Category: A.B.Patterson AUTHOR - A.B.PATTERSON

Harry's Quest is imminent! PI Harry Kenmare set to return in December 2018!

13/11/2018

The manuscript for Harry's Quest finally headed off yesterday for typesetting and then printing. Oh, what a feeling of relief to send the novel away for its final stage of creation.
I'm sure many of my fellow authors, especially those who self-publish, share my bittersweet feelings towards the editing and proofreading stages. I think you do get to a point where you just have to say, "Bugger it, it's going as it is now, because I can't stand the thought of reading through it all again!"
I'm hoping that the 110,000 words I sent off yesterday are pretty schmicko by now - any remaining errors are entirely my responsibility.
Of course, I still have to go through the typeset version when that's ready, and then it's the waiting for the printers and then the van to arrive with all the boxes. I still remember the sheer thrill of opening the first box when Harry's World arrived back in 2015, and pulling out that first copy, and realising that, hey, I'm a published crime writer! Well, hanging out for that feeling again in early December when a thousand copies of Harry's Quest arrive.
And then it's back into the other half of being a self-published author - marketing, profile building, and selling.
So, folks, the paperback version will be available in early December (barring any calamities at the printers), and the ebook and print-on-demand versions will be available probably a little before that.
I'll be posting regularly.
Cheers,
ABP

COPS WRITING CRIME - An Anthology Project - Call out for interest.

26/9/2018

"A Blue Anthology - Cops Writing Crime" (Working Title only)

If you follow my blogs and tweets, you'll know about my project "Cops Writing Crime". Starting last year, I set out to collect all the crime fiction authors I could find who had served (or are still serving in some cases) as police officers or related law enforcement roles. I've also included a handful of PIs. My interest in this category of crime writer, apart from being one myself, is the sheer realism that I've found in any crime fiction I've read from ex-cops.
Check out The Squad - Also: Cops Writing Crime

As at today (26 Sept. 2018), I've collected 131 members for The Squad, from all over the world. I'm not aware of any similar project, let alone an anthology dedicated to this cohort of crime fiction writers. Well, I'm going to change that and have a lot of fun in the process.

I'll firm up all the parameters in due course, but I'm keen to hear from members of The Squad who would potentially be interested in contributing.
I won't be able to pay you, but it's an opportunity to have some fresh short story work published in what I think will be a unique collection. I'm intending both print and digital versions, and I will send all contributors a copy or two.
If you're not in The Squad, but think you should be, then drop me a line.

I'm also keen to have another author (or two) who could be an official co-editor with me (I'm happy to shoulder the work, but a source for second opinions and reality checks would be invaluable).

Cheers,
ABP

Thrilled to be delivering another Westwords workshop for young people!

14/9/2018

I'm delighted to be doing a crime writing workshop for young people again, as a guest for the wonderful Westwords program - a program to encourage creative writing interest and skills in young people around western Sydney.
Last year, I delivered crime writing workshops on behalf of Westwords for some young guys at Granville Boys High School. I certainly enjoyed the experience - something completely new for me. And I hope the lads found the chats equally as enjoyable - they sure had plenty of questions about my cop background with my crime writing!
And so I was thrilled to be invited to deliver another workshop which will happen next week. And a rather larger group this time!
I'll be spending 2 hours chatting crime writing with about 90 year 11 students at Arthur Phillip High School in Parramatta.
Think I'll need to be on my game for this class! So, we'll be chatting over the crime genre, getting into more detail around the hard-boiled school (of course!), and doing some short writing exercises. And I'll even be sharing a couple of bits of Harry's World with them - at least some bits which are okay for a not-quite-adult audience! If you've read Harry, then you know exactly what I mean.
Again, it's great to be encouraging an interest in writing, especially crime, with young people.
Cheers,
ABP
And here's the link to the Westwords website: www.westwords.com.au

Bookmarks for pulp fans - hard-boiled quotes from "Harry's World"!

31/7/2018

BOOKMARKS from Harry's World

I wanted something book-related to celebrate Harry's World, so what better than bookmarks?!!!

A custom-made colourful collection of high-quality card bookmarks quoting some of those delicious hard-boiled one-liners from Harry's World. What better to accompany you in all your reading travels?!
Adults only, of course!
There are 12 quotes in the collection (see below image), with both the PI silhouette version and the sexy girls silhouette version (think of those twins!). A set of 12 will comprise all the quotes, with 6 PI versions and 6 sexy girl versions. Or if you really want to go hard, you could have the complete batch with 24!

In Australia: 1 x set of 12 goes for just $3.00 (incl. GST & postage).
For overseas: 1 x set of 12 goes for just A$5.00 (incl. airmail postage).
Just drop me a line!

