorite historical times are the Victorian era and the American civil war. With Weeper I found there must be even more and have plotted out a three book companion series which I call the “Death Shall Have No Dominion” series. A few of the small side characters in Weeper will be the main heroes of the next book and the children from both books will be the main characters for the third and final story. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed talking to them in my head.
"Weeper" Available now on Amazon as is Collodion.
In the rolling hills of 19th-century Pennsylvania, “Sin Eater” weaves together the lives of two unconventional families, exploring themes of love, redemption, and the weight of secrets across generations. Sin Eater centers on Osborn Roche, neuro-divergent, renowned Civil War photographer who retreats into isolation following his wife's death. He assumes the role of a "sin eater," a person who ritualistically consumes the sins of the deceased, providing him a unique position in society.
Parallel to Osborn's journey is the tale of the Fenn family, particularly Charlotte Fenn, a "weeper" who professionally mourns at funerals. Both find their lives intertwined in ways they never imagined. As they navigate the complexities of family, forbidden love, and long-buried truths, they discover that redemption can come from the most unexpected places. As the plot unfolds, it reveals the intricate connections between the Roche and Fenn families, particularly through Osborn's son Ishmael and Charlotte's granddaughter Dierdre. Their budding romance is complicated by family interference and misunderstandings, leading to years of separation and setting off a chain of events that forces long-buried secrets to surface, challenging the characters to confront their past decisions and their consequences.
Set against the backdrop of a changing America, from the aftermath of the Civil War to the dawn of new technologies like the telephone, "Sin Eater" paints a vivid picture of a society in transition. It delves into the customs and superstitions of the era, particularly the practices of sin eating and professional mourning, using these as lenses through which to explore deeper human experiences of grief, guilt, and redemption.
With rich historical detail and unforgettable characters, "Sin Eater" is a tale of love that defies societal norms, family secrets that span generations, and the healing power of acceptance. As the past and present collide, Charlotte and Osborn must confront their deepest fears and greatest hopes, learning that it's never too late to rewrite your story.
Although each book can be read independently, Author Greg Morgan concludes his "Death Shall Have No Dominion" companion novel series with this third and final novel, "Sin Eater." The first in the series, "Weeper," introduced readers to the intricate, multigenerational tale of two 19th-century Appalachian families: the Trues, a clan of "warners" (early funeral directors), and the Fenns, a family of "weepers" (paid mourners). The second in the series, "Collodion," delves deeper into the macabre world of the 19th-century death industry as it intertwines a charming romance with the unsettling practices of postmortem photography and embalming. Like Weeper and Collodion, Sin Eater will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.
Tallgrass film festival
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Around 1995 I began by writing poetry. That grew into writing screenplays. I wrote so many screenplays, the first ones totally awful. I finally wrote 17 & Under with my wife, Jeanne. That was my first feature film.
How long does it take you to write a book?
The first draft in about four to six months. Completed in about eighteen months. I'm only on my second book so….
What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
I try to write in the mornings. Sometimes I get up really early and go to bed early. But during the day I have to take care of business. Plus, I'm not as creative in the afternoons.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I have conversations with characters in my head to get to know them better. (I'm crazy I know)
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I write historical fiction, so I do a ton of research. The research is what gives me additional ideas. I read something cool and think, "Yeah, my character will do that or say that!"
When did you write your first book?
I started Weeper around 1998 and wrote it as a screenplay. I turned that into a book and wrote the first 65 pages, but left it on the shelf for 20 years. I took it back up about a year and a half ago and finished it.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Hang out with friends and family, go to the gym and write. I love writing.
What does your family think of your writing?
My family is very supportive. They love it and love to read it.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
How I miss my characters after I finish. It's like breaking up with a girlfriend.
What do you think makes a good story?
Great characters, great dialogue, but all stories need a conflict. Conflict is everything.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
Film director….and I became it.
The book is outdated now but it was cool! "Final Cut Pro for Avid Editors: A Guide for Editors Making the Switch". It can be purchased at Amazon, Peachpit.com or anywhere else on the web.
An article written about me from Kodak's IN CAMERA magazine.
For my first film 17 & under
Greg Morgan, the author of the novel "Weeper," is interviewed by audiobook narrator Mark Woodruff of Woody Creative. Incorporating real-world events from the Civil War-era Appalachian region, "Weeper" follows the relationships and hardships of the era's "death industry" workers, including gravediggers, morticians, embalmers, and post-mortem photographers, sin eaters and paid mourners.
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