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A.S. Patric

Author

Alec Patric is an award winning writer. He is also a bookseller in Bayside Melbourne and teaches Creative Writing Australia-wide.

Where were you born?

I was a baby when my family bought a paddock in the scrub of Melbourne’s periphery but I have a dim memory of the confluence of two rivers—the Danube and the Sava—crossing in a place that used to be called Yugoslavia.

What other jobs have you had?

I was a cocktail barman when I was young enough to welcome that job’s wild hours.

What themes are recurring in your work?

The grand, eternal themes of literature made me want to read, and then they made me want to write. Love, loss, death, beauty and violence—all continue to drive me to the page.

What have been the highlights of your career?

Winning the Miles Franklin Literary Award for my debut novel in 2016 is the certainly the main highlight but I’ve published six books since 2011 and each one of those publications was a wonderful personal moment.

Where have your works been published?

My writing has been published and well reviewed in the US and UK—also translated and released more broadly in Europe and the world. I’ve been published in major Australian newspapers and almost every literary journal in the country.

What are you passionate about?

Music often vies with literature as my primary life passion. I own many guitars, harmonicas, and a ukulele I play for my daughters.

Testimonials

Alec spoke with humility, generosity, and an obvious love of his writing craft. I enjoyed the casual meandering discussion that included and captivated those present.

I would wholeheartedly recommend Alec for future speaking events.

—S. Bentley, Coordinator Library Engagement, Frankston Library, 2018

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