Patrick Hatt - HBS Author's Spotlight

Today our blog puts the Spotlight on Best Selling Author Patrick Hatt. He is the author of the 'A Not So' science fiction series and six children's books at this count.

Author Genre: Children's, Humor And Comedy, Science Fiction

Website: Pat Hatt Books
Author's Blog: It's Rhyme Time
Twitter: @PatHatt24
E-Mail: support@pathattbooks.com
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads
LinkedIn: Check Out LinkedIn
Pinterest: Check Out Pinterest


Author Description: Patrick Hatt can be found in the East Coast of Canada. He hates writing these things but doesn't mind talking in the third person. He dabbles in a little of this and a little of that, not afraid to attempt something new.

He is owned by two cats, one of whom has his own blog, It's Rhyme Time. Yeah a rhyming cat, who knew? He would be considered a both person when it comes to cats and dogs.

He is also quite the movie and TV buff. As you can probably tell does not take himself seriously and has more stuff in his head than is needed. Thus the novels as just one more form of release.

SPOTLIGHT Questions and Answers with the Author

Let’s start with what is next. Do you have another book on the horizon? Can you tell us the timeline for its release and give us a little tease.

Oh I always seem to have something else on the horizon. I have 2 books completely done awaiting release. One is to do with a super hero that you would never expect. Another is to do with a robot. Then I have 5 more kid's books being worked on at the moment and another novel I have almost done.

You have a good twitter following. (in excess of 37K) How important are your social media relationships to your writing success?

Social Media is more important to others than it is to me. The number only means one thing: people will give you the time of day. When they see you actually have been around and have a following, they'll spend a few minutes looking you over, compared to if you have no following and many just go away. So in that essence it is great support for my writing success. Plus every once in a while you meet some great people.

Your children’s books have great covers. How did the process work between you and your illustrators? Do you hand over the basic theme or do you take more of a hands-on approach?

It depends on the illustrator doing it. Some you need to explain things in detail too, which I do, and some you don't. I like working with both, as it gives me time to work with a couple at once. While I'm being more hands on with one illustrator, another is off doing their thing without me and coming up with an idea on their own. You can get a sense of each illustrator's need as you talk to them.

You have a couple great book trailers. (See links below.) Do you know how much impact they have had on your books success?

Tell us about the process that you used to create your trailers? They look very professional. Did the illustrators for your books also help with the trailers?

The children's book trailer has over 17,000 views already and it has only been up a short time. It has provided a great deal of success. The novel one has also gotten me a number of sales. But the key is not to make them seem like trailers, I just make them fun and people respond to that.

My process is: I write the jingle myself first, every single video has been written by me. Then I have a couple of singers I know put the lyrics to a music style of my choice. After that I simply make up the video how I see fit. It really isn't as hard as it looks and most people can do it if they take the time. The illustrators don't help for the trailers. Besides the singers, it was all me and the cat of course!

What kinds of support groups do you belong too? Do they help with writing, marketing and the publishing process? Do you belong to any reading groups?

Not a one. I suppose you can say 'blogland' is my support group. They got me into kid’s books and showed me I could write. But other than that I do most everything myself, aside from the contacts who I have made in 'blogland' that help a ton as well. They know who they are.

Has the advent of color in ebooks changed anything in your writing, getting the book to your readers and the relationship with your readers and fans?

Oh without color the books wouldn't be seen anywhere near as much in ebook form. That color catches the readers eye and helps a ton with marketing and such. But as far as my writing goes, not much changes that, the rhymes and/or words just flow out.

You write in two entirely different genres. Does changing hats create any problems? Which genre do you enjoy writing the most? Does moving from one to the other give you some breathing room?

I'm lucky enough that I can flip a switch and go back and forth from kid's books to novel writing whenever I feel like it. So no real problems crop up, besides finding the time for both.

