Looking for more in Author Directory?

Dan Richards

All of the information on this page has been provided by the author. If you need an author to have specialist skills, experience or knowledge please ask for more information about this ahead of booking them for an event. Please note that Scottish Book Trust cannot carry out Disclosure checks on Live Literature authors for most events. It is the responsibility of the person organising the event to carry out the appropriate Disclosure checks.
Other contact method: Agent: [email protected]
Local authority: Edinburgh City
Languages: English
Dan Richards's headshot

Dan Richards is a writer and journalist who specialises in travel, memoir, and culture. He is an established chair and speaker at Edinburgh International Book Festival, Hay-on-Wye, and many others around the UK.

Dan has taught at Bristol University, and currently tutors at The National Centre for Writing (in association with UEA), Moniack Mhor, and Arvon Foundation.

His first book, Holloway, co-authored with Robert Macfarlane & Stanley Donwood, was a Sunday Times Bestseller (Faber, 2013).

The Beechwood Airship Interviews (HarperCollins, 2015) explored the creative processes and workplaces of some of Britain’s most celebrated artists, actors & musicians.

In Climbing Days (Faber 2016), Dan followed his trailblazing relatives, writers and mountaineers Dorothy Pilley & I.A. Richards, into the Alps.

Outpost: A Journey to the Wild Ends of the Earth (Canongate, 2019) examined of the appeal and pull of far-flung shelters in mountains, tundra, forests, oceans & deserts; landscapes and which have long inspired adventurers, pilgrims, writers, & artists.

Overnight - an exploration of nocturnal operations which replenish, repair and protect the world whilst most of us are asleep - is set to be published in 2024.

Dan has written for newspapers and magazines including The Guardian, Economist, Monocle, & Telegraph.

(Photo credit: Steve Gullick)

Local authorities will visit

Aberdeen City; Aberdeenshire; Angus; Argyll and Bute; Clackmannanshire; Dumfries and Galloway; Dundee; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Lothian; East Renfrewshire; Edinburgh City; Falkirk; Fife; Glasgow City; Highland; Inverclyde; Midlothian; Moray; Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles); North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Orkney Islands; Perth and Kinross; Renfrewshire; Scottish Borders; Shetland; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; Stirling; West Dunbartonshire; West Lothian

Events will deliver

Chairing events; Panel event; Reading; Residency; Talk; Workshop

Audience will work with

Adult learners; People experiencing mental health problems; Vulnerable adults

Topics of work

Adventure; Biography & memoir; Coasts, seas & oceans; Comedy, humour & funny books; Editing & editing your own work; Environment & climate; Family; Island communities; Loneliness & isolation; Music; Nature; Travel writing

Age groups published for

Adults

Age groups will work with

15-18; 18+

Audience size

0-10; 11-30; 31-100; 100-500; 500+