Richard Hardwick's established career in journalism and broadcast television took a detour when he decided to give everything up for social work. After two years with Sunderland Youth Offending Service and four years at an emergency access hostel working with homeless teens, Hardwick was compelled to write his first book, Kicked Out. His second book, Andalucia: An Unforgettable Journey About Surviving Cancer and Falling in Love, was published in September 2011.

Hardwick believes there are significant stories everywhere, and his desire is to help others tell their own. He is currently the Writer in Residence at HMP Frankland and HMP Durham. In addition to prisons, he is interested in working in mental health settings, among others, using writing as a therapeutic tool. As a Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Hardwick feels there's great restorative value in the power of the written word, and that self-discovery is bound to happen along the way.

Richard W. Hardwick lives with his family in Seaton Sluice, South East Northumberland, on the Northeast coast of England.

He can be contacted at richard.whardwick@yahoo.co.uk