Patrick is currently writing and thinking about creativity, story and narrative in games.

Why subscribe?

If we could hang out once a month, and you would be happy to a buy me a drink because we had a great time and interesting conversation, you should subscribe.

In addition, if you become a paid subscriber,  you’ll get my entire back catalog of books in ebook and audiobook format. Including the complete How to Succeed in Evil series. “Edwin Windsor and Associates try to help their SuperVillain clients be more profitable, but run into no end of trouble because their clients are insane megalomaniacs.”

What People Say About Patrick’s writing:

I love the story. Brilliant and entertaining and fun. I can’t say enough good things about this work.

Jean

McLean has a witty turn of mind. Needs to quit his day job and become the next Pratchett.

Steve

Normally funny books make me chuckle and that's about it. This book is the first book since 'Good Omens' to make me laugh so hard that I lost my place and then prevented me from reading further by putting tears in my eyes. 

Adam

This is truly creative storytelling.

Gao Shan

PATRICK’S BOOKS

How to Succeed in Evil (Sold over 10,000 copies, 53,000+ podiobooks download, 4.5 stars on Amazon))

  • Crazy Psycho Murder Tree

  • The Mighty Manligator

  • Brainitar

  • Edwin Windsor

  • A Consultation with A Vampire

  • How to Succeed in Evil

  • Hostile Takeover

Beowulf and the Dragon

Anovella that retells the classic tale told from the perspective of Wiglaf, Beowulf’s squire.

The Merchant Adventurer 

An artful, satire of dungeon crawls and cRPG's, the Merchant Adventurer is part Princess Bride, part Dungeon Pawn Stars and a rollicking good read. Here’s what one Amazon reviewer said: 

This is my most favorite audio book. I have listened to it at least 10 times in the past year. The hero is funny, relatable, and has a noble heart buried under layers of snark. I wish the author had written more books with this character. The author also did the reading for the book and he did an excellent job with the voices. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good adventure wrapped in a sarcastic sense of humor.

The Complete Seanachai Episodes

130+ pieces of short fiction and essays from the award-winning Seanachai Podcast from way back in 2005. It’s a gig of high-quality audio content in delicious, bite-sized chunks. 

The Lucky Dime (4.4 stars)

A companion novella to The Soak, which I can’t give away for free, because it’s traditionally published. This is a period crime piece, a loving homage to Richard Stark. Sure, it’s funny, but it’s definitely got an edge. Here’s how one reviewer described it:

Oh, geez... the writer of the How to Succeed in Evil books has channeled his Inner Tarantino. McLean has written a crime thriller. It is outside his known milieu, but he just nails the genre. I couldn't put this one down and can hardly wait for the sequel.

Unkillable

An audio-only novella that I think has two of the best chapters I’ve ever written. It’s not available anywhere else. 

Subscribe to Patrick E. McLean

The fiction and author newsletter of Patrick E. McLean

People

Patrick writes about creativity, story and narrative in games with a special interest in generative AI.