A.B.PATTERSON - Blog

COPS WRITING CRIME - 8 new members for The Squad

5/10/2021

Another 8 colleagues (2 British, 5 American, and 1 Australian) join The Squad today, bringing its numbers to 303.

That's 303 cops and ex-cops (and other law enforcement types, plus some PIs) who have taken to writing crime fiction. You won't get more realistic crime tales than those from this Squad!

We have joining us today:
1. Stephen Bentley - served with both the Lancashire and Hampshire police in the UK, before becoming a criminal law barrister.
2. Phil Copsey - served with the Victoria Police in Australia.
3. William DeNisi - served with the Fountain Valley PD in California.
4. Mitchell Grobeson - served with the LAPD.
5. M.P. Wright - worked as a PI in the UK, so he join that small band of ex-PIs writing crime fiction.
6. James Viner - served with the Detroit PD.
7. D. Clayton Mayes - served with the Downey PD in California.
8. James A. Forrest - served with the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office in Florida.

Our Squad now consists of:

181 American, 62 British, 16 Australian, 16 Canadian
4 New Zealander, 3 Finnish, 2 Dutch, 2 Swedish
2 French, 2 Irish, 1 Bahamian, 1 Norwegian
1 Italian, 1 Czech, 1 Russian, 1 Hungarian
1 Spaniard, 1 Pakistani, 1 Chinese, 1 Brazilian, 1 Indian
2 "International" (listed as this due to current serving officer requirements)

I'll keep adding more as I come across them, and if you know of any others please feel free to drop me a line.

Check out The Squad:
Also: Cops Writing Crime

And please remember, my list is only for CRIME FICTION - not all the true crime and/or memoir writing by cops and ex-cops that's out there (as good as so much of that is).

Cheers,
ABP

BIG NEWS - Harry Kenmare, PI goes audio!

26/8/2021

The BIG news this week is that my audiobook project for Harry Kenmare, PI - At Your Service has finally gone live.
The project has been on for a few months and it's been a great learning experience, and a blast to hear Harry as an audiobook.

The narration was done by Declan Nicholls and he has done a great job of being the voice of Harry - hope he's not too scarred by walking in Harry's shoes, so to speak! Thank you, Declan.
Declan is a voice professional and can be found at:
https://www.declanvoiceover.com

And the whole project was made possible by the facilitation of Publicious, my regular publishing facilitator. As always, Andy McDermott and his team have been excellent to work with. Thank you, Andy and Publicious.
Publicious can be found at:
https://www.publicious.com.au

The audio book will become available on multiple platforms over the next few weeks. But if you like Audible, it's here today:

https://www.audible.com.au/search?keywords=harry+kenmare&ref=a_newreleas_t1_header_search

Along with the 4 medals in the Golbal Ebook Awards last week, August has been a big month for Harry Kenmare, PI!

Cheers,
ABP

WINS! Global Ebook Awards - 4 medals for "Harry Kenmare, PI - At Your Service"

17/8/2021

Absolutely thrilled to pick up 4 medals in the Global Ebook Awards 2021!!!

Yes, Harry Kenmare, PI - At Your Service was entered into the Global Ebook Awards earlier this year, and yesterday it picked up not just 1, but 4 medals. I am SO thrilled.

And a massive shout-out to J.T. Lindroos, the cover designer, and Ran Scott, the interior art designer, since 2 of the awards are down to their superb work. You can find J.T. on Twitter @jtlindroos and at www.oivas.com. Ran Scott can be found on Twitter at @GargoyleGraphic.

So, here are the awards by category:

Mystery Fiction - Silver Medal

Short Stories/Essays Fiction - Silver Medal

Best Ebook Cover - Bronze Medal

Best Illustration in Adult Fiction - Silver Medal

Feel free to grab a copy! And remember, it's "dark, debauched, and disturbing" crime fiction. There's a reason at the book launch that I was called the "bad boy of Australian crime fiction".
Try it, if you dare!

Cheers,
ABP

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GL4F9PG/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=harry+kenmare&qid=1598349746&s=books&sr=1-1

Cops Writing Crime - 6 new members for The Squad

8/5/2021

Another 6 colleagues - all American - join The Squad today, bringing its numbers to 295.