See my new merchandise page: Also: MERCHANDISE

For my author buddies!!!
If you're one of my author buddies (you know who you are from the Twitter universe, the anthology worlds of Switchblade and the like, and my Cops Writing Crime project) then you can have a set for FREE - just DM me with an email address and I'll drop you a line to find where your letterbox is at! Especially as many of you are in North America, my free offer means anywhere at all (except perhaps the International Space Station!). You know how to find me, fellow authors!

Cheers,
ABP

For the love of anthologies! Website links. Go there, and then get them to read!

20/3/2018

I just added the weblink for all the current anthology magazines on my web page.

Switchblade
Econoclash Review
Pulp Modern
Down and Out: The Magazine
Broadswords and Blasters

Here's the page on my website: Also: Anthology Corner

Cheers,
ABP

For the love of anthology magazines! A selection by A.B.Patterson.

20/3/2018

Today, I've added my "Anthology Corner" page to my website.
My Anthology Corner: Also: Anthology Corner
The initial text is below:
Cheers,
ABP

It's only in the last couple of years, as I've read ever more broadly in the crime genre (chiefly hard-boiled and noir), that I've come across anthologies in magazine format.
And I'm now a complete addict!
Short stories were an early feature of my reading habits, being introduced to W. Somerset Maugham in my 20s. Maugham was a master of the short story and, whilst he wasn't a crime writer, his searingly hot and ruthless insights into human nature were worthy of the best crime writing has ever thrown up.
So, what is it about these anthologies I've become hooked on that really does it for me?
Firstly, it's the exposure to a range of other authors in a short space. Sure, in any given anthology, there are stories you'll like more than others. But from my experience so far, and thanks to the skill of the various editors, I've yet to come across any poor writing, even if the actual story wasn't up my alley. Good times!
Secondly, and I think particularly relevantly in this day and age, a short story presents a great reading opportunity for a limited chunk of time. At present with my consulting work (the stuff I have to do to pay the bills for an otherwise starving author!), I have a 25 minute train commute - what better way to fill that short trip than with a short story? It's bloody perfect.
And thirdly, getting into these anthologies got me off my backside and trying my own hand at short story writing - something which had been on my project list for a long time (quite a few things have loitered on that list for way too long!). As it's turned out, I love putting together a short story. It's a completely different discipline from a novel or novella, in my view. But it stretches you as a writer, and that can only be a great thing. Having had a couple of my efforts now published in one of these anthologies, Switchblade magazine, my motivation is now sky-high.
So, this will be my "Anthology Corner", where I will add new titles to the existing stable as I come across them.
Take a look at the list below, and then go and sample them.
I'll be adding more listing information for them as time goes on.
Cheers,
ABP

SWITCHBLADE
Editor: Scotch Rutherford
"An Anthology of Noir" is the blurb.
Crime - very hard-boiled and noir - superb, in fact. Started in 2016, and going strong. So far, 4 issues plus one special edition published.

ECONOCLASH REVIEW
Editor: J.D. Graves
"Quality Cheap Thrills" is the blurb.
A truly delightful mixture of crime, noir, fantasy, macabre, and horror.
It's a newcomer, with only the first issue out so far.

PULP MODERN
Editor: Alec Cizak
As its name implies, full of crime and noir and pulp. This is the magazine's "second act" as Mr Cizak calls it.

DOWN & OUT: THE MAGAZINE
Editor: Rick Ollerman
This is an offering from Down & Out Books to join this market segment. The first issue came out in 2017. And it's all good hard crime.

THUGLIT
Editor: Todd Robinson
Sadly no longer around. But you can, like me, scoop up the back issues online.
I've read three so far, and Mr Robinson's efforts with this anthology were simply superb. It ran for several years. I fully intend to collect the WHOLE back catalogue.

ALL DUE RESPECT
Editor: Chris Rhatigan
Again, sadly no longer with us. But it's brief existence provided some great crime and noir.

BROADSWORDS and BLASTERS
Editors: Matthew X. Gomez & Cameron Mount
"Pulp Magazine with Modern Sensibilities" is the blurb.
Not in the same stable as the crime-oriented gang above, but pulp it still is. Mainly fantasy and sic-fi but plenty of noir overtones and all the action you expect from true pulp.
Started in 2017.

"Harry's Quest" - The manuscript heads for the editor!

