Books published by publisher PatrickMcDermott

It begins with one moment of weakness.When a £10 note slips off a shop counter and lands right at Stephen’s feet, he thinks it’s his lucky day. He decides to head to the fairground and have some fun.What happens next sends the seventeen-year-old's well-ordered life spinning out of control and he finds himself racing down a dark path, driven by his own naivety and his fear of next-door neighbor, Archie.Stephen should follow his instincts and do what he knows is right. But where Archie is involved, that’s more difficult than it sounds… Told through the eyes of several characters, Small Fish Big Fish is a powerful coming-of-age novel, a psychological thriller, and a moving story of family and young love.Adults and older teenagers will enjoy the world building, drama, and suspense offered by this gripping page-turner. PJ McDermott's twist on the traditional coming of age story will keep you reading until the last page.Paperback and hardcover versions are also available and make a perfect Christmas gift for any with a Scottish heritage or those who simply enjoy a good story!What Readers Say'I found myself unable to put it down after the first twenty pages.''Every young person wants to know they're not alone. We are all Stephen at some stage in our lives, lost, confused, trying to fit in, struggling to come to grips with our lives and who we are. This book does this flawlessly.''A wonderful story that all young people can relate to. It takes an age-old battle and puts it splendidly into words that many will appreciate. I could not believe the climax.'‘Reminds me of Frank McCourt's biography of his life growing up in Ireland.''A fantastic story and a great read.' Scroll up and download this enthralling coming of age story!

ONE DREAMS OF THE FUTURE. ONE HAS NIGHTMARES ABOUT THE PAST.Seventeen-year-old Stephen lives in a neighborhood where street gangs rule. He wants no part of that, so keeps his head down to avoid becoming a victim. But staying invisible is tough, especially when Archie is in the vicinity.To Archie, Stephen is a painful reminder of everything he’s missed out on—sober, caring parents, a decent education, good friends, a bright future. When he spots a weakness in the younger boy, he targets him for payback.The inevitable confrontation results in a series of events that propels Stephen down a pathway of deception and criminality, threatening those closest to him. He must find a way out of the mess before it’s too late.Then one night, Archie’s dream becomes Stephen’s nightmare.Small Fish Big Fish is a coming of age story that echoes the struggles, uncertainty, and hopes of young people everywhere. The tension, suspense, and twists and turns in this gripping psychological thriller will keep you guessing until the last page. If you enjoy true-life settings filled with compelling characters, suspenseful mystery and a touch of young love, then you'll love PJ McDermott's twist on the traditional coming of age story.What Readers Say“Every young person wants to know they're not alone. We are all Stephen at some stage in our lives, lost, confused, trying to fit in, struggling to come to grips with our lives and who we are. This book does this flawlessly.”“This really is a wonderful story that all young people can relate to. It takes an age-old battle and puts it splendidly into words that many will appreciate. I could not believe the climax.”“Your book reminds me of Frank McCourt's biography of his life growing up in Ireland.”“The portrayal of the bully and the victim of bullying is brilliant.”Purchase your copy of this inspiring story today. E-Book and paperback also available.

