Rachel Morgan

Rachel Morgan is a South African author best known for her young adult fantasy novels. Born and raised in South Africa, she spent much of her childhood in a world of her imagination, creating and sometimes writing down fantasy stories. This early passion for storytelling eventually led her to a successful career as a writer.

Rachel pursued her higher education in genetics, earning a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Genetics and Biochemistry from the University of Cape Town. She further specialized in Genetics, obtaining a BSc Hons in Genetics and a BSc Agric in Genetics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

After completing her degrees, Rachel realized that the traditional career path was not for her. She humorously notes, "I discovered I wasn't grown-up enough for a 'real' job, so I returned to my passion for writing." This decision led to the creation of her popular Creepy Hollow series, a young adult fantasy saga that has captivated readers with its rich world-building and compelling characters. Initially planned as a trilogy, the series expanded into nine books due to its success and Rachel's evolving vision.

Rachel has also ventured into contemporary romance under the pseudonym Rochelle Morgan, with the Trouble series. Despite the genre shift, she maintains a consistent writing routine, immersing herself in the genre she is working on at the time. She admits, "Writing is such an immersive process. I have to be completely in the zone, which means once I'm 'living' in the Creepy Hollow world, it’s difficult to extract myself from it and dive into a contemporary romance setting."

Rachel lives in Cape Town with her husband, daughter, and three miniature dachshunds.

Photo credit: Gavin van Haght