Larry Pattison Jr. is a writer shaped by the steel town that raised him, the communities he has served, the moments that forged him, and the stories he has carried far longer than he ever planned. His work lives at the intersection of memory, place, and those small turning points that change us. Whether he’s writing about the families he has advocated for, the kids he has coached, the ghosts of long-gone stadiums, or the quiet moments that linger, he is always chasing the same thing: a story with heart.

He writes under both Larry Pattison Jr. and Lawrence Thomas—a nod to a university project where a pseudonym felt safer for a piece that made him blush. These days, he uses whichever name fits the work. Dual names, dual lanes of life—both still feel true to him.

Over the years, he has worn many hats: writer, parent, coach, community volunteer, politician, occasional musician, and lifelong Hamiltonian. Through all of it, the constant has been his love for storytelling. He has been filling notebooks, blogs, margins, and half-finished drafts since childhood, and he still gets that same spark when a new idea clicks.

When he isn’t writing, he is a youth coach, a handyman by necessity, a devoted dad and husband, a servant to too many pets, and someone who believes fiercely in the power of community—building it, protecting it, celebrating it. He believes in showing up, and he believes that an honest story can change someone’s day—or sometimes their whole direction.

This site serves as a landing page—part portfolio, part archive—for his past writing and current projects. His work ranges from personal essays to local advocacy to long-form storytelling.

He lives in Hamilton, Ontario with his family, piles of notebooks waiting to be revisited, and a persistent urge to turn real life into something worth reading.

You can reach him anytime using the form below.