Akin to literary puzzle boxes, Richard de Nooy writes quirky and wondrous novels. Conceiving of writing as an addiction, he wakes and seizes his pen at 5 am. Each of the protagonists are perfect in their imperfection, like the South African boy who discovers the free gay world of Amsterdam. Richard depicts how modern society deals with psychopathy, crime, punishment and rehabilitation with a good dose of black humour. Read his short story, The Danny Wallace Principle, in Extra Extra n°18 to find out what happens to four middle-aged playboys and a coffin.