Ask the Author: A.B. Patterson
Answered Questions (9)
A.B. Patterson
Hi Karen,
My apologies for the delay, we've been travelling and have only been home a few days.
My inspiration? Well, aside from loving good stories and so wanting to be able to craft them as well, I want to be able to put my life experiences out there, albeit in fictional form. My professional background has given me a wealth of material to draw on, and whilst a lot of it is dark, I do want to be able to show people what actually goes on in society. I also like to be able to make social comment in my work. And the great thing I've found as I've got into writing - I just want to do it more and more. I wish I'd started younger, but I intend to make up for lost time!
My apologies for the delay, we've been travelling and have only been home a few days.
My inspiration? Well, aside from loving good stories and so wanting to be able to craft them as well, I want to be able to put my life experiences out there, albeit in fictional form. My professional background has given me a wealth of material to draw on, and whilst a lot of it is dark, I do want to be able to show people what actually goes on in society. I also like to be able to make social comment in my work. And the great thing I've found as I've got into writing - I just want to do it more and more. I wish I'd started younger, but I intend to make up for lost time!
A.B. Patterson
So many options...
My choice: As a young detective, why did I choose to select child abuse work as my career path?
My choice: As a young detective, why did I choose to select child abuse work as my career path?
A.B. Patterson
This was a challenge, given most of the novels I read seem to be remarkably bereft of couples, as such. However, I trawled through my shelves and did come up with two choices (sorry, going to cheat here, as I can't pick one couple over the other). They are both quite different.
The first - Thomas Fowler and Phuong in Graham Greene's "The Quiet American". A superb story about colonialism and English attitudes, but with an exquisite tenderness as well.
The second - Anna Kupfer and Marcel Féron in Georges Simenon's "The Train". I have to admit I found this story first via the film with the wonderful Romy Schneider as Anna - I've been an ardent fan of hers ever since! The book is a beautiful but tragic story, and it is a poignant example of a brief, passionate encounter between two people in a train setting.
The first - Thomas Fowler and Phuong in Graham Greene's "The Quiet American". A superb story about colonialism and English attitudes, but with an exquisite tenderness as well.
The second - Anna Kupfer and Marcel Féron in Georges Simenon's "The Train". I have to admit I found this story first via the film with the wonderful Romy Schneider as Anna - I've been an ardent fan of hers ever since! The book is a beautiful but tragic story, and it is a poignant example of a brief, passionate encounter between two people in a train setting.
A.B. Patterson
Well, I've only got 1 published book so far, and that was inspired by all the work I've done over the years investigating crime and corruption.
And plenty more to come in that vein!!!
And plenty more to come in that vein!!!
A.B. Patterson
Easy one this...
I've had a professional life in which I've seen the most appalling crime and corruption - why wouldn't you write about it? Seriously, I want, in my writing, to put out there exactly what goes on, albeit in fictional stories.
I've got a vast number of tales to tell, and writing is to me the ultimate way to do that.
I've had a professional life in which I've seen the most appalling crime and corruption - why wouldn't you write about it? Seriously, I want, in my writing, to put out there exactly what goes on, albeit in fictional stories.
I've got a vast number of tales to tell, and writing is to me the ultimate way to do that.
A.B. Patterson
A number of projects, which means none are getting my undivided attention, unfortunately...
First and foremost, a sequel to my debut novel, Harry's World.
Also working on a novella centred on child abuse.
And helping to edit a book about surviving the boarding school experience.
First and foremost, a sequel to my debut novel, Harry's World.
Also working on a novella centred on child abuse.
And helping to edit a book about surviving the boarding school experience.
A.B. Patterson
Ask yourself one question and answer it completely honestly:
Have you got the passion? It's not about having a whim or fancy. You MUST have the passion. Everything else can be learnt.
If you do have the passion, then go hard. Write, read, write, read, ad infinitum...
And then learn the craft, and never give up. It's not an easy path, no way, but it is a great path. Back yourself and go hard!
Have you got the passion? It's not about having a whim or fancy. You MUST have the passion. Everything else can be learnt.
If you do have the passion, then go hard. Write, read, write, read, ad infinitum...
And then learn the craft, and never give up. It's not an easy path, no way, but it is a great path. Back yourself and go hard!
A.B. Patterson
Now an easier question...
Answer: Being able to express myself, exactly as I want to, and tell a great story, hopefully.
I absolutely love the freedom of expression I have when I sit down with my pen and start to write. This is something that nobody can take away from me.
Writing is freedom, and reading is sharing and nurturing that freedom.
My ultimate dream, towards which I am going hard, is to be able to be a writer full-time.
Answer: Being able to express myself, exactly as I want to, and tell a great story, hopefully.
I absolutely love the freedom of expression I have when I sit down with my pen and start to write. This is something that nobody can take away from me.
Writing is freedom, and reading is sharing and nurturing that freedom.
My ultimate dream, towards which I am going hard, is to be able to be a writer full-time.
A.B. Patterson
A tough question. For me, if it's not flowing, then it's not. I can't sit there and will it to happen, as much as I wish I could. So, the "cures" that help me are to do other stuff related to what I'm trying to write (especially the research points that are always waiting), or I go to the gym and refocus my mind on the writing as I work out. I do quite often have some very productive spurts writing-wise whilst I'm cooling down from the gym. But look, at the end of the day, I think it's about being able to focus or channel your mind in the right direction at the time. In my experience, it's usually the hardest part of being a writer.
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