Richard West is a recovering alcoholic who accepts his hard-won sobriety can all too easily be lost.

His son and ex-wife were both killed in a car crash. Grief and guilt followed.

Richard spent 25 years working for an American bank with ten years in overseas positions that fuelled both his passion for adventure – and hard drinking. Richard died several times. By fate – and his own hand.

Born in England, Richard lived in Italy, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Kuwait and Papua New Guinea. He also taught English in China for a year, then studied journalism and photography at USC. 

At 62 he bought a motorcycle and rode 16,000, solo kilometres around his adopted Australia – and discovered himself. A master’s in creative writing followed. Now Richard lives in the present moment, helping himself, and others, through his writing and as a speaker for Beyond Blue.