About John Walker Pattison:
John Walker Pattison was born in the wonderful seaside town of South Shields 65 years ago. He is a long-suffering, yet dedicated Newcastle United supporter; however, there is little doubt that the crucial hinge in John’s life, is his beautiful wife, June. “Nothing is more important than family,” says John.
He recently retired from his post as a senior clinical nurse specialist and Macmillan nurse in haematology at his local hospital, a place that established his cancer diagnosis almost 50 years ago; at that time his parents were told that he would not survive, yet here he is today, humbled to be one of the longest living cancer survivors in the UK today.
He has written dozens of articles for national and international nursing and medical press. John has presented lectures the length and breadth of the country on many aspects of haematology and cancer management. He is honoured to have won numerous awards both locally and nationally for his work in haematology. Now his focus is children’s fiction.
Pattison has recently completed his memoirs, ‘Me, and My Shadow – memoirs of a cancer survivor’ published on 31st October 2022.
Due to the pandemic and his chronic illnesses as a consequence of the salubrious chemotherapy and radiotherapy he received decades earlier, he decided to put pen to paper and document the elasticated stories he has been telling his grandchildren for many years.
His first children’s book, ‘Strange Trips and Weird Adventures’ is the first in a series of adventures of Daniel and Papa; available to a worldwide audience and will be followed by ‘Blenkinsop Blabbermouth and the Ghost of Broderick McCaffery,’ then, ‘The Fastest Water Pistol in Splodge City.’ His fourth title, ‘The Kingdom of Huckleberry Jam,’ was recently completed. Meanwhile, Lunar von Buella the Mystical Mouse from Missoula is a work in progress.
He enjoys the solitude and escapism of fly fishing and photographing Native Americans.
More significantly, he found solace throughout his cancer journey in the history, and spirituality of the Lakota Sioux Nation. In 2018, he would spend time on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation with the indigenous people of South Dakota, the people who, unknowingly, supported him through his, and life's greatest challenge, cancer.
What inspires you to write?
Hopefully, inspiring others, especially anyone touched by a cancer diagnosis.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Julia Donaldson by a country mile.
Tell us about your writing process.
Somethings come to you in the middle of the night, and therefore, you get up and scribble them down. The process of writing is completely different when I am penning children's fiction in contrast to writing my memoirs.
The ideas, and thoughts happen anytime and anywhere regarding fiction. Alternatively, if inspiration dries up, I pick up my camera and head out for an amble. Fortunately, I live in a beautiful part of the North of England, close to the sea – so inspiration is quite easy to find.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Oh yes, of course. I'm either that character, or I converse with them.
What advice would you give other writers?
Write from the heart and wait for the inspiration it will arrive when you least expect it to. Change the story as you go along, add characters and don't be afraid to be controversial.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
Like thousands of authors, I got sick and tired and demoralised by the rejection letters. Eventually, success………
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Books will always be in demand, even in this technology-driven society. But clearly, it is getting harder and harder to get your work published. Many successful authors are turning to self-publication and, independent publishing. The latter have a significant and important role to play today.
What genres do you write?: Nonfiction, Children's
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
John Walker Pattison Home Page Link
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
