J.R. Patterson was born in Manitoba in 1989 and raised on a beef and grain farm on the Canadian prairies. His experiences as a farm labourer, factory worker, and musician inform much of his writing. 

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He began writing in 2020. In 2022, his work was included among the Best British Travel Writing of the 21st Century. That same year, he was named a De Groot Foundation Writer of Note. In 2024, he was nominated for a Canadian National Magazine Award, and for Emerging Writer of the Year at London's Travel Writing Awards.​​​​​​