Richard Simas is a free-lance writer with a background in literature, music, and the performing arts. His publications appear in contemporary art and literary reviews in Europe and in North America with awards the Journey Prize anthology, the Fiddlehead Review Fiction competition, and a Camões Institute prize to attend the Disquiet International Literary program in Lisbon. His work includes essays about exploring Portuguese immigrant heritage and the notion of (re)learning Portuguese from a diaspora perspective.

In Montreal, Simas founded Théâtre La Chapelle, an interdisciplinary performing venue dedicated to multidisciplinary experimentation. He currently performs with Valody, a nine-member street band.

The Mystery of the Portuguese Waltzesgrows out of his research into these beautiful traditional tunes. It is his first book for young readers.