Owen Pataki

Author, Screenwriter, + Filmmaker

Coming May 2025

Smoke in the Cypress

A gripping historical war novel from the author of Where the Light Falls

A veteran of the Napoleonic Wars must travel from revolution-torn France to the Louisiana Territory to rescue a young noblewoman, but he is quickly ensnared in a complex web of political intrigue and violence in this thrilling historical fiction adventure. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century America, this historical fiction thriller navigates the dangerous French Quarter, where revolution, resistance movements, political conspiracies, mercenary spies, and the notorious Jean Lafitte’s pirates create a powder keg of intrigue and violence.

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Book Cover of “Smoke in the Cypress” by Owen Pataki: The cover depicts a misty Louisiana bayou with towering cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. A small boat carrying shadowy figures navigates the swampy waters, evoking the intrigue and danger of the War of 1812. The novel follows a Napoleonic officer drawn into a perilous mission in New Orleans, where war, betrayal, and survival intertwine.
Black and white portrait photograph of Owen Pataki, historical fiction author and filmmaker. He has short hair and wears a buttoned sweater with a collar, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. The blurred background adds depth, keeping the focus on his thoughtful and composed demeanor.

My Story

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had an active imagination. The movies I loved as a kid weren’t just entertainment or distraction, but took me to new worlds and made me feel that life could be as big and exciting as I wanted it to be. Diving into a great book or movie is like going on an adventure; it might be playful, funny, scary or romantic – but when it’s over, you know you felt something. The ‘real world’ can often feel stressful, depressing or dull, but the best stories bring a sense of excitement and adventure that make life a little better. I hope to share the characters and stories that move me with as wide an audience as possible, and bring some of that child-like imagination to others in the way my favorite stories did for me.

I graduated from Cornell University in 2010 with a degree in history. In 2011, I joined the Army, and in 2014 was deployed to Afghanistan, serving with the 10th Mountain Division. Following my military service, I attended the MetFilm School in London. My first novel, Where the Light Falls, I co-authored with my sister Allison Pataki and published in 2017. Searchers in Winter was published in 2021. Smoke in the Cypress is my third novel, publishing in May 2025. I now live in New York where I am working as a screenwriter and filmmaker.

“All good ideas start out as bad ideas, that’s why it takes so long.”

Steven Spielberg

Books

Smoke in the Cypress

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Searchers in Winter

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Where the Light Falls

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Films

I’ve loved movies my whole life. Working behind the camera to bring a vision to life with cast and crew is my dream, and I feel lucky every time I get to be on set. Click any of the videos here to view my past projects and stay tuned for more films in the near future!