Phil Rickman (also known under the

pen name A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen na ...

s of Thom Madley and Will Kingdom) is a British author of

supernatural Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin (above, beyond, or outside of) + (nature) Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings si ...

and mystery novels.

Biography

Rickman was born in

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancas ...

in northern England and worked as a journalist for BBC World Service TV and

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC's ...

. He published his first book, ''Candlenight'', in 1991 and began his ''Merrily Watkins'' in 1998. In 2010 he began the ''John Dee Papers'' series, which focuses on the

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...

mathematician and astrologer

John Dee John Dee (13 July 1527 – 1608 or 1609) was an English mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, teacher, occultist, and alchemist. He was the court astronomer for, and advisor to, Elizabeth I, and spent much of his time on alchemy, divination, a ...

. Rickman has also worked on several music albums based upon his books and has helped write many of the albums' songs. He has lived in Wales a large part of his life, and (as of 2020) resides together with his wife in

Hay-on-Wye Hay-on-Wye ( cy, Y Gelli Gandryll), simply known locally as "Hay" ( cy, Y Gelli), is a market town and community in Powys, Wales; it was historically in the county of Brecknockshire. With over twenty bookshops, it is often described as "the to ...

. In his writing, Rickman states that he performs research into the folklore, religion, and supernatural themes in his books, citing that "If I can't believe it, it doesn't go in". He has also voiced his unhappiness over his earlier works labelling him as a horror writer, stating that he felt that the books did not fit neatly within the genre.

Bibliography

Standalone novels

*''Candlenight'' (1991) *''Crybbe'' (''Curfew'' in the United States) (1993) *''The Man in the Moss'' (1994) *''December'' (1994) *''The Chalice'' (1997) *''The Cold Calling'' (1998, as Will Kingdom) *''Mean Spirit'' (2001, as Will Kingdom) *''Night After Night'' (2014)

''
John Dee John Dee (13 July 1527 – 1608 or 1609) was an English mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, teacher, occultist, and alchemist. He was the court astronomer for, and advisor to, Elizabeth I, and spent much of his time on alchemy, divination, a ...
Papers''

#''The Bones of Avalon'' (2010) #''The Heresy of Dr Dee'' (2012)

''Marco'' series

#''Marco's Pendulum'' (2006, as Thom Madley) #''Marco and the Blade of Night'' (2007, as Thom Madley)

''Merrily Watkins'' series

#''The Wine of Angels'' (1998) #''Midwinter of the Spirit'' (1999) #''A Crown of Lights'' (2001) #''The Cure of Souls'' (2001) #''The Lamp of the Wicked'' (2002) #''The Prayer of the Night Shepherd'' (2004) #''The Smile of a Ghost'' (2005) #''The Remains of an Altar'' (2006) #''The Fabric of Sin'' (2007) #''To Dream of the Dead'' (2008) #''The Secrets of Pain'' (2011) #''The Magus of Hay'' (2013) #''Friends of the Dusk'' (2015) #''All of a Winter's Night'' (2017) #''The Fever of the World'' (2022)

Short stories

#'' The House of Susan Lulham'' - was first published in the

Oxfam Oxfam is a British-founded confederation of 21 independent charitable organizations focusing on the alleviation of global poverty, founded in 1942 and led by Oxfam International. History Founded at 17 Broad Street, Oxford, as the Oxford Co ...

"Oxcrimes" anthology (May 2014). In December 2014, an extended version which is "five times as long" was published for Kindle.

Non-fiction

*''Merrily's Border: The Places in Herefordshire & the Marches Behind the Merrily Watkins Novels'' (with photographer John Mason) (2009)

Discography

*''Songs from Lucy's Cottage'' (2009, by Lol Robinson and Hazey Jane II) *''A Message from the Morning'' (2010, by Lol Robinson and Hazey Jane II) *''Abbey Tapes: the Exorcism'' (2011, by Philosopher's Stone, based upon the novel ''December'')

Television

The second ''Merrily'' book ''Midwinter of the Spirit'' (which is the first "Exorcism" story) has been made into a three-part TV drama by ITV. The Cast includes Anna Maxwell-Martin as Merrily, Sally Messham as Jane, and David Threlfall as Huw Owen. It was released in late 2015.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rickman, Phil Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Anglo-Welsh novelists British fantasy writers British horror writers British mystery writers