Both are so different that it's hard to pin down my favorite. I love seeing the children’s books come to life with illustrations. But I also love delving more into a universe I create and pumping out a 100,000 words or so. I enjoy both, both come easy, but there is a lot less work with the kid’s books. I can make up a story in an hour and be done.

Yeah, I like to change things up. So it is nice to have a bit of breathing room.

Does living in Canada present any unique selling and marketing situations? Where is your biggest audience, the US or Canada? Does marketing online help in this situation?

The only problem living here seems to being so far from everything, like major events and stuff going on, such as conventions and things like that. Other than that, when you have everything online it is pretty easy no matter where you are. So marketing online does help a lot, without that I'd be dead in the water. I'd say the biggest audience is in the US at the moment.

Knowing kids are kids. Do you plan to publish any of your children’s books in other languages?

I never really thought about that before. But that is an idea I will now have to keep in mind. Once I conquer North America, then I guess I will have to get them translated and start taking over the world.


Author's Book List
The Honk of Zagonk
Each year there are ancient dragon games to crown the winner of the Cup of Flames. The young dragons all show off their new found flame, hoping the cup will dawn their name.

The year of Zagonk is remembered above them all. It is forever whispered in dragon hall. It was because instead of a flame he honked at his dragon game. Not something a dragon was known to do but away his honk flew. That was also the year the Frost Giant caused all the dragons fear. But what happens when Zagonk brings his honk near?
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Book Trailer: The Honk of Zagonk
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Amazon Buy Page
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The Out of Tune Moon
Each and every day as the sun rises over Sparkling Ridge's bay, Rusty Troll watches the bridge and collects a toll. But that is not the dream he longs for. He wants to hear the crowd shout for an encore. Rusty Troll simply wants to play Rock 'n' Roll. Thanks to Rusty Troll's dreaming of a tune, Loopy Martian brings down the moon. He takes control of it with his magic spoon and even captures the man in the moon. Can Rusty Troll save his town? Will he ever get his Rock 'n' Roll crown?
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Book Trailer: The Out of Tune Moon
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Amazon Buy Page -- Barnes and Noble Buy Page
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Cassie and The Wild Cat: Meet and Greet
Cassie found she had a wonderful life, until this spotted wild cat entered and caused her strife. She was not about to give up without a fight and would be rid of him by night. Follow Cassie as she tries to rid herself of the Wild Cat and sweep him under the mat. From the freezer to the loo, will she chase the Wild Cat from view?
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Book Trailer: Cassie and The Wild Cat: Meet and Greet
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Amazon Buy Page -- Barnes and Noble Buy Page
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Boo and The Backyard Zoo
Every day Boo floats about his haunt having everything he could ever want. He ignores the evil Nugget and his Flashy Parakeets who think they rule the streets. That is until Nugget captures Grape Face then it becomes quite the race. For Boo brings with him The Backyard Zoo to help in his quest. Will they be able to free Grape Face from Nugget's nest? Or will Nugget win.
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Book Trailer: Boo and The Backyard Zoo
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Amazon Buy Page
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A Not So Perfect World
After Chutar and finally figuring out where and when they were, Jack and Emily hoped their troubles were over. But little did they know Chutar was just the beginning. With Mason by their side the three continue to struggle to find their way back home, charting a course through the unknown one time fraction after another.

They come up against everything from dragons and critlen to booby trap littered mazes and armies right out of Arthurian legend standing in their way. But through it all the three remain determined to make it back to Earth's time fraction. Until they come up against what they thought to be impossible, gods of myth.

Now with hope dwindling thanks to the likes of Hera and Drazin, not knowing if they can trust Zeus, a prophecy involving aliens and an over involved Prophet, the newly dubbed Death Defying Three will have to do just that, if they ever hope to make it home.
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Book Trailer: A Not So Perfect World
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Amazon Buy Page
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A Not So Barren World
After living with the gods of Olympus for more than a year, Jack and Emily finally have a doorway back to Earth's time fraction. They prepare to leave with their new born son Jeremiah and the rest of the group, not realizing the gods have other plans for them. Soon Drazin becomes one with the Time Axis and is more powerful then ever. But that's just the beginning as things literally go to Hell.

