Richard White's Poetry

When a Review Becomes a Fireside Conversation 🍂🥃

Some books ask to be finished. Others ask to be savored. Whiskey and the Autumn Wind belongs to the latter—a collection meant for slow evenings, low light, and a glass poured with intention. When a reader described the poems as something to be “sipped like a fine bourbon by a crackling fireplace,” they captured the spirit of the book perfectly. This is poetry that lingers, that speaks softly, and that stays with you long after the final page.

A Year Tempered by Wind and Ink

A reflective year in review and a look ahead to 2026—new poetry, Whiskey and the Winter Wind, and the launch of The Gemini Project, an MFA thesis novel exploring truth, power, and deception.

The Weight We Carry in Silence: Why I Wrote The Quiet After the Sirens

There’s a sound that never leaves you. It isn’t the siren. It’s the silence that follows. The moment when the call is over, the adrenaline fades, and all that’s left is your heartbeat echoing in your ears as you sit in the rig or stare …

“What Comes Next: The Story Continues…”

College is in the rearview—and now the real adventure begins. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be finishing my memoir, applying for jobs in publishing and editing, launching Sigma Writing Solutions, and getting ready to begin my MFA at SNHU in August. Also helping my daughter Ollie start college herself, while polishing Gemini Project, my debut fiction novel.

Chapter 3 rewrites, and developmental edits.

In honor of EMS Week and Mental Health Awareness Month, read a raw excerpt from The Quiet After the Sirens—a memoir about trauma, silence, and survival.

The Quiet After the Call

There’s a silence most people never hear.
It’s not peace—it’s the sound after the sirens, when the adrenaline fades and the ghosts start talking.
After years in the military, fire service, and EMS, I came to know that silence too well. It isn’t quiet. It’s noise turned inward.
In that space, the heart races, the mind replays trauma, and the spirit aches under the weight of it all.
Crowded rooms became unbearable. Joy felt dangerous. And I couldn’t sit still without my hands shaking.
But healing began when I finally stopped running and listened to that silence. I learned to name the things I feared. I started writing again.
This memoir, The Quiet After the Sirens, is a testament to survival—not just in the field, but in the stillness that follows.
It’s about carrying the weight, honoring the ghosts, and learning how to breathe again.
If you’ve ever known that kind of silence, this story is for you too.

March of the Writers Day 25: Beyond the Comfort Zone – Writing in New Forms

Poetry is my foundation, but fiction challenges me. That’s why I went back to school—to learn, to push myself. Writing in new forms is a journey worth taking.

March of the Writers Day 21 – We go together!

“The writing community isn’t just a group of people—it’s a full-fledged saga of mystery, fantasy, and plot twists. From noir detectives of the indie world to fantasy wordsmiths weaving spells in ink, I’ve met incredible minds who have shaped my journey. Whether it’s late-night conspiracies about the publishing industry, unforgettable meetups, or unexpected plot twists in friendships, this adventure is one for the books. Who will be the next character to join the story?”

March of the Writers Day 18: The 3 Ps – Plotter, Pantser, or Plantser?

Writing is both an art and a science—sometimes, you need the blueprint; other times, you just need to run with it. I started as a Pantser, letting stories unfold naturally. Over time, I’ve learned the value of planning, especially in research-heavy projects. My poetry flows freely, but fiction demands structure. Now, I balance both—becoming a Plantser, blending plotting with spontaneous creativity.

March of the Writers – Day 15: May I AI?

By Richard White ~ @RWhiteAuthor AI—the elephant in the literary room. Some hail it as the future of creativity, while others see it as the harbinger of artistic doom. Wherever you stand on the issue, there’s no denying that artificial intelligence has stormed onto the …