That's 295 cops and ex-cops (and other law enforcement types, plus some PIs) who have taken to writing crime fiction. You won't get more realistic crime tales than those from this Squad!

We have joining us today:
1. James Harper Walker - served as a police officer with the Huron Road PD in Ohio (and other Ohio police agencies).
2. George Galjan (deceased 2017) - served as a police officer with the Cleveland PD.
3. Joe DeCicco - served as a police officer with the NYPD.
4. Shiloh (Danni) Eldridge - served as an officer with the LA County Sheriff's Department.
5. Barry Mason - served as a police officer with the Cobb County PD in Georgia.
6. C.M. Russell - served as a police officer with the Chicago PD.

Our Squad now consists of:

176 American, 60 British, 15 Australian, 16 Canadian
4 New Zealander, 3 Finnish, 2 Dutch, 2 Swedish
2 French, 2 Irish, 1 Bahamian, 1 Norwegian
1 Italian, 1 Czech, 1 Russian, 1 Hungarian
1 Spaniard, 1 Pakistani, 1 Chinese, 1 Brazilian, 1 Indian
2 "International" (listed as this due to current serving officer requirements)

I'll keep adding more as I come across them, and if you know of any others please feel free to drop me a line.

Check out The Squad:
Also: Cops Writing Crime

And please remember, my list is only for CRIME FICTION - not all the true crime and/or memoir writing by cops and ex-cops that's out there (as good as so much of that is).

Cheers,
ABP

ANZAC Day 2021 - Lest We Forget.

25/4/2021

On this Anzac Day when we as Australians and New Zealanders commemorate our veterans, it is as always fitting to remember that their sacrifice, in blood and suffering, is what we owe our freedom to.
The freedom that so many take for granted and do not appreciate, but the freedom that enables us to live our lives, enjoy our rights, and bathe in freedom of speech and ideas. The same freedom that many would take from us.
My own tribute is to dedicate a blog, as I did last year, to both my grandfathers, who fought for the Australian Army in the World Wars, defending those freedoms.

My paternal grandfather was Gordon Reginald Patterson and he went to the Western Front in 1917. He turned 18 six days before he enlisted. Private Patterson then joined the Australian Infantry in the trenches in northern France and Belgium for all the horrors that entailed. He came back to Australia in 1919. He died when my father was only 6 years old. His photo is below, and I can see my father in his face.

My maternal grandfather was George Harwood Smith and he went to the second World War in 1941, as a 39 year old. He served with the Australian Army Motor Transport in Indonesia. When the Allied forces in Java surrendered to the Japanese in 1942, Private Smith went into the infamous Japanese POW camp at Changi in Singapore, where he remained a prisoner until the end of the war. Alas, I don't have any photos of Grandfather Smith in uniform.

I can't begin to even imagine the horrors my grandfathers endured. But I can be forever grateful for what we now enjoy, thanks to the sacrifice of them and millions of other Allied service personnel.

Rest in peace, my grandfathers, and lest we forget.

Cheers,
ABP

COPS WRITING CRIME - Another 11 members for The Squad.

24/4/2021

Another 11 colleagues - 9 American, 1 Canadian, and 1 British - join The Squad today, bringing its numbers to 289.

That's 289 cops and ex-cops (and other law enforcement types, plus some PIs) who have taken to writing crime fiction. You won't get more realistic crime tales than those from this Squad!

We have joining us today:
1. Pearson O'Meara - served as a police officer in the US Deep South.
2. Thonie Hevron - served as related law enforcement personnel in California for 35 years.
3. Jim Doherty - served as a police officer and other law enforcement roles in several US agencies.
4. Tony Schumacher - served with the Liverpool Police in the UK.
5. Danny R. Smith - served with the LA County Sheriff's Office.
6. John C. Smith - served with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
7. Marc Cameron - served with the US Marshal's Service.
8. John Barry - served as a police officer with the NYPD.
9. Dave Case - served as a police officer with the Chicago PD.
10. Ron De Laby (deceased) - served as a police officer with the Riverside PD in California.
11. Jim Silvania - served as a police officer with the Columbus PD in Ohio.

