Miles Beyond the Page | Richard Sparks

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles sits down with Richard Sparks, author of the New Rock fantasy series, to discuss his creative journey from British television sketch writing to novel writing.

An England-to-Los Angeles transplant, Richard shares stories from his early career—including writing a sketch that helped launch Rowan Atkinson’s stage career—and his current work developing new material for a potential project. The conversation also dives into his New Rock series, where three online gaming champions are transported into a fantasy world as their avatars, blending humor, adventure, and high-stakes danger.

Michelle and Richard explore the influence of multiplayer gaming on storytelling, the importance of structure and surprise, and his balance between plotting and improvisation. He also shares insights into his editing process, his decision to complete multiple books before pursuing publication, and his ongoing marketing efforts—including connecting with readers across both the UK and US.

🎧 Join Michelle and Richard for a lively, behind-the-scenes conversation about storytelling, humor, and building immersive fantasy worlds inspired by gaming.

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ABOUT RICHARD SPARKS:
Richard Sparks' writing credentials span the gamut of the entertainment world, from film and TV and books through lyrics for operas. He has been commissioned by the Los Angeles Opera and has completed translations/adaptations of classic operas.

He has worked with such luminaries as Placido Domingo, Rowan Atkinson and the inimitable John Cleese of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame. Richard got his big break as a writer on "Not the Nine O'clock News”, (BBC TV), an irreverent take on the days affairs that featured anchors broadcasting from bed and the unique talents of Rowan Atkinson.

One of Richard's biggest claims to fame is as the author of Atkinson's famous "Schoolmaster" routine, in which the future Mr. Beane puts a hilarious spin on attendance taking and discipline.

As satisfying as his career was, Richard always had an itch to scratch as a fantasy fiction writer. Buoyed by his nighttime hobby of online gaming, his latest novel "New Rock New Role" hits this month, just in time for the holidays.

In 1992, he was hired by Columbia Picture Television to work with Blake Hunter and Marty Cohan, the creators of Who’s the Boss? That’s when he moved his family to Los Angeles and has lived there ever since.

He’s written a number of libretti for operas, almost all for the LA Opera – some original pieces, some translations from German or Italian.

Richard’s been a hard-core RPG gamer for years, so buoyed by his nighttime hobby of online gaming the idea for his books just fell out of the sky one morning, and he started writing. He says now he’s hardly had a moment to log on to any game — as he’s too busy exploring the New Rock stories as they unfold.
The first book, New Rock, New Role has been a huge success. Now three sequels – New Rock New Realm, New Rock New Rules, and New Rock New Roads, have been completed and will be published in due course. He’s currently working on the fifth book.

Other books he has written include the biography of the music producer Milt Okun, Along the Cherry Lane. (Oku discovered and launched John Denver and mentored him throughout his career. He created arrangements for Peter, Paul and Mary that the trio performed for half a century. He brought Placido Domingo a crossover career that made him an international star beyond the world of opera.)

Richard was born in England.

WHERE TO FIND HIM:
Website | Instagram | Facebook

WHERE TO FIND HIS BOOKS:
Amazon