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

"Harry's Grail" is here!!!

9/10/2025

It's always an incredibly special day for an author when the boxes of your new book arrive. And today, in Sydney, they did. Yes, Harry Kenmare PI is back, in superb style and as debauched as always! So, the official launch event will be on the postponed date of Sunday 16 November 2025 at the Glebe Hotel (the Emerald Bar for Harry!). With the printing issue and the uncertainty that flowed from that, it wasn't feasible to proceed with the original launch date, as I never thought the books would arrive in time. Unexpectedly they have, but not in time to allow for publicity and advance notice for people's diaries. I'll post again in the next few days with the booking link for those who want to come along and celebrate with a drink and lots of author talk! In the meantime, those in Australia who want a signed paperback, drop me a line to arrange.
Cheers,
ABP

Publication Day!!! "Harry's Grail" is here!

23/9/2025

Yes, the wait is over and Harry's Grail is officially available today.
In Australia, the ebook is on Kindle and Kobo already, with other platforms to follow.
Kindle is also live for the UK and Canada, with the US version about to come online. Also the print-on-demand paperbacks are available from Amazon, especially useful for my overseas fans. These are available on Amazon AU, Amazon US and Amazon CA, with Amazon UK still coming. Other platforms to follow, as well.
The print run for the original paperbacks here in Aus is underway and they will be with me in two weeks. Then the official book launch event here in Sydney on 19 October 2025!
So, local fans can get a signed copy from me as soon as they arrive, or there's Amazon if you can't wait!
HARRY IS BACK!!!
Cheers,
ABP

"Harry's Grail" - so close I can smell it!!!

18/9/2025

Hell Yes!!! Just to tease my fans with an update - Harry's Grail has been typeset and I've given approval for production.
It'll be available as an ebook first, then digital print-on-demand. That should be in the next few days. The original paperbacks will be a little longer. I'll keep you posted.
This is the exciting phase of being an author!
Cheers,
ABP

I have a story published in "Pulp Modern" - it's been a desired goal for a long time.

7/11/2023

I do love writing my short stories, and seeing them published in anthology magazines is a buzz beyond description.
"Pulp Modern" is an anthology magazine I've been reading with rapture for years now. The editor, Alec Cizak, curates a publication that both garners great authors and stories as well as standing firm in supporting freedom of expression. Whilst I've loved reading "Pulp Modern" over the years, I've hankered for a berth in its line-up.
Et voilà! My story, "Beelzebub's Bird" appears in this special issue volume. The story has a horror twist with a distinctly Aussie backdrop, so not my usual hard-boiled crime stuff.
I was invited to do a story version of a short film, "Cocky", with the screenplay written by Aaron McJames and Darren Casey. It was an incredibly fun project, and I do hope you like the end result.
Let's put it this way...the next time you see a sulphur-crested cockatoo, it'll have you thinking!
Cheers,
ABP

ANZAC Day 2023 - Lest We Forget.

25/4/2023

On this day, ANZAC Day, when we as Australians and New Zealanders commemorate our veterans, it is so important to remember that their sacrifice, in blood and suffering, is what we owe our freedom to. For those who returned from the front lines of conflict, the suffering often endured a lifetime for them, as it does for veterans to this day.
The freedom they defended is the vital freedom that so many now take for granted and do not appreciate, but it is 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, both adversaries outside our country and self-interested control-centred people and groups within our country.

My own tribute is to dedicate a blog, as I have done in recent years, 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 Army 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 am making enquiries to try and rectify this).

I can't begin to even imagine the horrors both 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 thank you for your service and your sacrifice. I wish I could thank you both in person. Lest we forget.

Cheers,
ABP

Back to Author Talks! Pandemic begone!

12/4/2023

My first author talk post-pandemic. And what a joy it is to be back on the circuit. The Rotary Club of Kenthurst invited me to do a talk for their regular meeting, and it went down very well indeed. Lots of great discussion and a lot of Rotary members bought Harry books to take home.
Cheers,
ABP

Marketing my Harry books, literally! Sydney's weekend market scene.

2/3/2023

My partner, Ruth, runs a jewellery business ("I Dream of Silver") and so, on top of her online store, we do markets around Sydney every weekend with her stall. I go along to help and provide some muscle for set up and pack down - plenty of hard work, believe me.
But I also do the author-in-residence bit with my book rack out the front. So, marketing my books at the market! And I get a few sales every weekend. Hey, build it one reader at a time.
And then the real gems: a customer comes up and says they bought the first Harry novel last month and now they want more. Or they message online and say they've read both the novels and when is the next one available.
Yep, no better feeling for an author.
Cheers,
ABP

My Harry Kenmare collection is on the list of best independent books of 2022!

8/1/2023

Yes, I am absolutely thrilled that my collection of Harry short stories, Harry Kenmare PI - At Your Service, has been included in the official selection for The Best Truly Independent Books 2022, as compiled by the Independent Fiction Alliance in the USA.

I've looked through the selection list and I am definitely keeping esteemed company! I'm honoured to be standing alongside authors who I look up to as a writer and whose work I love and enjoy.

