Peter Morwood

Peter Morwood (born Robert Peter Smyth; 20 October 1956 – 9 May 2025) was an Irish novelist and screenwriter. He is best known for his Horse Lords and Tales of Old Russia series. He lived in Ireland with his wife, writer Diane Duane, with whom he co-authored several works.

Life and career

Morwood was born Robert Peter Smyth in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, on 20 October 1956, son of Dorothy and George; he had a sister.

After graduating from Queen's University Belfast in 1979, He took a position in the UK's civil service, as a clerk working for Customs and Excise. During this period, he began work on his first novel, which he submitted and sold in 1982. He adopted the pen name "Peter Morwood", taking after his mother's maiden name Morwood, and he legally changed his surname to match the pen name in the mid-1980s. His second and third novels were published in 1984 and 1986.

At a science fiction convention in Glasgow in 1985, Morwood was introduced by author Anne McCaffrey to his future wife, the fantasy and science fiction writer Diane Duane. After several more meetings and a brief courtship, Morwood asked Duane to marry him, and they celebrated their engagement at the World Science Fiction Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. Morwood then returned to Northern Ireland to complete his term of employment in the Civil Service, and resigned his post in December 1986. Shortly thereafter he relocated to Los Angeles, California, where Duane was working for the animation studio DiC. They were married at the New England regional science fiction convention, Boskone, on 15 February 1987.

Later in 1987, Morwood and Duane relocated briefly to Scotland, and then, after a short period spent roving the United Kingdom, moved to the vicinity of Grangecon, County Wicklow, Ireland, where the two of them resided until his death.

Morwood died at home following a brief illness, on 9 May 2025, at the age of 68. His death was announced by his wife, Diane, on the same day. In accordance with his wishes, there was no funeral, but memorial events are to be held later.