Tim Patterson
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tradeshowguy.bsky.social
Tim Patterson
@tradeshowguy.bsky.social
3.5K followers 1.8K following 210 posts
Certified part 107 drone pilot. Radio, rocker, drummer, guitarist, author, photog, novelist. Owner of TradeshowGuy Exhibits & Salem Realty Media.

All of my stuff: https://linktr.ee/timothypatterson
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tradeshowguy.bsky.social
If you love atmospheric mysteries with real moral weight, Arkady Renko is one of the genre’s unforgettable detectives.
I wrote a full tribute to Martin Cruz Smith—his novels, his craft, the film adaptation...

Plus, my ranking of all 11 Renko books.

Read it here:
open.substack.com/pub/timothyp...
November 14, 2025 at 6:24 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
The Mystic Alliance trembles as Sofia Dragomir defies both reason and spirit.

She calls upon her ancestor through a black mirror—and rejects his counsel.

The result? Fate tilts toward chaos.

⚡️ Read Forged in Ancient Fire Chapter 45: “The Sorceress Must Fall”

open.substack.com/pub/forgedin...
November 12, 2025 at 1:53 AM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
Reality hums beneath the surface as Jia learns that magic isn’t about control—it’s about harmony.

Chapter 43, Threads of Energy Currents, is now our from Forged in Ancient Fire. Read for free!
open.substack.com/pub/forgedin...
A silver-haired man in a black suit and fedora walks beside a young woman with long dark hair through a busy Seoul street. They move purposefully amid morning sunlight and a crowd of commuters. Bright shop signs with Korean lettering line both sides of the street, blending the old and modern city atmosphere. The man’s calm, enigmatic expression contrasts with the young woman’s alert, thoughtful gaze, hinting at an unfolding mystery.
November 5, 2025 at 6:24 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
A one-eared wanderer.
A granddaughter of a sorcerer.
Breakfast—and revelations.

Chapter 42 of Forged in Ancient Fire: “Breakfast with Ji-Won.”

open.substack.com/pub/forgedin...
An older East Asian man stands in a narrow, brick-lined alleyway, wearing a black fedora, black suit coat, and dark shirt. His long gray hair is tied back in a ponytail, and his serious expression and confident stance give him an air of quiet authority and mystery. Soft daylight filters through the alley, highlighting his face and the texture of the bricks behind him.
November 1, 2025 at 8:26 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
I first heard Chicago when Chicago Transit Authority dropped in ’69 — that horn section & Terry Kath’s guitar blew me away.

55 years later, I rediscovered their full discography & wrote about their changing sound, rotating lineup, and remarkable endurance.

Read: open.substack.com/pub/timothyp...
October 31, 2025 at 12:14 AM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
‼️ Modern Rock & New Wave lovers: my KMUZ pledge-drive special has landed! 🎛

Kate Bush’, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Jam, Big Country, Depeche Mode...

▶ Listen now:

www.mixcloud.com/timothyepatt...

And while the pledge drive’s over, you can still donate anytime at KMUZ.org. #ModernRock
October 28, 2025 at 5:46 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
A ragged man. A cart full of secrets.

And a riddle that could change everything.

✨ Forged in Ancient Fire — Chapter 40: “Riddles in the Street”

➡️ open.substack.com/pub/forgedin...

#urbanfantasy #novelserialization
A realistic oil painting of an elderly man standing on a dimly lit city street at night. He wears a dark jacket, beanie, and backpack, and pushes a worn metal shopping cart piled high with boxes, bags, and tattered cloth. The warm glow from a single window in the background contrasts with the cool, shadowy surroundings, highlighting his weathered face and gentle, knowing expression.
October 24, 2025 at 11:26 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
Writing about writing isn’t about teaching—it’s about learning. Each essay is a conversation with myself, shared out loud.

