Born in Birkenhead, but brought up in Chatham - Richard has had plenty of people influence him. Not least Charles Dickens, who himself grew up in Chatham.
While at Junior School, at the age of ten, Richard met the first person who noticed his talent in writing. Miss Devonshire told Richard that he had what it takes to succeed. When his first book was published, he dedicated it to her.
Richard's love of reading was evident at home and he grew up with Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl and R.L Stine's books on his shelves.
It took twenty years and the loss of his job for Richard to really take his writing seriously and his first children's book was completed shortly after his thirtieth birthday.