Alfred Patrick grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia, the setting for Clinch Valley Pursuit and for his earlier novels, Clinch River Justice and Clinch Mountain Echoes. With degrees from Bluefield College, Virginia Tech, and the University of Tennessee, he taught at high school and college levels in Virginia, Louisiana, and Tennessee. At Eastern Kentucky University, where he retired, Alfred served as professor, department chair, and dean in the College of Business. He enjoys writing, reading, traveling, gardening, crossword puzzles, and backpacking and has completed the Appalachian Trail, the John Muir Trail in California, and trails in other states. He and his wife, Peggy, live in Richmond, Kentucky.