It's easy to go down the wrong path. The descent to hell is gradual… Scotland, 1965. Seventeen-year-old Stephen McBride has a dull, grey, average life in the impoverished town of Ferguslie Park. When he sees ten pounds on the floor of the corner shop, he takes a risk and spends the money on himself at the local fairground. He doesn't know it at the time, but his one dishonest decision changes the rest of his life. Bully Archie Stewart and a gang of thugs corner Stephen at the fairground and grabs the money. When the gang leader later apologizes and takes Stephen under his wing, Stephen finds himself drawn into an escalating world of criminality from which he can't escape. After the owner of the corner shop is found dead, Stephen knows Archie is the one responsible. If he comes clean, he'll clear his conscience, but he may lose his best friend, his family, and the girl he loves in the process. Set in Scotland during the 1960s, Small Fish Big Fish is the gripping coming of age story of a young man finding his place in a difficult world. If you like gritty settings, compelling characters, suspenseful mystery thrillers, and a touch of young romance, then you'll love Jacob Carlisle's twist on the traditional coming of age tale. Buy Small Fish Big Fish to start the well-written and riveting novel today! Interview with Jacob Carlisle Q. What's the story behind your latest book? I was born in the town of Paisley on the west coast of Scotland, near Glasgow. It was pretty rough going when I was a teenager—there was a lot of poverty, unemployment and petty crime in the locale, and not many fun outlets for young people. A lot of us ended up in gangs, and in trouble with the police. Not everyone was a crook—some of my neighbors were 'the salt of the earth', and there were a lot of unique characters around. In writing a young adult crime novel, I wanted to accurately represent this historical environment and the challenges faced by growing up there in a fresh way to this generation of readers. So many of the issues faced by Stephen are mirrored in today's society, such as bullying, friendship, romance, sex, self-confidence—just finding your own space in a complex world. Q.What is the greatest joy of writing for you? When I write, the world and everything in it fades away and there is nothing except creating my characters and stories. This total involvement in creating something that comes from my inner soul, is the reason I write and keep writing! Q. What do your fans mean to you? Everything! Without an audience for my work, what is the point? The more fans I have, the better I'll write. Q. What are you working on next? Actually, I'm working on a Science Fiction series under the name PJ McDermott that I'm really excited about. The first ebook, Avanaux: A Hickory Lace Adventure is already out, and book two will be published in November. It can be pre-ordered on Amazon. I'm also about half way through a sequel to Small Fish Big Fish. Q. Who are your favorite authors? Not an easy question to answer. There are so many! I enjoy reading gripping crime fiction especially murder mysteries. I loved Frank McCourt, Stieg Larsson, and Patrick O'Brien, and more recent writers such as Robyn Hobb, Graeme Simseon, JK Rowling, etc. but I also can't go past earlier authors like Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert L Stephenson, Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Dickens, and other British literary fiction writers.

An Epic Science Fiction/Fantasy Adventure With A Supernatural Edge.Prosperine didn't have an extinction event, so intelligent life on the planet evolved unlike any other in our galaxy. The inhabitants look human—more or less—though they do hatch from eggs. It comes as a shock, then, when one of the locals is reported to be performing miracles.The Alien Corps send Hickory Lace and her crew, space pilot Jess Parker and the young genius Gareth Blanquette, to check out the situation. But all is not as it seems. Interplanetary politics, a bloody revolution, alien mercenaries, a mystic known as "the Teacher," and a sword with supernatural powers are just a few of the things they must deal with. Explosive and unexpected, the story develops with each book in the box set to reach a dramatic conclusion.Included in Prosperine: The Adventures of the Space Heroine Hickory Lace Book 1: Avanaux Book 2: Rise of the Erlachi Book 3: The Scarf If you enjoy epic science fiction/fantasy with a touch of the supernatural and a strong female lead, then you'll love this captivating story by PJ McDermott. Also available in paperback and e-Book.

The Galactic Alliance built an empire on the back of its Surfboard® FTL technology. But the Surfboard's reliance on a rare catalyst to achieve light speed has left the G.A. vulnerable. The alien known as the Teacher is presumed dead after his spacecraft plunged into the fiery inferno of Prosperine's sun at the end of the previous episode. Hickory is devastated by the tragic loss and has isolated herself in a small town in the far north of Australia. A tiny flicker of hope he might still be alive takes her back to the Corps for one last mission on the Bikashi home world. The truths she uncovers on the enemy planet ignites a fierce new purpose in her heart.If you are a fan of the classic stories of Asimov, Herbert, Heinlein, and Anderson, you'll love The Prosperine Series. Author Note: Fractured Prophecy is book four and can easily be enjoyed as a stand alone story, however if you want the full experience buy book 1, The Alien Corps, to begin the adventure!The Prosperine Series comprises:Book 1: The Alien Corps (also available as an audiobook)Book 2: Rise of the Erlachi (also available as an audiobook)Book 3: The ScarfBook 4: Fractured Prophecy