After graduating from
Dalhousie University in
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Tattrie travelled to
Edinburgh, Scotland in 1999 where he befriended a freelance journalist, inspiring him to attend Telford College in Edinburgh where he earned a journalism diploma. After moving back to Halifax in 2006, Tattrie worked for
The Daily News until the newspaper ceased publication in 2008. He then began freelance writing as a method of earning an income, contributing to publications such as
East Coast Living and
Halifax Magazine. He released his first book,
Black Snow: A Story of Love and Destruction in 2009, followed by
The Hermit of Africville: The Life of Eddie Carvery in 2010, a non-fiction book concerning
Eddie Carvery; and
Cornwallis: The Violent Birth of Halifax in 2013, a non-fiction book concerning
Edward Cornwallis. Tattrie's 2020 book ''Peace by Chocolate: The Hadhad Family's Remarkable Journey From Syria to Canada'' covered the Hadhad family, who migrated to from Syria to Nova Scotia from 2015 to 2016 and started the chocolate company
Peace by Chocolate. Tattrie's book was generally well-received for its account of the family's story. As a journalist, Tattrie has written for several publications in Canada such as
Canadian Geographic,
The Globe and Mail,
CBC News, and others. ==Publications==