Go Harry!!!

You can grab a copy by contacting me or from the usual outlets. Here's the Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GL4F9PG/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=harry+kenmare&qid=1598349746&s=books&sr=1-1
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GL4F9PG/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=harry+kenmare&qid=1598349746&s=books&sr=1-1

A.B.Patterson live in podcast from the U.S.

13/7/2022

I'm delighted to be appearing today as the guest in the excellent crime writing podcast hosted by US crime author John A. Hoda.
John is an ex-cop writing crime like me, and we had a great chat for an hour.
Tune in for a listen as we talk about being cops and writing crime fiction.

www.johnhoda.com/mfds-169/

Cheers,
ABP

"The Tattered Blue Line" - author copies arrive down under!

5/5/2022

It's always such a wonderful feeling to pick up the hard copy of a book or anthology you've got a story in.
Well, today this box of beauties arrived down under - my author copies.

It's The Tattered Blue Line anthology, edited and published by Frank Zafiro. Frank is an outstanding crime fiction author himself and an ex-cop, and he has edited this excellent collection of crime fiction short stories with the theme of the issues surrounding contemporary policing in western liberal democracies.

I was utterly thrilled to be invited to submit a story. I was then humbled and honoured to have my story ("Clean, Green, and Obscene") accepted for inclusion in this line up of great crime writers, all of whom have coalface experience in law enforcement environments.

My colleagues here, from the USA, Canada, and Europe, are Frank Zafiro, Colin Conway, Jim Doherty, P.S. Harman, J.J. Hensley, Mark Bergin, Quintin Peterson, Scott Kikkawa, James L'Etoile, Elizabeth Nguyen, Pearson O'Meara, Stacy Woodson, and Erik Djerneas.

Grab yourself a copy and enjoy these gems - explore the humanity the authors bring to the page.
It's on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tattered-Blue-Line-Contemporary-Policing/dp/B09XZJS4VH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3KA3TCJG5BLAN&keywords=the+tattered+blue+line&qid=1651753296&sprefix=the+tattered%2Caps%2C329&sr=8-1

Cheers,
ABP

Anzac Day 2022 - Lest We Forget.

25/4/2022

On this day, 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 and before, 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 Army 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 both 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

Contemporary policing captured in short stories - "The Tattered Blue Line"

19/4/2022

Frank Zafiro, an outstanding crime fiction author himself and an ex-cop, has edited this excellent collection of crime fiction short stories with the theme of the issues surrounding contemporary policing in western liberal democracies.
It's a vitally important theme for our societies, and one which seldom hears any voices other than the vocal one-eyed mob screaming outrage. Our modern times need far more nuanced and balanced discussion than typically exists.
I was utterly thrilled to be invited to submit a story. I was then both humbled and honoured to have my story ("Clean, Green, and Obscene") accepted for inclusion in this line up of great crime writers, all of whom have coalface experience in law enforcement environments.
My colleagues here, from the USA, Canada, and Europe, are Colin Conway, Jim Doherty, P.S. Harman, J.J. Hensley, Mark Bergin, Quintin Peterson, Scott Kikkawa, James L'Etoile, Elizabeth Nguyen, Pearson O'Meara, Stacy Woodson, and Erik Djerneas.
Grab yourself a copy and enjoy these gems - explore the humanity the authors bring to the page.
Cheers,
ABP

"The Tattered Blue Line" - my new short story in this great anthology.

31/3/2022

Frank Zafiro is a crime author and former police officer, like me. We're just on opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean and in opposite hemispheres. I've read some of Frank's work and absolutely love it - gripping crime fiction oozing the realism that comes from the pen of an ex-cop.
So I was thrilled to be invited to submit a story to Frank's new anthology of contemporary policing stories - an anthology with the theme of listening to different points of view on the controversies of modern policing (in liberal democracies), and all written by authors with law enforcement experience.
I was even more thrilled that my story, "Clean, Green, and Obscene", was accepted for the collection.
And I'm so proud and humbled to be lining up with the authors in this anthology.
It's out in 2 weeks - do take a look!
Cheers,
ABP

Podcast - I'm with Frank Zafiro on his crime writing podcast

9/3/2022

I'm thrilled to be appearing today on Frank Zafiro's excellent podcast, Wrong Place, Write Crime.
Tune in to listen to Frank and I chatting all things crime author as ex-cops.
wrongplacewritecrime.com
Cheers,
ABP

"To Serve, Protect, and Write" - the paperbacks have arrived!

2/3/2022

OH YES! It's that awesome feeling of opening the first box of a new book you've created. I'm just the editor (albeit contributing) for this volume, but it's still a very proud day here in Sydney!

I arranged a limited print run here in Australia, as there is no substitute for the original paperback of a book. But given most of the interest will be elsewhere around the world, POD is the best option for most people.

Over half the print run copies will be heading out in parcels next week to the 14 other authors in this fine volume. But if you'd like to purchase one of the original paperbacks (there are about 100 available), just drop me a line.

Cheers,
ABP