Tim Patterson

I'm Tim Patterson, an Oregon author whose work spans both nonfiction and contemporary fantasy. Whether I'm writing about the world of trade shows or creating stories inspired by folklore, music, and family, I'm drawn to people facing unexpected challenges and discovering strengths they didn't know they possessed.

My career has taken a few interesting turns. I spent more than 25 years behind the microphone as a radio personality and music director on stations throughout northwest Oregon before moving into the tradeshow industry. In 2011, I founded TradeshowGuy Exhibits, where I help companies create exhibits that better represent their brands and achieve stronger results at conferences and events.

My nonfiction books include Tradeshow Marketing: 14 Proven Steps to Take Your Tradeshow Marketing to the Next Level and Tradeshow Superheroes and Exhibiting Zombies, both written to help exhibitors make smarter marketing decisions and get more value from their event investments. Over the years, I've also presented seminars and webinars on exhibit design, event marketing, and social media.

Outside of business writing, I've always been fascinated by stories. I grew up devouring science fiction from authors like Robert Heinlein, Philip K. Dick, Poul Anderson, and Arthur C. Clarke. Those books—and a childhood spent exploring the forests and mountains of Central Oregon instead of watching television—helped shape the imagination I bring to my fiction today.

Music has been a constant throughout my life. I've played drums since fifth grade, picked up guitar in the mid-1970s, and still find myself happiest when I'm making music. Photography has become another creative outlet, giving me yet another way to tell stories and capture moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.

I'm a lifelong Oregonian and still enjoy skiing whenever I can, often returning to Hoodoo Ski Area, where I first learned to ski at the age of seven. My wife and I live in Salem with our dog, and when I'm not writing, working, or chasing the next photograph, you'll probably find me on a ski slope, behind a drum kit, or wandering with a camera in search of the next interesting story.

A few things that don't fit anywhere else: I can juggle (really), I was married in Gibraltar—the same place as John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and Sean Connery—and I still believe curiosity is one of the most valuable traits a person can have.