Published: 04/02/2010 00:00

How a Bugle story led author Patti to Desperate Measures

WHEN we begin to walk along the path of life, with no obvious direction in mind, the winding road of ups and downs has many cul-de-sacs, sharp bends, blind alleys, and potholes lying in wait to curb the enjoyment of our journey.

But then thankfully there are the straight bits, when visibility is good and hazards can be seen well in advance, and travelling along life’s uncharted course becomes a joy, and a time, perhaps, to pursue one’s dream.

Step forward Patricia Battison, a West Bromwich lass born in the Charlemont area of the town, and a former pupil at West Bromwich Technical High School, who has done just that; fulfilled her dream of becoming an author by writing a crime novel called ‘Desperate Measures’.

In a recent interview Patti told us, “It took an agonising 18 months from the moment I put the full stop at end of the last sentence and decided that my novel was complete, to the day my publishers, Robert Hale Ltd. (London), contacted me with the most thrilling news and told me my first book would be published on the very last day of 2009.

During that time I thought my patience would break, and on several occasions I was so close to throwing in the towel.

But I reflected on the fact that I had been through periods like this before with my late husband Brian, who had managed to combine an acting career with that of a writer, and in the end his patience and dogged determination paid dividends with nine of his crime thrillers eventually being published.

“It was back in July 2007 when the ball really started to roll for me, and for that I have to thank the Black Country Bugle. I was living with my sister in Devon at the time and decided to enter a short story competition; the reward for the winners? Seeing their story in print, which was something I had never experienced before. The story was called ‘Oh, Demon Fairy, Leave Me Be!’, and when it appeared in Bugle 776 with a Dave Green drawing to boot, I have to admit I had a lump in the throat.

Crime “Spurred on by this success I decided to write a crime novel and seriously pursued my objective of getting it published.

Now that that important day has come and gone, I am in the throes of waiting for news about the publication of my second novel which is currently at the publishers, another crime thriller which thankfully they have already told me they like.” Holding ‘Desperate Measures’ in her hands, we took Patti’s photograph, and then settled down in conversation to find out where this talented writer first got the urge to write novels, and in particular crime thrillers.

English “Going back further than I care to remember, to school in fact, I remember I was good at English and enjoyed those lessons more than any others because the teacher was so enthusiastic.” she explained. “But even though I was a relatively shy child my first love was always to tread the boards and be an actor. I auditioned for drama school at the age of 16 but was too young, and then had to wait two years working in a bank before I was able to begin a three year course at the Birmingham School of Speech Training & Dramatic Art at Edgbaston. My first job in theatre was as assistant stage manager with the Northcott Theatre in Exeter, Devon, and I spent the best part of the next five years involved in acting, either on stage or in television. (Patti once appeared in Crossroads and also Coronation Street, plus Crown Court, Play For Today and Thirty Minute Theatre, amongst others). The theatre was where I met Brian, and after we were married, I gave up acting and we went to live in his native Northamptonshire.” Suddenly our interview was interrupted by the amazing sight of a fully grown urban fox in Patti’s back garden, nonchalantly sniffing around the borders without a care in the world. As Patti said, “That’s the kind of surprise I could use in a future story perhaps?” After the crafty fox with his long, bushy tail had left the scene of the crime, Patti told us how she enjoyed helping her husband out by editing his manuscripts. “By now I had a part time job, Brian was still a full time actor, and I would spend the rest of my spare time reading his crime stories and editing them as I saw fit. It was then I suppose I fell in love with the idea of writing my own stories. It’s therefore difficult to pinpoint an exact moment in time, or a specific influence that put me on the road to writing crime novels, but like a jig-saw, the pieces have all fitted together and I am as proud as punch to have had my first novel published.” Desperate Measures begins when the body of a young girl is discovered on a landfill site.

DCI Paul Wells is certain that a man named Ian Lennox is the killer, and with him safely behind bars Wells’ team prepare their case, but run out of time and are forced to release the suspect. Wells is desperate and his career is on the line.

How can he prove that Lennox is their man? To find out for yourself ‘Desperate Measures’ is currently available at Amazon.co.uk/books or can be ordered from any reputable bookshop.