Our Squad now consists of:

170 American, 60 British, 15 Australian, 16 Canadian
4 New Zealander, 3 Finnish, 2 Dutch, 2 Swedish
2 French, 2 Irish, 1 Bahamian, 1 Norwegian
1 Italian, 1 Czech, 1 Russian, 1 Hungarian
1 Spaniard, 1 Pakistani, 1 Chinese, 1 Brazilian, 1 Indian
2 "International" (listed as this due to current serving officer requirements)

I'll keep adding more as I come across them, and if you know of any others please feel free to drop me a line.

Check out The Squad:
Also: Cops Writing Crime

And please remember, my list is only for CRIME FICTION - not all the true crime and/or memoir writing by cops and ex-cops that's out there (as good as so much of that is).

Cheers,
ABP

COPS WRITING CRIME - Another 3 members for The Squad.

10/3/2021

Another 3 colleagues - all American - join The Squad today, bringing its numbers to 278.

That's 278 cops and ex-cops (and other law enforcement types, plus some PIs) who have taken to writing crime fiction. You won't get more realistic crime tales than those from this Squad!

We have joining us today:
1. T.K. Thorne - served with the Birmingham PD in Alabama.
2. Peter M. Wright - served with the Redlands PD in California.
3. Kim Thomas - served with the Las Vegas Metro PD.

Our Squad now consists of:

161 American, 59 British, 15 Australian, 15 Canadian
4 New Zealander, 3 Finnish, 2 Dutch, 2 Swedish
2 French, 2 Irish, 1 Bahamian, 1 Norwegian
1 Italian, 1 Czech, 1 Russian, 1 Hungarian
1 Spaniard, 1 Pakistani, 1 Chinese, 1 Brazilian, 1 Indian
2 "International" (listed as this due to current serving officer requirements)

I'll keep adding more as I come across them, and if you know of any others please feel free to drop me a line.

Check out The Squad:
Also: Cops Writing Crime

And please remember, my list is only for CRIME FICTION - not all the true crime and/or memoir writing by cops and ex-cops that's out there (as good as so much of that is).

Cheers,
ABP

PI Harry Kenmare heads for the American Library in Paris!

6/3/2021

Following in his footsteps to Kenmare Library in Ireland, Harry is expanding his international outreach program and has now headed for Paris: specifically the American Library in Paris, the largest English-language library in Europe.
Harry's creator wishes he was heading for Paris, too, believe me, but it'll be a while before we're allowed to travel again.
As Paris and France are special to me, I thought I'd let local English-speaking readers in Paris get a load of the dark and debauched world of PI Harry Kenmare.
Postal tracking says the box (pictured) with its donated three copies of each book has now arrived in French customs.
Next stop the library.
Cheers,
ABP

New book - "And now for something completely different..."

4/3/2021

My headline, of course, is courtesy of the immortal Monty Python (I'll love them until I die!).
But for me as a hard-boiled crime fiction author, this is the epitome of "something completely different".
It's also something so very personal.
Little-known fact about me as a person/author: as a young child (age 7) I was sent to an English boarding school.
The experience has left me scarred for life.
And I'm obviously not alone.
Over 10 years ago, I connected with a group in the UK, Boarding Concern, who provided a support network for boarding school survivors. Aside from slaying a few personal demons, I ended up with the honour and privilege of being able to be instrumental in putting together a book of accounts, of a very personal nature, from a wide range of men who had gone through the trauma of English boarding schools.
It is indescribably wonderful to this year, 2021, see Routledge publish the end result of a project that ran for about 8 years: from the initial canvassing of survivors to the final testament. It was a long road, believe me.
I'm so proud to be a co-editor of, and also a contributing author to, this immensely important collection of personal stories.
Special thanks to my two co-editors, Margaret and Allison, who did so much to steer this project to glorious completion. My main work was in the earlier stages, and in the last couple of years Margaret and Allison have tirelessly driven the project home.
My great hope is that, through this project, we have furthered the cause of combatting the insidious and inhumane business of boarding schools.
To all the men who contributed to this book, my thoughts and solidarity forever. I feel your pain, as I know you feel mine.
Cheers,
ABP

COPS WRITING CRIME - 4 more members join The Squad

3/3/2021

Another 4 colleagues - all British - join The Squad today, bringing its numbers to 275.

