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Patrick Cottrell

パトリック・コトレル

Patorikku Kottoreru

Aliases: Patty Yumi Cottrell

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1981 （South Korea）
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Residence History
Pittsburgh → Chicago → Milwaukee → New York → Los Angeles

Career

Occupations
Writer
Active Years
2014-2024
Affiliations
University of Denver

Education

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Writing
Degree: MFA
Period: 2012
Year of Graduation: 2012
Country: United States

Awards

Whiting Award
2018
Category: Fiction
Organization: Whiting Foundation
Result: Winner
Barnes & Noble Discover Award
2017
Work: Sorry to Disrupt the Peace
Category: Fiction
Organization: Barnes & Noble
Result: Winner
Independent Publisher Book Awards
2017
Work: Sorry to Disrupt the Peace
Category: Best First Book – Fiction
Organization: Independent Publisher
Result: National Gold Medal

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Sorry to Disrupt the Peace

2017 Fiction/Novel

The story of Helen, a woman adopted from Korea at a young age, who returns to her adoptive parents' home in Milwaukee after her adoptive brother's suicide. A stylized contemporary noir described as an anti-memoir.

IdentityAdoptionLossTransgender

Bibliography

  • Sorry to Disrupt the Peace (2017)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Stylized contemporary noirDiscursive and associative
Recurring Motifs
Exploration of identityLoss and grief

Legacy

Recognized as a promising writer with the Whiting Award, teaches at the University of Denver. Noted as a transgender writer.

Trivia

  • Born in South Korea and adopted into a Midwestern U.S. family along with two other Korean boys.
  • Came out as transgender in 2021.