It was all a question of whiling away the long, dark winter evenings.
First it began with the telling of the stories – his own, of course – and then the idea began to take hold of writing them down and seeking a publisher.

That was five years ago and the enthusiasm is showing no signs of diminishing because, after a successful debut collection of stories, Richard has now got a second book in print.

Following on from Short Stories for Long Dark Nights, comes Short Stories for Long Journeys, which Richard says he hopes will be just the thing for those "wondering what to do to pass the time on a train, ship or plane or watching yet another repeat on TV".

His second book very much echoes the first in that he has set out to entertain as well as perplex.

"I like stories to have a sting in the tail, to keep the reader intrigued right up until the last.

"Sometimes you might think you know what's coming, but hopefully there'll be a shock at the end."

Richard, 67, lives in Huddersfield but has a strong fanbase in Calderdale – wife Karen's home territory.

Karen (nee Lee) is from Ripponden and all her family still live there. The couple met while working at a credit drapery business together and Ripponden is "where we did all our courting".

Richard says he has always wanted to write – especially mystery and intrigue because he has been a passionate Agatha Christie fan for as long as he can remember.

But he only began to think seriously about becoming a published author when he and Karen spent time installing luxury mobile homes for holidaymakers in Spain and France a few years ago.

"They're great in the summer but in the winter when you're setting them up and staying in them, well you need something to do.

"It was during the long, dark, winter nights that I started telling my stories to Karen. It was either that or slip into unconsciousness because of the wine," he laughs.

Short Stories for Long Journeys now features more of Richard's characters, which he says he loves to build.

"For me that's the fun part, coming up with the characters. Often they're loosely based on someone I know, for example Arabella (the formidable Arabella Smyth, 60-year-old widow and mainstay of the Huntsford Ladies' Charity Guild) in one of the stories is based on a teacher, Old Ma Boothroyd, who I had as a child and another character, Cynthia, is based on a cousin.

"Often that's the basis for a story. The character pops into my head first, I put flesh on their bones and then build the story around them."

The new collection now includes stories of diamond prospectors, haun-ted houses, mishaps at charity events and chilling tales of vengeance and duplicity.

"I hope there really is something for everyone," he says.

"And anyone who read the first collection of stories might be pleased to find that a few old characters are making a reappearance too.

"Once I like a character I don't have the heart to kill them off. I like them to pop up again," he adds.

Richard insists he does not have a formula but instead likes to try ideas that have not been used before.

And these ideas, he says can come at any time. He is now working on a children's fantasy novel.

"I love the idea of writing short stories. I like creating lots of different heroes. Writing for me is all about bringing pleasure to the reader and a little bit of escapism for me."

• Short Stories for Long Journeys by Richard Wilson, is published by Vanguard Press and available at Fred Wade, Halifax.