About
✨ About Tony B. Richard
I’m a bus driver from a small town in British Columbia, Canada, that reminds me of Roswell — the town my stories originate from. I drive long stretches of quiet road and have a lot of time to think. About five years ago, I started turning that thinking into writing.
Before moving here, I lived in Langley — right in the middle of Vancouver’s film industry. Disney+ is filming season three of Percy Jackson and the Olympians nearby. Cats and Dogs 3 was shot literally next door. I watched the animal trainers work with the live dogs and laughed at the cat stand-ins. My dog Miley and I wanted to visit the working dogs, but we knew better. Being that close to the magic, I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I had to start writing.
Together with my wife — who writes under the pen name Lydia Payge — I created Earth’s Secret Alliance, a science fiction series that reimagines the 1947 Roswell incident. In my story, the aliens are pacifists who are under attack and need our help. With their technology and our innovation, we could not only defeat the enemy but destroy them — except our new friends won’t allow them to be harmed.
I write the kind of family stories I wish I saw more of — where diplomacy wins over destruction and the underdogs are the heroes. In a world filled with conflict and bad news, I want to leave the whole family feeling hopeful.
The Series
The Earth’s Secret Alliance novellas follow the same historical timeline from different characters’ perspectives — including a young Black soldier, a girl in a wheelchair, and a brilliant 19-year-old engineer. Together, they uncover the truth behind a UFO crash, protect peaceful aliens from a ruthless enemy, and grapple with what it means to be human.
The series sits at the intersection of soft sci-fi, YA/MG ensemble adventure, alt-history, hopepunk, and family-friendly science-fantasy — inspired by Star Trek’s optimism, Stargate’s secrecy, and Star Wars-style mythic themes. Whether you’re a fan of Hidden Figures, Percy Jackson, or The Giver, there’s something here for you.
All six novellas and the complete novel From Roswell to Area 51 are published and available in online and physical bookstores.
Screenplays & Competitions
I’ve adapted the book series into six screenplays and I’m actively pitching the ESA universe for film and TV adaptation. My scripts include features, TV pilots, and an animated children’s pilot.
- Consider” rating — WeScreenplay Television Pilot Competition, 2023 — 84th percentile (full scorecard →)
- Quarter-Finalist — Faith and Family Filmmakers Awards, 2024
- Quarter-Finalist — Faith in Film: Int’l Film Festival and Screenwriting Competition, 2024
- Screenwriter: View my screenwriting page
- Charlie’s Big Chance: Children’s animated series — industry page
I’m looking for collaborators who believe there’s an audience for stories that bring people together instead of tearing them apart.
Follow Tony Online
Thanks for reading, and welcome to the Alliance.
— Tony