Nathan M. Richardson is a poet/author/spoken word performer and the founder of Spiritual Concepts Publishing.  He is the current editor in chief of the popular E-News letter "Something to Do/about nothing."  Nathan is also a co-founder and co-host of one of the premier poetry open mic venues in Hampton Roads, Virginia - The Java Poetry Open Mic!

The diverse themes which run throughout Nathan’s poetic prose, have earned him critical literary acclaim including nominations for the prestigious Alli Award from the Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads and the 2005 Book of the Year from NUSPA, the National Underground Spoken Word/Poetry Awards. His first collection of poetry titled Likeness of Being received the 2006 Literary Award from the Southeastern Virginia Arts Association (SEVAA) during the 23rd Annual Hampton Roads AFR’AM Festival.

Mr Richardson’s poetry has been adapted to film and stage. One of his best known poems, "Weapons of Mass Destruction" was commissioned by Old Dominion University’s Governors’ School of the Arts as part of a play titled Walking with Walker. The multi-faceted play about the life of civil right activist Wyatt T. Walker debuted at The Roper Theater on the Norfolk campus of Tidewater Community College. The play has toured stages throughout Virginia and is also available on DVD.  Closely associated with the art and photography world;  he has been commissoned to work with nationally touring photogrphy exhibits such as the Jason Miccolo Johnson - Soul Santuary Exhbit and the Gordon Parks - Bare Witness Exhibit.  

Nathan started his professional poetry career in 2004 with a spoken word CD titled Nathan Live at Langley. The popularity of the CD helped him gain a regional audience. Poetry organizations like Spiritual Concepts Publishing (which Nathan founded) and others like Chesapeake Bay Poets, Diversity Poetry Educators and the famous Oya Xclusive have helped create a renaissance of poetry in the Mid-Atlantic. The region is host to more than 100 poetry open mic readings held in coffee shops, night clubs, book stores and libraries.

Born April 18th 1960 in Suffolk, Virginia, his early influences come from many sources including jazz music greats like, John Coltrane and Ronnie Laws; poets like Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, Billy Collins and Baxter Black. Many women who have influenced Nathan including his mother (Della Mea Richardson), grandmother (Theresa Hollimon), Corretta Scott King and Congresswoman Elenor Holmes Norton.

Nathan is a retired veteran of the Army and Virginia Army National Guard and is also affiliated with several artistic organizations including the JUNETEENTH Festival of Virginia, Young Audiences of Virginia, the Southeastern Virginia Arts Association (SEVAA), The Poetry Society of Virginia, The Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads and The Suffolk Arts League.

Please explore the photo gallery and links pages on this web site and get to know the many talented poets, artists and organizations that Mr Richardson has been so proud to work with. Check out the calendar of events for details of his many poetry readings, workshops, lectures. We look forward to seeing you at a venue sometime in the near future!