Patricia Dunn (also publishing as T.M. Dunn)

Patricia Dunn (also publishing as T.M. Dunn) is an award-winning novelist, prolific essayist, and highly sought-after writing coach, developmental editor, and ghostwriter. With decades of experience in the literary world and a global perspective shaped by living in Italy, Egypt, Jordan, California, and New York, Patricia brings both deep craft expertise and cultural insight to every story she helps shape.

She is the author of Her Father's Daughter (Crooked Lane, 2023), a gripping psychological thriller; Last Stop on the 6 (Bordighera Press, 2021), praised for its humor, heart, and social depth; and Rebels by Accident (Sourcebooks, 2014), a young adult novel that continues to resonate with readers of all ages. Her work spans adult fiction, young adult, and middle grade, and she publishes under both her own name and the pen name T.M. Dunn. Her books are available on Amazon, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, Apple Books, and other major online retailers.

A 2024 IPPY Gold Medalist and former Senior Director of the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College—where she also earned her MFA in Creative Writing—Patricia has helped dozens of writers complete and publish books in genres including literary fiction, mystery, thriller, suspense, romance, women’s fiction, memoir, young adult, middle grade, creative nonfiction, and self-help.

Through her work as a writing coach and developmental editor, Patricia offers personalized mentoring and manuscript support that empowers writers to push through doubt, develop their voice, and finish their books. She’s known for her balance of tough love and deep empathy, guiding writers from idea to execution with clarity and confidence.

She is the co-founder and lead instructor of Key to the Castle Workshop, offering online courses, in-person classes, and immersive retreats in Italy, Quebec, and across North America. Writers return again and again for Patricia’s accountability, editorial rigor, and intuitive story sense.

She also co-hosts the Westport Library podcast Go Ahead, Write Something, and contributes regularly to national outlets as an essayist and commentator. Based in Stamford, Connecticut—and originally from the Bronx—Patricia works with clients worldwide and is currently accepting new writers for coaching, ghostwriting, and manuscript development.

When she’s not coaching writers or working on her next novel, Patricia finds joy in growing and nurturing plants—both indoors and out—and spending time with her two rescue dogs, Blanqui and Cookie. She also keeps her family's culinary traditions alive with her father’s cherished recipe for arancini (Sicilian rice balls), a beloved favorite among family and friends.