Author of several books in the Permission to...Book Series, Jill Murphy Long is a professional speaker, writing instructor, ski patroller, and certified yoga instructor. A graduate of California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing/Communications, she owned The Ad Group in Newport Beach, California, was a partner and creative director at Murphy & Watt Advertising, and worked at Foote, Cone and Belding, ADWEEK, and The Advertising Center.
This former advertising creative realized the importance of taking time each day to nap, play, and celebrate life. In 1997, she quit her day job to write books for those who needed permission the most—American women. The author’s first book, Permission to Nap, Taking Time to Restore Your Spirit received the Excellence Award, a distinguished recognition presented by the Chicago Book Clinic and the 2003 Benjamin Franklin Award by the Publishers Marketing Association.
Interviewed by NPR and other major metro radio stations, Jill has been invited as the keynote and guest speaker at five-star spa resorts, universities, libraries, diverse retail locations, and bookstore chains and independents.
Press coverage for Permission to Nap includes articles in: Better Homes & Gardens, USA Today, Redbook, Dallas Morning News, Los Angeles Times, American West In-flight Magazine, Chicago Sun Times, and international spa magazine, Pulse, to name a few.
Her second book, Permission to Play, Taking Time to Renew Your Smile, was published in April 2003 with 20,000 copies in the first printing. Permission to Play has been featured in publications such as: Women’s Health & Fitness, Delicious Living, Women’s World, Inside Borders, Christian Science Monitor, and Philadelphia Daily News. The author has appeared on CBS and Fox television stations and has been interviewed by hundreds of radio stations throughout North America.
Permission to Play shows readers many ways to fit active, creative, and mind play in their days with the same convincing prose and beautiful artwork found in the first book of the series. This former collegiate alpine ski racer, Professional Ski Instructor of America (certified), and road bike racer licensed under the United States Cycling Federation, speaks from experience of starting a new healthy habit and staying with it.
Jill also never fails to practice what she suggests to her readers to do. As a resident of “Ski Town U.S.A.” she manages to tally 100+ days on the slopes each season. At the age of 44, she’s taking a risk and facing her fear of blood as a new member of the courtesy ski patrol. The author, however, still reserves time for naps between her writing and book tour schedule.
Her third book with 10,000 books in circulation and sold, Permission to Party, Taking Time to Celebrate and Enjoy Life is available at fine bookstores and gift shops nationwide including e-retailers such as: Amazon Books, Barnes & Noble, Booksamillion.com, Walmart, Target, and in gift direct mail catalogs such as: Jessica’s Biscuits, Isabella, Femail Creations, Paragon, Victorian Trading Company, and Stampington & Company and at their websites.
A bibliophile herself, the author belongs to a reading club, works occasionally at an independent bookstore to talk to readers and read the latest best sellers. In 1998, Jill formed her first writers’ group in Orange County, California and continues this tradition today, leading the local Weekly Writers’ Workshops in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She also lectures about writing and publishing for the Colorado Mountain College’s Alpine Enrichment Programs. Every summer since 2004, the author continues to instruct and encourage aspiring writers at the weeklong sessions for the Arts for the Soul Symposium (artsforthesoul.net).
Her ambitious plan for her career is to pen dozen more titles in the Permission to Book Series, finish her novels including Skiing with God and write at least 50 books before she is 104.
As a screenwriting columnist for www.ioncinema.com, Jill continues to expand her writing talents and interviews first-time screenwriters whose words and ideas made it to the silver screen. She’s also a freelance writer for newspapers and websites such as: www.active.com and www.Isabella.com.
When on national book tour, the author always visits schools to share her love of writing and the many possibilities a career as a writer can offer. Excerpts from her books and the author’s book tour schedule and speaking engagements can be viewed at: www.permissionbooks.com.
The author happily makes her home in Steamboat Springs, Colorado with her husband and daughter, writing, and skiing or cycling—weather permitting—almost every day.