🖋️ New on my Substack: Why I Write About Writing

open.substack.com/pub/timothyp...
A black-and-white photograph of a dimly lit writing desk featuring a vintage typewriter with a sheet of paper loaded. A small lamp casts a soft glow on the scene, illuminating scattered objects—a pair of scissors, a film roll, a notepad, and a coffee mug—creating a nostalgic mood that evokes the quiet concentration of a writer at work decades ago.
October 22, 2025 at 6:00 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
Let the riddim carry you.

From Bob Marley & The Wailers to Sugar Minott and beyond—this week’s Roots Rock Reggae is a journey through roots, rock, and revival.

🎧 Listen → www.mixcloud.com/timothyepatt...
Black-and-white photo of reggae legend Bob Marley smiling and holding a lit cigarette while relaxing with friends in what looks like a casual studio or backstage space. Overlaid text reads “Roots Rock Reggae – Monday 7–9 p.m. PT – Listen on KMUZ.org.” The KMUZ Community Radio logo appears in the lower right corner, showing the station’s frequencies 100.7 FM and 88.5 FM.
October 17, 2025 at 5:55 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
A golden South Salem evening.

A drone.

A two-million-dollar home with a secret.

📸 Read my latest Substack: A Rare $2M Home in South Salem

👉 open.substack.com/pub/timothyp...
October 17, 2025 at 2:38 AM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
Jia wakes before dawn, guided by a map, an old photo, and something deeper.

Chapter 37 of "Forged in Ancient Fire" is live: Doubts in the Dawn.

📖 open.substack.com/pub/forgedin...

#UrbanFantasy #ForgedInAncientFire #SerializedFiction
A teenage girl with shoulder-length dark hair and a brown jacket holds out a worn photo to a middle-aged man in a suit on a quiet Seoul street at dawn. She looks determined but uncertain; the man appears skeptical. A ghostly white dog with faint, mist-like edges stands at her side. The street is dimly lit with bluish twilight and a few glowing streetlamps, evoking a cinematic and mysterious atmosphere.
October 17, 2025 at 12:00 AM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
Chapter 35 of Forged in Ancient Fire is out now — “Beneath Unseen Hands.”

Jia uncovers a decades-old photo that mirrors the missing girl she’s been chasing… and a warning she can’t ignore.

Read here: forgedinancientfire.substack.com/p/chapter-35...

#Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #SerializedFiction
In a dimly lit, decaying kitchen, a teenage girl stands across from an elderly woman. The girl, with shoulder-length dark hair and wearing a worn leather jacket, holds a few old comic books close to her chest. A small black-and-white dog stands alert beside her, watching the exchange. The older woman, gray-haired and slightly hunched, grips the edge of a weathered counter as she studies the girl with suspicion and concern. A single bare bulb casts warm light over cracked tiles and peeling cabinets, creating a tense yet intimate atmosphere filled with mystery and quiet emotion.
October 8, 2025 at 8:29 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
Before YouTube, before MTV — TV shows like Ed Sullivan and Ready Steady Go! made rock & roll visible.

My latest Substack reflects on missing those moments the first time around and rediscovering them now.

🎶 Read: open.substack.com/pub/timothyp...

#MusicOnTV #Sixties #PopCulture
October 8, 2025 at 8:06 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
A Pika guide.

Two Flintstones comics.

And the chilling stillness of an abandoned home.

Jia’s search for Ji-Won deepens in Chapter 34 of my novel, "Forged in Ancient Fire."

Read it for free here:
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/forgedin...
A young East Asian woman stands in a dark, decaying hallway of an abandoned building. She looks back over her shoulder with a tense, wary expression. Beside her floats a glowing golden orb that softly lights the peeling walls and open doorways around her. Farther down the corridor, a dim lamp glows in a sparsely furnished bedroom. The mood is eerie, suspenseful, and mysterious.
October 3, 2025 at 10:08 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
New on Substack...

Picked up Nobody’s Fool by Richard Russo from a library sale pile. Sully, the stubborn 60-year-old with a bum knee, might be one of my favorite characters in years. Reflections on the book, the movie, and why small-town stories matter.
👉 open.substack.com/pub/timothyp...
October 1, 2025 at 5:32 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
Shadows stretch, windows break, and Jia steps deeper into mystery with Reena as her guide.

