You all know Pat Hatt and his cats?
But do you know Patrick Hatt - mystery writer?
Well, he's here today to discuss one of his latest releases!
MURDER HAS A PRICE
Welcome Pat!
1.
Can you tell your readers something about why you
chose this particular topic to write about? What appealed to you about it? Why
do you think it is different, and your approach is unique?
The
main reason I started as the idea popped in and then I just started writing it.
Plus I wanted to explore other genres a bit and write a one off book. Whereas
some other books I’ve written had sequels this one was more a one and done with
the door left open a crack. As I’ve always got ideas. So that was the appealing
nature, just trying something new. I think it’s different as it’s more go go go
and the main character isn’t worried about being a detective or following any
rules but his own. He has his goal and everything else be damned.
2.
How long do you think
about a topic before deciding to write about it? Do you have a set of notes or
a notebook where you write down topics
that appeal before making a decision as to which topic this time?
I
usually just get an idea in my head. Then I come up with the beginning and
ending and just go to it. I have a list of ideas saved and many more in my
head. So I’m never lacking in that department. I’ll croak, even if I live to be
100, before I run out of ideas.
3.
How long does it take to research a topic before you
write? And for this book? Did you learn something unusual during your research
that you can share here?
Depends
on the book I write. Kids books are just fun rhymes, so very very little, if
any. My biggest was some of the myths I had to explore, like Greek gods and
stuff. I knew most but I wanted to be sure in some cases. For this book there
wasn’t a whole lot. I don’t think I learned anything unusual. I know one reason
research takes long for some books as one picks a setting, so they have to
research the place. I purposely create a setting where it can happen in
multiple places, as I like to create the aspect that it could happen nearby the
reader. So that saves time on research. Although my latest demands I use actual
places, so it’s taking some research time.
4.
What resources do you use? In general and for this
book?
Google
is my main resource. That and, like for this one specifically, I’ve watched a
lot of cop shows and read many as well, so that leads to the knowledge I have
in my head.
5.
Do you use professionals to verify your facts, such as
the police? Is there a good way to approach them? How valuable is their input?
Or do you just wing it?
So
far I’ve been more of a just wing it. If there comes a case where I actually
need procedure and the like down the road, then I’ll have to go asking.
6.
Did you self-publish or have a publisher? Would you
recommend self-publishing and building an audience before approaching a
publisher? What's the best way to build an audience before publication?
I
have self published all 104 works I have out there. One of the main reasons as
a publisher takes foreeeever. That and I like my writing freedom. I’d recommend
self-publishing beforehand because then you’d
have something else for a publisher to look at.
The
best way to build an audience is to pick a few social media platforms and stick
to them. Don’t stretch yourself on everyone until you have a good audience on
one or two. Then just enjoy it. If you don’t enjoy doing a blog or Twitter or
what have you, people can tell and they won’t give a crap because you don’t.
7.
How do you handle the marketing required to succeed?
Any tips or tricks that you can share here?
Pfffft
I’m still looking for tip and tricks myself. In order to really get good
marketing it takes money to make money. You could have the best book in the
world, but if no one sees it, it won’t do a bit of good how well it is written.
And the only paid marketing out there that actually works 100% is Bookbub, that
I’m aware of anyway, but getting a book in there isn’t easy unless you have 100
reviews on Amazon or elsewhere. That’s my only words of wisdom with marketing.
8.
Does writing provide you a sufficient income to live
on? If so, how long did it take before this happened? Is it your goal to be
financially successful, or do you write and publish solely for the
'satisfaction of sharing your stories'?
It
buys groceries some months, does that count? I would like to be financially
successful, who wouldn’t? But unless a book made a million bucks and you can
use that to live off while you wrote others, it would kind of get a bit
stressful and maybe suck the fun out of doing it. Always worrying how the bills
would get paid and such.
So
do I want the dough? Heck, yes. But my main goal is to get the stories out of
my head and out there for whoever to see that sees them.
9.
What's the funniest thing that happened to you on a
book tour?
Can’t
say I ever went on a book tour, digital or otherwise.
10.
What's the next step for you? Television, movies, a
new genre? Tell us what the future holds - what can your fans expect?
TV
and movies would be great. That is where the real money is. But that is even
harder to break into. So many who try that end up being waiters the rest of
their lives. No thanks. I’ve got 2 novels done I’m sitting on. Love Thy Self, a
very strange meta story, and A Not So Universal World, the 8th in my other
series. Just need to get covers for them and give the later an edit or ten. Now
I’m working on a combo comedy book, taking two ideas and mashing them together.
A Thousand Miles is the title. It’s different then what I’ve written before in
a way, as it’s more comedy and action. There are no powers or aliens or murders
or anything like that. But that’s all that I can say on that one until it is
done and ready to go.
And
just for you a rhyme shall come due. Thanks for having on by Pat Hatt or
Patrick Hatt the double named guy. One for non rhyme and one for rhyme. I think
you can figure out which is which in no time.
Detective
Hollerin has received his badge after a few short years with only one thing in
mind, find the real person who was behind the murder of Torrie and Kurt Price
and put them in the ground. He, along with the Price's butler Mr. Dunker, know
without a doubt that Mr. Price would never kill his family. Even if all signs
point to him being the killer, Detective Hollerin will find the real truth
behind the murders. With secrets of his own, like hiring the Los Hugos gang for
jobs the police aren't willing or allowed to do, Detective Hollerin pushes
forward on the case.
His one and only goal is to find the killer and end their
life. But his search ends up unraveling a conspiracy that extends to all levels
of the city and beyond. Detective Hollerin's quest for vengeance leads him to places
that he never thought he would go. Now he must use all the skills from his past
and his present to survive, end the conspiracy, and find the real person behind
the Price murders, no matter the cost.
*****
Pat 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, short stories, adult books and kids books, so far 104, as just one more
form of release.
Link up with Pat:
*****
Did you know our master rhymer had written a detective novel?
Will you pick up a copy?
Do you enjoy writing in different genres?
Leave a short rhyme in the comments and win an Ebook copy of Murder Has a Price!