That's 275 cops and ex-cops (and other law enforcement types, plus some PIs) who have taken to writing crime fiction. You won't get more realistic crime tales than those from this Squad!

We have joining us today:
1. Sarah Cox - served with the London Metropolitan Police.
2. Matt Johnson - also served with the London Metropolitan Police.
3. Kim Booth - served with the Lincolnshire Police.
4. Sarah Flint - also served with the London Metropolitan Police.

Our Squad now consists of:

158 American, 59 British, 15 Australian, 15 Canadian
4 New Zealander, 3 Finnish, 2 Dutch, 2 Swedish
2 French, 2 Irish, 1 Bahamian, 1 Norwegian
1 Italian, 1 Czech, 1 Russian, 1 Hungarian
1 Spaniard, 1 Pakistani, 1 Chinese, 1 Brazilian, 1 Indian
2 "International" (listed as this due to current serving officer requirements)

I'll keep adding more as I come across them, and if you know of any others please feel free to drop me a line.

Check out The Squad:
Also: Cops Writing Crime

And please remember, my list is only for CRIME FICTION - not all the true crime and/or memoir writing by cops and ex-cops that's out there (as good as so much of that is).

Cheers,
ABP

My short story in a Pink Floyd crime anthology!

19/2/2021

I'm incredibly thrilled to have a short story of mine, "Childhood's End", appearing in this wonderful anthology, alongside so many talented authors.

I saw this project concept last year, and being a lifelong fan of Pink Floyd, as well as a crime author, thought I had to give it a shot. All the stories in this collection carry the title of a Pink Floyd song, and no surprises for those who know my work that "Childhood's End" worked really well for me. It's not one of Floyd's better known numbers, that's for sure, but check out my story to see my take on it. And aside from my small contribution, the crime writing talent on display here is awesome.

As if that's not enough incentive, a large part of the sale process go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in the US, a truly worthwhile cause. The editor of the project, T. Fox Dunham, is a cancer survivor, hence the charity connection.

Folks, DO IT - grab this anthology both for a great read and a great cause.

Cheers,
ABP

Kenmare Library, County Kerry - more PI Harry Kenmare books on the way!

18/2/2021

Last year I sent copies of the two Harry novels to Kenmare Library in County Kerry, Ireland.
Well, naturally I did: the good folk of the town that PI Harry Kenmare is named after should be able to read all about him, if they're so inclined.
And I notice on the occasional check on the library catalogue (Kenmare and Killarney) that both the novels are regularly out on loan.
Would love to know what the Kenmare and Killarney locals think...

So, with the recent publication of the short story collection, Harry Kenmare, PI - At Your Service, I thought it wholly appropriate to dispatch some gratis copies over to Kenmare Library.
Hope those County Kerry locals enjoy Harry at his hardest!

Cheers,
ABP

Cops Writing Crime - another 9 members for The Squad!

12/1/2021

Another 9 colleagues - 1 French, 1 Irish, 1 Indian, 1 Canadian, 1 British, and 4 American - join The Squad today, bringing its numbers to 271.

That's 271 cops and ex-cops (and other law enforcement types, plus some PIs) who have taken to writing crime fiction. You won't get more realistic crime tales than those from this Squad!

We have joining us today:
1. Olivier Norek - a serving officer with the French police in Paris.
2. Casey King - a serving officer with the Garda in Ireland.
3. Priyaneth Mukhopadhyay (deceased 1947) - an historical addition to The Squad, he served with the Indian Police in (then) Calcutta. Regarded as the father of crime fiction in Bengali.
4. David G. Ferguson - served as a conservation law enforcement officer in Canada.
5. Michael O'Byrne - served as an officer in the London Metropolitan Police and a couple of county police forces, after having served in the Hong Kong Police.
6. Keith Bettinger - served as a police officer with the Suffolk County PD in New York State.
7. Jay P. Farrington - served as a police officer with the San Diego PD.
8. Joe Sánchez - served as an officer with the NYPD.
9. Harvey Burgess - served as a police officer in the USA, I believe in North Carolina.