Read Chapter 33 of my #Urbanfantasy novel, Forged in Ancient Fire: Through the Broken Window
🔗 open.substack.com/pub/forgedin...
A realistic oil painting of a young East Asian woman crouching on the floor of a dim, worn kitchen beside a yellow Labrador Retriever. Both are focused on a small brown mouse sitting on the cracked tile floor. The woman wears a brown jacket, dark pants, and boots, with a backpack on her shoulders. A single overhead bulb casts warm golden light, highlighting the aged cabinets and countertops in the background.
September 30, 2025 at 9:35 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
A Sunday photo walk with one rule: shoot only signs.
From protest placards to traffic warnings to hand-painted slogans — downtown Salem had plenty to say.

📸 Sign Day in Salem:

🔗 open.substack.com/pub/timothyp...

#Photography #SalemOregon #UrbanArt
September 29, 2025 at 7:12 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
🌙 A misty city.

🐾 A loyal dog.

🗣️ A talking pika.

Jia’s journey into magic deepens in Chapter 32 of my #urbanfantasy novel, "Forged in Ancient Fire."

Midnight, Music, and a Talking Pika

forgedinancientfire.substack.com/p/chapter-32...
September 29, 2025 at 4:23 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
Roots Rock Reggae this week: Dennis Brown, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Black Uhuru, Steel Pulse, Third World + dub from Sly & Robbie, Augustus Pablo & Lee Perry.

Vibes all night 💥

🎧 www.mixcloud.com/timothyepatt...
September 24, 2025 at 3:54 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
Council rivalries, illusions, and a prophecy in the constellations. 🌠
Jia’s power is growing—but even the stars can’t agree whether she’ll become a savior or a threat.

Dive into Chapter 31:
open.substack.com/pub/forgedin...
September 23, 2025 at 10:04 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
Roots Rock Reggae is live on Mixcloud! 🌿📡
Tune in for conscious lyrics, dub depths, classic ska & everything in between:

▶️ www.mixcloud.com/timothyepatt...

Lineup includes legends like Gregory Isaacs, Augustus Pablo, Bob Marley & The Wailers + global ska vibes.
September 20, 2025 at 5:05 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
A marketplace on the edge of reality.
Masks, mirrors, and meaningless junk… until one comic book revealed the memory Jia had been searching for all her life.

Chapter 30 of Forged in Ancient Fire has arrived. Step inside before the market disappears.
👉 open.substack.com/pub/forgedin...
#urbanfantasy
September 20, 2025 at 12:34 AM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
If you were in Portland in the 80s, you remember Johnny and the Distractions.

They were the next big thing — and then... they weren’t.

I spoke with Jon Koonce about what really happened to Let It Rock, their debut album on A&M.

It wasn’t just bad luck.

🎸 open.substack.com/pub/timothyp...
September 18, 2025 at 5:06 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
144 steps. A flicker. A hidden market revealed.

Chapter 29 of Forged in Ancient Fire is now live—where numbers unlock worlds and secrets whisper in the lantern-lit air.

🔗 forgedinancientfire.substack.com/p/chapter-29...
A digital painting of a mystical marketplace lit by warm lantern light. In the foreground, a young girl with long black hair wearing a dark rock band T-shirt and backpack holds out her hand, where a small yellow-bellied bird with gray wings perches delicately. Beside her, a large bearded man in a colorful tunic and long gray ponytail gestures toward the bird with curiosity. Behind them, a smiling woman in a yellow hat and patchwork clothes stands among stalls filled with glowing glass lanterns and artifacts. The atmosphere is magical, mysterious, and otherworldly.
September 16, 2025 at 11:58 PM
tradeshowguy.bsky.social
The music box hums.
The city falls silent.
An invisible market flickers into view.

Jia and Rorschach step forward in Chapter 28 of my novel-in-serialization, Forged in Ancient Fire: The Hidden Market

🔗 forgedinancientfire.substack.com/p/chapter-28...
September 12, 2025 at 6:27 PM