Following the conclusion of their one sided battle with Drazin, Jack and Emily wake up not knowing whether they are dead or alive. All they know is they must escape the Hell they have been placed in while keeping one step ahead of Lucifer. But hope begins to dwindle as they soon learn he has total control over his domain and there seems to be no way out.

Old friends and foes arise, the Leftovers are found at every turn, the Seven seem to be hiding something and with all forms of mythical creatures from the hecatoncheires to the Gorgon sisters becoming fact, the odds seem to be piling up against them.

Jack and Emily now find themselves at the start of another unwanted quest, which may or may not be part of His plan. Either way they are determined to battle Lucifer, escape Hell and make it back home to their son at all costs.
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Book Trailer: A Not So Barren World
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Amazon Buy Page
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A Not So New World
All Jack wanted was to leave his mark on the world. But with a self serving, former Professor having him charged with a crime he did not commit, hope was dwindling. Jack's one chance was Agent Milano, an FBI agent open to his innocence. Her decision gave Jack the opening he needed to escape, although both will soon wish he just stayed in jail.

After a hectic jump in his cat time machine thrusts the pair into the unknown world of Chutar, Jack and Agent Milano quickly learn all they have is each other. As they are on the run from the Defense Force, are manipulated by The Middle and are disgusted by the P.A.T. and all each stand for.

An act of serendipity brought them together, while multiple forces continue to try and tear them apart. Jack and Agent Milano embark on the adventure of a lifetime, whether they like it or not, with one goal in mind, to get back home. That is if they can first figure out where or when they are.
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Book Trailer: A Not So New World
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Amazon Buy Page
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A Not So Singular World
Jeremiah has spent his whole life searching for his parents with nothing but a faded picture of them to keep him going. His search had hit a dead end until his birthday rolled around and he received a gift, being run down by a car that seemed to have no driver. And that was the best part of his day.

Now Jeremiah and Orlin, his over sized Savannah cat and only friend, seem to be running for their lives at every turn, with the impossible becoming possible everywhere they look. The pair continue Jeremiah's quest to track down his parents and discover his true origins, while making many enemies, gaining new friends and family and developing a power only Orlin seems to understand.

Follow along as they dodge the Brothers of Olympus, flick dirt on the realty TV star Rick Tracker and come up against gods of myth such as Drazin and Hera. Jump between The Nide and The Hide finding Nothing at every turn. You are just a strat and a flibo away from finding out if Jeremiah and Orlin, after going through bloody hell and getting Puck-ed, can find his parents and get everyone back to Zeus Mountain.
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Book Trailer: A Not So Singular World
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Amazon Buy Page -- Barnes and Noble Buy Page
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The Swashbuckle Chuckle
Join One Shoe Kangaroo as he tracks down the evil Captain Frown Clown and his crew. They have stolen the magic from his town. Will One Shoe Kangaroo be able to track Captain Frown Clown down?
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Book Trailer: The Swashbuckle Chuckle
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Amazon Buy Page -- Barnes and Noble Buy Page
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The Bizarre Superstar
Dunderhead was just trying to get to sleep. But as he started counting sheep, a light shined through the night. So he hopped in his big toe and took flight. Before long everything goes wrong and Dunderhead is full of dread. For now in a strange place he has joined The Bizarre Superstar race. Will Dunderhead survive? Or will the bush with the tush thrive?
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Book Trailer: The Bizarre Superstar
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Amazon Buy Page
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Author Recommended by: HBSystems Publications
Publisher of ebooks, writing industry blogger and the sponsor of the HBS Author's Spotlight plus the blog: eBook Author’s Corner. Check out the index of other Spotlight authors. Spotlight Index.