Richard Stevenson is the pseudonym for Pittsfield, Massachusetts journalist, Richard Lipez, an editorial writer at The Berkshire Eagle and mystery columnist for Washington Post Book World.

He was born in Lock Haven , Pennsylvania, on November 30, 1938. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1961 at Lock Haven State College majoring in English with a History minor. Graduate study was pursued in American Literature at Penn State.

In the early 60s he taught English language and composition to ninth grade public school students as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia. In the mid 60s he served as program evaluator for the Peace Corps and ran a cross-cultural studies for new P.C. volunteers at the University of Utah. In the late 60s and in 1970 he was the Executive Director of the Action for Opportunity anti-poverty agency.

Since the early 70’s he has concentrated his talents in Journalism. His first book, the thriller, Grand Scam, co-authored with Peter Stein, appeared in 1979.

Richard Lipez was married for over twenty years and has two grown children in their mid twenties. Rich has been with his partner, sculptor, Joe Wheaton, since 1990. (Fans will remember the dedication to Joe Wheaton in Shock to the System.) The duo currently reside in a converted barn in the countryside.