About Richard

I’m a published, independent author living on the south coast of England, writing atmospheric, character‑driven fiction that weaves local history with a touch of the Otherworld. My debut novel, The Black Lion, launched the Spirits of the Past series, and the second instalment, Letters In Suitcases Abandoned, will be released later this year.

Born in the Netherlands and now settled in England, I’ve been publishing work since 2014. Between 2014 and 2020 my writing spanned several genres, including gluten‑free cookery books, a guide to planning an LGBTQ+ wedding, and a series of children’s books. A pivotal workshop in 2018 inspired me to shift my focus toward historical‑supernatural fiction, ultimately shaping the work I create today. I share my life with Michael and our Miniature Schnauzer on the south coast.

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Letters In Suitcases Abandoned: Spirits of the Past – Book 2

Anne, Chana and Lisa.
Three women. Three lives, complexly interwoven across time and geography, shaped by secrets they’ve carried too long.

When an unexpected event pulls their stories into the same orbit, one of the women is forced to confront her past and to discover the secret binding them together. After fleeing a kibbutz in Upper Galilee she moves abroad to start a new life in the White Swan Manor in The Netherlands. 

Soon the boundary between memory and haunting begins to blur, and the secret binding them together threatens to surface, changing everything they believe about themselves and each other.

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The Black Lion: Spirits of the Past – Book 1

The Black Lion follows the life and mysterious death of Brighton brewer Deryk Carver. When successful solicitor Matt spots a medieval cottage up for sale, he gives up his career to rent it out as a holiday-let. Set in the heart of the old town of Brighton, the step proves to be fruitful as the bookings come rolling in.

But the cottage has a dark secret: its guests are haunted by ghosts from the past. When one guest hands Matt a medieval hat found in the ‘Underworld’, it occurs to him that past and present are intertwined.

Every sign seems to lead to Deryk Carver, the owner of The Black Lion pub, who met a terrifying end in the sixteenth century. Desperate to find the truth, Matt embarks on a journey on ‘All Hallow’s Eve’.

‘The Black Lion’ is Richard’s first novel, book one in the series ‘Spirits of the Past’.

Finished in May 2020 and independently published on 22 July 2020, the novel is available as paperback, Kindle and audiobook. It is book one in the Spirits of the Past series.

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Where to find my books

My books available from major retailers and independent shops, including Amazon, Waterstones and Book Depository. Whether you prefer a physical copy, an ebook or an audiobook, there are options to suit your reading style.

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Richard’s favourite books

The Immortalists; The Haunting of Highdown Hill; How to Stop Time; The Darkness; The Miniaturist; Pet Sematary; The Mists of Avalon; Foucault’s Pendulum; Wuthering Heights; Call Me by Your Name; The Book Thief; The Invitation.