Richard R BeckerRichard R. Becker is an award-winning American author whose gripping stories explore identity, perception, and the human condition. His debut novel, Third Wheel, soared into the top 100 thriller and suspense literary fiction novels, earned a Kirkus Rviews feature, and won seven awards, including Literary Thriller of the Year by the Artisan International Book Excellence Awards. His debut collection, 50 States, born from a challenge to write one story a week for 50 weeks, topped literary short story charts for three months and secured multiple honors, including first place in the spring 2022 BookFest Awards.Raised in Milwaukee by his grandparents after his father's tragic death, Richard overcame poverty, clubfoot, and his grandmother's cancer. These challenges infuse his work with emotional depth and straight, honest prose about people. When not writing, Richard enjoys acting, hiking, photography, and time with his wife and two adult children. Read More Read Less