25/2/2018

Well, a big day here in Sydney (for me anyway).
Yes, the manuscript for Harry's Quest, all 100,000 words of it, finished going through my own editing processes - pictured at right. Such a great feeling to have it all in one large piece, and looking pretty readable - the 300+ pages of it!
And it has been sent off this evening to my independent editor in Paris, Eliza Compton, for her keen eye and red pen! Well, given the age we're in I think it'll probably be "track changes" rather than pen, but anyway...
Can't wait to get it back from Eliza, tidy it up, and off to print! I'm still aiming for late April or early May. So it's coming...
Yes, targets treated as deadlines are a GOOD thing - they keep us on track! And, hell, us writers sure need that!
And here's the cover again, too.
Cheers,
ABP

"Switchblade" Issue # 4 - Can noir get any darker? This is seriously GOOD!!!

6/2/2018

Switchblade magazine just seems to get better by the issue. All credit to the great work of its managing editor, Scotch Rutherford. You are doing a seriously good job, mate.

Whilst I’ve loved all the issues so far, # 1 through to # 4 and the Special Edition of Issue # 3, this is a publication which is well and truly finding its feet, and long, long may it keep standing. Scotch has kept it going for a whole year now, which in this industry is a considerable achievement. Here's looking forward to its second anniversary a year hence!
As always, in the interests of transparency, I do have a story in Issue # 4, joining an exceptional line up, I must say. It is an honour to stand in this line! So I might be a bit biased. Care factor? Zero, my friends. This magazine is great, great crime noir reading by a seriously varied array of talented writers.

The issue opens with a dark as hell poem from Lisa Douglass, and she then later has a short story which is disturbingly unsettling – as great noir should be. I have already noted down to seek out more of Douglass’s work. Her ability to understate takes disturbing to a higher, more invasive and intense level. She rocks, simple as that.
As always, the issue is a mixture of flash and short fiction. The flash contributions provide tight little morsels of twisted noir imagination, from Jeffrey B. Burton with “The Duck Blind” (a lovely little satire on publishing! With “cutting” involved!), Henry Brock with “Cigarettes” (who manages to wrap a truly tragic hard luck story into just 2 pages), Aaron Majewski with “The Dark Gleaming Blade” (almost dystopian, but lesbian pig farmers go down to the wire – yes, that does beg all sorts of questions – so get a copy of Switchblade and read it, my friends!), J.D.Graves with “Oh Sugar” (to be able to create such a fucked up little world of two people with such twists in just under 2 pages is an achievement – I especially loved the little quip, “Hindsight’s for assholes” – love your work, J.D., and will be looking for more!), and Peter DiChellis with “Eternal Love” (they say a sucker and his money always part ways...well so too do suckers and their loves. Great twist here.)
Then we get into the short stories. Pearce Hansen starts with “Seen One, Seen ‘Em All” – 1984 LA and its not-so-honest police force – yeah, corrupt cops are always great for noir, and this doesn't disappoint. Nick Manzolillo follows with “Extreme Hunting” – small-town losers with guns take on mob guys with guns, and it doesn’t turn out as you might expect, but then that’s what noir should be. Oh, and I loved the line “a southern accent that was as fake as a porn star’s tits”. Max Sheridan next with “The Herat Handshake” – seriously this was good! Violence (extreme), sex (all sorts of perverted, as I read it), some justice (of sorts) getting done, and everything unforeseen. Great! Will be urgently seeking out some of Sheridan’s work for more reading pleasure. Tais Teng with “Doch das Messer sieht man nicht” (relax, only the title’s in German) brings a whole new twisted (very, very twisted) take on juvenile crime, along with just a touch of the supernatural. Then along comes Diana Deverell with “Organ Trade Off” – seriously, and without venturing into spoiler territory, it had me clutching at my organs (no, no that one, get back out of the gutter!). This was macabre and twisted to hell, this story – loved it. And I’ve stopped clutching myself, finally! Next is Mike Derochick with “Sunrise at the Devils Pulpit” – his interlacing of thrill killing with rampant sex is chilling and noir at its sordid best. Then, as touched on already, Lisa Douglass with “Tumblr Girls” – a young girl who is screwed up well beyond her years, as the noir genre holds dear. This is seriously good writing by Douglass. And then, having already had corrupt cops (beautifully noir), we now have a corrupt judge courtesy of Keith Rawson in “So Much Love”. And you won’t see this level of corrupt depravity coming, let me tell you! Every aspect of this story worked for me – again, now seeking more by Rawson. And then the set was rounded out by yours truly with “White Powder, Black Leather, Grey Badges” – finishing the set off with more corrupt cops, because I know a thing or sixteen about them! Of course, being a story with my PI Harry Kenmare, there is some filthy sex in there, naturally. Or maybe unnaturally, but then you’ll need to read it to find out!