Our Squad now consists of:

158 American, 55 British, 15 Australian, 15 Canadian
4 New Zealander, 3 Finnish, 2 Dutch, 2 Swedish
2 French, 2 Irish, 1 Bahamian, 1 Norwegian
1 Italian, 1 Czech, 1 Russian, 1 Hungarian
1 Spaniard, 1 Pakistani, 1 Chinese, 1 Brazilian, 1 Indian
2 "International" (listed as this due to current serving officer requirements)

I'll keep adding more as I come across them, and if you know of any others please feel free to drop me a line.

Check out The Squad:
Also: Cops Writing Crime

And please remember, my list is only for CRIME FICTION - not all the true crime and/or memoir writing by cops and ex-cops that's out there (as good as so much of that is).

Cheers,
ABP

Cops Writing Crime - 6 more members join The Squad.

15/11/2020

Another 6 colleagues - 3 British, 2 Australian, and 1 American - join The Squad today, bringing its numbers to 262.

That's 262 cops and ex-cops (and some PIs) who have taken to writing crime fiction. You won't get more realistic crime tales than those from this Squad!

We have joining us today:
1. Ed Church - served in the Metropolitan Police in London, UK.
2. D.L. Hicks - still serving with the Victoria Police, Australia.
3. Janice Cantore - served with the Long Beach PD, California, in the USA.
4. Bruce Venables - served with the Tasmania Police in Australia, and before that in the Hong Kong Police Force.
5. Craig Russell - served with the police in the UK, in Scotland I believe.
6. Robert F. Barker - served with the police in the UK, in the northwest of the country.

Our Squad now consists of:

154 American
54 British
15 Australian
14 Canadian
4 New Zealander
3 Finnish
2 Dutch
2 Swedish
1 French
1 Bahamian
1 Norwegian
1 Italian
1 Czech
1 Russian
1 Hungarian
1 Spaniard
1 Pakistani
1 Irish
1 Chinese
1 Brazilian
2 "International" (listed as this due to current serving officer requirements)

I'll keep adding more as I come across them, and if you know of any others please feel free to drop me a line.

Check out The Squad:
Also: Cops Writing Crime

And please remember, my list is only for CRIME FICTION - not all the true crime and/or memoir writing by cops and ex-cops that's out there (as good as so much of that is).

Cheers,
ABP

A great book launch for "Harry Kenmare, PI - At Your Service"

31/10/2020

The book launch was a cracker of an afternoon, befitting my main man, PI Harry Kenmare: the wine and whiskey were flowing and we were surrounded by naked ladies (well, on the walls, anyway!)

It was a sold-out event, within the COVID restrictions, and everyone got into the spirit. Literally, in some cases, if the amount of single malt Scotch showing up on the bill was any indication!
Well, as Harry would say, here for a good time, not a long time.

I even earned a new sobriquet: "The bad boy of Australian crime fiction". Yep, I'll wear that one with pride!

Dr Allan Yates was, once again, a superb MC for the afternoon, and we had some great discussion and audience questions. Lots of books went home with people, including quite a number of the earlier novels.
My huge thanks to my partner, Ruth, for managing the whole event, to Allan for his MC efforts, and to Zelman and Dan, the owners of the glorious Glebe Hotel, for hosting us. The upstairs Nude Bar, overflowing with erotic artworks, is Harry's perfect launch pad! (As you can see from the photo below).
And we had the raffle of bundles of my three favourite anthology magazines, so five lucky people now have copies of Switchblade, Econoclash Review, and Pulp Modern to expand their reading repertoire!

The event (at least myself and Allan) was filmed, so you can watch the whole launch via the YouTube link. It's about 90 minutes, and it's fun.

Meantime, feel free to get yourself some Harry! You can contact me for an original paperback, or there's Amazon, amongst others.

Cheers,
ABP

© The 2 hotel photos are copyright of The Glebe Hotel.
All other photos are copyright of A.B. Patterson.