Richard Combes

Richard Combes began his journey into literature by "claiming" a grandfather’s copy of Treasure Island and never looking back. A few short years later, he pulled the largest hardback from the bookcase in his family home and discovered the world of fantasy fiction. From the moment he stepped into Piers Anthony’s Xanth, he was hooked on the way humour could illuminate a magical world.

For Richard, the path to authorship was a choice of passion over ease. As a dyslexic writer, every page read and every word written requires an extra level of dedication. This persistence fuelled a deep dive into the works of Raymond E. Feist, where the complexity of character relationships first took root in his imagination.

As his tastes evolved toward the darker, more intricate worlds of Angus Donald, Robin Hobb, and Andrzej Sapkowski, so did his own storytelling. The "happy heroes" of Richard’s teenage manuscripts were replaced by the world of Maach: a place that is darker, more complicated, and—most importantly—more human. Richard specialises in stories where character growth is hard-earned and the parallels between the magical and the real world are deeply felt.

When not crafting the next chapter of Maach to the sound of a vintage Marantz audio setup—soundtracked by the likes of Bowling for Soup, Guns N' Roses, and Avril Lavigne—Richard is likely playing in other worlds with friends, either tabletop roleplaying or wargaming. Otherwise, if there are dogs barking or birds squawking, Richard is probably somewhere nearby.

Click the +Follow button to join the journey into the world of Maach.