All in all, Switchblade is delivering top quality hard-boiled and noir short fiction by the truckload – it is always a fantastic read, and a terrific source of new authors to go and explore.

The editor of Econoclash Review, J.D.Graves (also a noir contributor par excellence to Switchblade - mentioned above), yesterday posted a great interview with Scotch Rutherford. This is absolutely worth a read, so here is the link:
http://www.econoclash.com/2018/02/interview-scotch-rutherford.html

I'm looking at a photo of Dirty Harry with his .44 Magnum (it sits on my desk - of course!). So I ask the question: "Do you like hard-boiled and noir? Well, do ya, punk?!!!"

Yes? Then you MUST start reading Switchblade.

No? Then you’d best head off back to cozy and procedural territory, with a cup of cocoa and some choccy biscuits. It’s safer there, sure (no disembowelling, no hard drugs, and no anal sex). But it is as boring as hell! Well, to us noir fans, anyway - no disrespect to those who do like their crime more genteel - each to their own. And in my case, that's the sex, drugs and violence.

Cheers,
ABP

PI Harry Kenmare - on tour and on hand!

28/1/2018

As a total bibliophile, I love it when I go places and find random collections of books which are there for public enjoyment. Our wonderful public libraries, of course, formalize this availability of books to everyone, ensuring that all citizens can access books, without having to be able to afford to buy them.
Sure, as an author I want people to buy my books, but far more importantly, I want people to be able to have the access to ideas and stories that reading books provides, and does so quite unlike any other storytelling.
So, back to these random collections. I've seen quite a few recently, I guess I'm probably noticing them more, who knows. But I do like to have the opportunity to throw in a couple of my books to join the collections. I've had a few copies of Harry's World join the large bookcase in our local pub, the Australian Youth Hotel, otherwise known as the Emerald Bar in my fiction work. I'm told by the staff that they have been well read! Given I've had to replenish the stock down there, I'll take that as being accurate.
Well, I was in Paris late last year to visit my sister, and we went for a meal at one of her local favourite eateries, Le Bariole on the Rue de Belleville. And they had a shelf of books against the back wall, mostly French titles, of course, but a couple of other English ones. So PI Harry Kenmare had to join them - I hope some locals may have enjoyed some hard-boiled noir from the other side of the planet!
Cheers,
ABP

"Switchblade" Issue 4 - IS HERE! Along with Harry, again!

14/1/2018

Yes, all you hard-boiled and noir-loving folks, this weekend sees Switchblade Issue 4 hit Amazon, and I've already got my orders in today - couple of copies winging their way down here to Sydney, and one over to my Sis in France!
I'm hugely chuffed to be given a berth in this issue - PI Harry Kenmare is back again, in the first person, with plenty of mischief and filth. He's Harry after all, so corruption, crime and sleeze are never too far away. The story "White Powder, Black Leather, Grey Badges" is the second Harry short story, and it's only available in Switchblade, so you know what to do - paperback or Kindle, it's just waiting for you. Given the black leather characters in the story, the Issue 4 cover is right on the money.
And as always with Scotch Rutherford's great editing of the magazine, there'll be a plethora of great, dark and twisted reads to enjoy. I'm thrilled to be appearing alongside some authors I already know and admire - J.D.Graves, Nick Manzolillo and Peter DiChellis. And there are a swag more I'm going to be reading for the first time. Ah, the enduring pleasure of anthologies - there's always new and wonderful discoveries waiting.
Here's the link you need:
www.amazon.com/dp/099876504X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1515913166&sr=8-2&keywords=switchblade+issue

Cheers,
ABP

"Switchblade" magazine - PI Harry Kenmare is back for more!

21/12/2017

I absolutely love reading Switchblade every quarter - a great collection of hard-boiled and noir crime writing from around the world. I've "met" many authors whose work is fantastic, and I've been able to start reading some of their books.
My PI Harry Kenmare had his inaugural short story outing in Issue 3 (Special Edition) of Switchblade. It was also Harry in the first person, for a change.
Well, thrilled to announce that Harry is coming back in Switchblade Issue 4. Yes, Harry is up to all sorts of filthy mischief (of course!) in the short story, "White Powder, Black Leather, Grey Badges".
Issue 4 is due out in January, so make sure you hop over to Amazon and grab yourself the finest anthology of hard-boiled and noir you'll find anywhere! The offering comes in Kindle and paperback.
The line-up of suspects is in the image at left.
And the previous issues are still out there waiting to impress you.
Cheers,
ABP

"Harry's Quest" - A major step closer: the manuscript is complete!

