Welcome! I’m Patricia, an author, editor, and proofreader from Auckland, New Zealand.

I’ve had my work (short stories, poems, and non-fiction articles) published and broadcast in magazines, anthologies, literary journals, on radio and online, and my work has won, and been highly commended in, national (New Zealand) writing competitions.

My debut novel, The Library of Unfinished Business, was released on 1st March 2022, published by Cloud Ink Press.

My editing business is called Bellbird Words Proofreading, Editing, and Writing Services: www.bellbirdwords.com.

I named my business after the bellbird for three reasons: my last name, my adopted nationality (the bellbird is native to New Zealand, where I live now, but I was born in Northern Ireland), and my love of music and nature. (The bellbird’s song is clear, melodious, and perfectly composed – just like a great piece of writing.)

I have a master’s degree with distinction in English literature (specialising in Northern Irish poetry), a postgraduate diploma in journalism, and a diploma in proofreading and editing. I’m a member of the New Zealand Society of Authors.

I share some of my creative writing on my blog, as well as book reviews, non-fiction articles, opinion pieces, writing advice and tips, and thoughts about writing and the writing process. Thoughts about how the acts of writing and reading can enrich and transform our lives and the lives of others, and about what happens when we bring ourselves to the page. Thoughts about language in all its glory and imperfections. Thoughts about stories, and about being human, and how the two intertwine. I hope you find these thoughts helpful, or funny, or meaningful, or moving, or challenging, or all of the above.