Local Authors’ Success Story Continues to Unfold at the Library

by Steve Fjeldsted, City Librarian

There aren’t too many authors who can lay claim to having topped the amazon.com nonfiction bestseller charts. South Pasadena residents Brent and Phelecia Hatch and their book surprisingly achieved the number one sales position in not just one, but two distinct amazon.com nonfiction sales categories. Their book not only topped the “Parenting and Family” group but also the “Movers and Shakers” list, amazingly ousting Denzel Washington’s book A Hand to Guide Me shortly after he had appeared on the Oprah television show during 2006.

The rise to prominence for the Hatches was unlikely at best, especially considering the fact that they were first-time authors who had published the first edition of their book themselves. Initially their modest looking trade paperback had very limited distribution, but, nevertheless, word spread and the book and its important messages struck a chord with readers around the country. To date the book has sold more than 60,000 copies. To the Hatches the lofty sales level not only demonstrated the power of the Internet but of the media as well. So far the Hatches and their book have been featured on more than 80 radio talk shows and 10 television programs.  Many of the radio interviews took place at 3 or 4 in the morning directly from the Hatch Family’s South Pasadena home while they were hoping not to awaken any of their seven children.

The Hatches have received thousands of emails from appreciative fans of all ages across the country, some of whom have taken the time to post accolades on the Internet. A broad range of celebrities have endorsed the book too. These include Dr. Steven R. Covey, author of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin, Senator Orrin Hatch, and Daryl Gates, retired Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.Former sports stars Dale Murphy of the Atlanta Braves and Danny Ainge of the Boston Celtics have praised the book as well.

The Hatches actually first thought of their title a full ten years before the book was published. It took another 8 years before the Hatches felt they had enough practical parenting experience to complete the book. They also felt more urgency after the Columbine Colorado school tragedy in 1999 which strengthened their belief that they should write a book to improve family dynamics and communications in the United States.  The actual composing of the text took a full two years. During this gestation period the Hatch children showed remarkable patience, restraint, and understanding, especially considering that the writing was done during half hour increments inside the family van parked in the driveway. The authors chose this method to reduce distractions and interruptions as much as they could.

When the book was finally completed they sent out copies to more than 50 publishers and collected an equivalent amount of rejection slips. Then they decided they would have to publish the book themselves. Once the first boxes of books appeared, it was time for the first of the couple’s guerilla marketing techniques. They had their van covered with brightly colored advertising for the book and strategically parked it on a freeway overpass during the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl game. Orders began coming in, slowly at first, and then more steadily. A major turning point occurred when Hallmark started carrying the books in their greeting card shops.

An enlarged, expanded edition appeared in hardback from Greentree Publishing and the rest, as they say, is local and national publishing history. To some it mayseem like a Cinderella story, but to the Hatches it was actually an overnight success story more than 10 years in the making. During the book’s ascension to the top of the charts it actually climbed all the way to the pinnacle after starting from its first position at #345,000. Another book may be in the family’s future as well. The Hatches have several sequels in mind, but right now they are busily raising their 7 children, operating the family businesses, and making guest speaking appearances at major conferences in such far-away locales as Denver and New Orleans. On July 19 they spoke to an appreciative audience at the South Pasadena Library, only a block or so away from the spot where their amazing journey began