British author Phil Rickman, best known for the Merrily Watkins novels, a crime fiction series with supernatural elements starring a female exorcist set in the Welsh borders, died October 29 at age 74, the Bookseller reported. He published 27 novels as well as short stories and nonfiction. Two of his books were released under the name Will Kingdom and two as Thom Madley.
His debut novel, Candlenight, was published in 1991. The 15-book Merrily Watkins series began in 1998 with The Wine of Angels, with a final volume, The Echo of Crows, set for release in 2025. The books were adapted into a three-part ITV series in 2015. The John Dee Papers series, The Bones of Avalon (2010) and The Heresy of Dr Dee (2012), follow the court astrologer to Elizabeth I, John Dee.
After launching his working career as a journalist and broadcaster, Rickman also presented the BBC Radio Wales program Phil the Shelf, which featured book news, author interviews, and advice for unpublished writers.
Sarah Hodgson, publishing director at Corvus--which is a fiction imprint of Atlantic Books--and Rickman's most recent editor, said: "I first encountered Phil down the line from a studio at Broadcasting House in London when I participated in an episode of Phil the Shelf many years ago and had no inkling that I would one day have the privilege of publishing his work. He was known for his kindness and gentleness of spirit, and he had a unique creative vision. His loss will be felt deeply by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him, and by his many readers around the world."
His agents, Ed Wilson and Andrew Hewson, described Rickman as "a unique and wonderful man," adding: "Crime writing has lost a true one-off in Phil Rickman--a writer whose kindness and generosity, both with fans and other writers, was as well-known as his brilliant books. His career spanned decades and genres--from the early horror novels, to crime and supernatural thrillers, YA novels (before the term 'YA' existed) and even historical, with his two brilliant Dr Dee novels."
Nicolas Cheetham, managing director of Head of Zeus, who was previously Rickman's long-term publisher, said: "Phil's Merrily Watkins novels are a masterclass in how to write a series and Phil is entirely responsible for my love of big books, big casts and multiple installments--not to mention writers doing something just a little to the left of the genre mainstream."
