Richard Newsome was born in New Zealand and grew up on Queensland's Gold Coast. He undertook a journalism cadetship with the Gold Coast Bulletin, working for the paper for seven years in all. Newsome then studied economics and worked as an international strategy consultant in Boston, USA, and in corporate communications in Sydney.
In 2005, Newsome chose to work full time as a writer. From Sydney, he returned to Queensland and took up residence in Brisbane.
Source: Barry Divola, 'Bedtime Story Hits the Big Time', Sydney Morning Herald, 'Spectrum' (26-27 September 2009): 35.