6/12/2017

A massive milestone yesterday - I completed the last scene for Harry's Quest, so that is a completed manuscript! Yeah!!!
Of course, there's a truckful of editing to be done, but, personally, I always find that first draft onto paper to be the single hardest part of the creative process. So that part is done.
You can look forward to another five seedy episodes in Harry's life, along with Tanya and Sasha, and Trev. The episodes:
1. "Harry's Trains"
2. "Harry's Western"
3. "Harry's Fat Cats"
4. "Harry's Jihadis"
5. "Harry's Karma"
Heaps of crime and corruption for Harry and his entourage to trawl through. And, of course, liberal servings of sex!
All things going well, I'm expecting to have Harry's Quest available in February/March.
Now where's my editing pen?

Here's the back cover blurb for a taste of what's to come...

"PI Harry Kenmare is back, with a visceral lust for vengeance.
Sydney’s elite and powerful are awash in corruption, like rats sunning themselves in an open sewer. And so, in these sordid episodes, Harry’s business is as busy as ever.
All the better, then, to finance Harry’s quest: the hunting down of the paedophiles who raped and murdered his little Orla. No qualms, no limits, no rules – just pure bloody revenge.
And now he has a team. Join Harry, with his gritty charm and vices, the loyal and dependable Trev, and those smart temptress twins, Tanya and Sasha, as they pursue Harry’s quarry, and deal with demons of their own.
Hold on tight for another hard-boiled, noir, and very sexy ride!"

Cheers,
ABP

Ah, Night Jessamine, you sweet, alluring temptress!

5/12/2017

'Tis the season!
The season when that wondrous Queen of the Night, the Night Jessamine, begins to flower and conquer the evening and night air with its incomparable scent.
Yes, my Night Jessamine shrub on my balcony has started its first flowering of the summer and it is truly a scent to behold. I make sure I go out there every evening, without fail, to enjoy its perfume before I head to bed.
I took this photo this evening, not that I'm short on photos of my Night Jessamine bush.
Last summer, we enjoyed two flowerings, so here's hoping for the same again.
Seriously, if you've never smelt this plant, you need to put it on your bucket list.
If only I could put it in a bottle...
So, of course, my main man, PI Harry Kenmare, just loves it! He does have a sensitive side, you know.
Cheers,
ABP

A TEASE - Cover preview of the forthcoming "Harry's Quest" by A.B.Patterson

28/11/2017

A bit of a teaser, given that the cover artwork was finalised this week for Harry's Quest.
Now I've just got to finish the damned book!!!
Seriously, the manuscript is just about to reach that last page - currently penning the second last scene of the fifth episode. And that's out of five total.
A lot of editing and proofing work to follow, as all my fellow writers will be intimately an painfully familiar with.
So, expect the copies to be available in February/March.
But couldn't resist sharing the cover.
My thanks again to Sailor Studio for their great design work - loved the cover for Harry's World, so I had to go back to them.

I'll throw some content teasers out soon! But the back cover blurb sets the scene!

Cheers,
ABP

The personal crime library of A.B.Patterson! # 4

16/11/2017

And here is shelf 3, the last one.
This shelf houses predominantly my French and Australian authors, along with some more English, and a scattering of various other Europeans, and one American in the "classics" group.
So here's the line up of fellow Aussies:

Peter Corris
Peter Temple
Carter Brown
Marele Day
L.A. Larkin
Nigel Bartlett
A.C. Efverman
Bruce McCabe
Tara Moss
C.S. Boag
P.M. Newton
Michael Robotham
Tanya Chandler
Candice Fox
Robert G. Barrett
Gabrielle Lord
Zane Lovitt
Leigh Redhead
John Dale
And some anthologies.

And here is the line up of French and other Europeans, plus one American (Poe):

Laurent Guillaume
Georges Simenon
Jean-Patrick Manchette
Léo Malet
Fred Vargas
Jean-Claude Izzo
Sébastien Japrisot
Frédéric Dard
Pierre Lemaitre
Didier Daeninckx
Chantal Pelletier
Virginie Despentes
Gérard de Villiers
Wolf Haas
Julian Symons
Donna Leon
Tim Krabbé
Imre Kertész
Cara Black
Louise Doughty
Luke Delaney
Maj Sjowall
Per Wahlöö
Giorgio Scerbanenco
Jean-Pierre Alaux & Noël Balen
Boileau-Narcejac
Agatha Christie
Edgar Allan Poe
Arthur Conan Doyle
E.C. Bentley
And some anthologies.

So that's the personal crime library of this crime writer. Of course, not a month goes past with a new addition to it. There are definitely worse addictions to have!
The question is, will I ever actually catch up by reading them all? Now there's a delicious challenge!

Cheers,
ABP