Patrick was born and raised in Riverside, CA, by parents who are science nerds and book worms. It should be no surprise that Patrick and his brother picked up these affinities, both growing up to be scientists with a deep enthusiasm for the natural world as well as the fantastical worlds found in stories.

Patrick has a BA in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he managed to combine his passion for science with his interests in world cultures. After college, Patrick lived in Los Angeles and worked as a professional composer. He then returned to the world of ecology, dedicating eight years to the study of zoonotic disease transmission, during which time he authored scientific articles. 

Now living in Montana, Patrick has taken advantage of some time off to focus on developing his written works. Picking up projects he had begun when working as a researcher, he has now completed his debut novel: Flame to Ash. In his own words, this first foray into literature was solely made because the book he most wanted to read had not yet been written.