An interview with Scott Hatfield
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This week's interview is with one of our indie author partners, Scott Hatfield. Scott has kindly teamed up with us and we stock both a paperback and e-book version of his debut novel, The Shadow of Cáelunárra here.
A little bit about you and your life, your hobbies, your interests, etc.
"My name is Scott A. Hatfield Jr. I’m an avid outdoorsman, a US Navy veteran, and currently work in corrections as a Control Point Operator in both men’s maximum security and women’s general population. I’ve seen quite a bit in that role, to say the least. I also serve as the President and Founder of the Utah Trail Association, a non-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to bringing a long-distance thru-hiking trail to Utah. I hold a Master of Public Administration and had the privilege of studying abroad at Oxford University’s Pembroke College. Outside of writing and public service, I’m a proud husband and father to an amazing 3-year-old daughter. I love football (soccer for us Americans), hiking, backpacking, fishing, and - believe it or not - politics.
I also run a YouTube channel where I post vlogs covering my weekend warrior hikes, thru-hiking attempts, and even some international adventures. I talk a lot about Native American history throughout the American Southwest and California - something I’m deeply passionate about. Eventually, I’ll be adding content related to my book series too. It’s kind of become my go-to hub for anything and everything Scott Hatfield."
Info about your latest book and/or the book you'd most like to promote.
"My debut novel The Shadow of Cáelunárra: The Prophecy Unleashed is the first in what I envision as a 7 - 10 book fantasy series. It follows five lifelong friends from rural Utah who are swept into a centuries-old prophecy after their graduation trip to Fiji goes terribly wrong. What begins as an adventure quickly becomes a battle for survival as they’re thrust into the world of Cáelunárra - a realm of mages, monarchs, darkness, and ancient magic. The series is geared toward readers aged 16+ and blends coming-of-age elements with political intrigue, romance, war, and moral complexity. Book one is just the beginning, and things get a lot darker from here."
Any details you'd like to share about what you're currently working on.
"I have two more books in the series already in the pipeline - Book II is currently in post-production and edits, and I’m finishing the final chapters of Book III as we speak. The momentum is real, and I’m excited to continue building this world."
What inspired you to get into writing and what keeps you motivated?
"Honestly, my wife got me interested. I was always afraid to put myself out there. After two failed political campaigns in Utah and a backpacking injury in 2024, I found myself at home - injured, restless, and full of pent-up energy. She had always talked about wanting to write a book, and then I mentioned it too. She didn’t think I was serious, but I told her about a world I had created as a kid, maybe in junior high or high school, that I’d never written down. She said, "Hey, that might actually make a cool book - you should write it." And here we are: almost three books written in under a year, and after 14 months of writing, editing, grinding - it’s finally happening.
I stay motivated because of my daughter. I didn’t grow up in the cushiest of situations, and I want to provide for her. Everything I do - working in a prison, running a non-profit, writing, even politics - is for her. I want her to have a better childhood than I had and to know that if you put your heart, soul, and mind into something, anything is possible."
Your opinions on indie vs trad publishing and why you chose the route you did.
"I think indie and traditional publishing both have their place and purpose. I originally wanted to go traditional - I really did - because I genuinely believe this series has the potential to make it to the big shops. But at the same time, I wanted full creative control. I wanted to decide when I release, how I release, what the cover looks like, how the world is shaped - everything.
So here we are, indie publishing. But let me just say this clearly: if any agents or big box publishers happen to read this and see the same potential that I see in this series... don’t be shy. Just because I went indie doesn’t mean I’d turn down a conversation. I’m still open. But for now, indie gave me what I needed."
What challenges have you faced during your writing and publishing journey?
"The rewrites. Oh man - the rewrites. Trying to make it perfect without over-polishing it into something fake or hollow. That was hard. But even deeper than that was the self-doubt. I kept asking myself: is this story even worth telling? Is it good? Will people hate it? Did I waste all this time and money? Were all the late nights, sacrificed weekends, and the hours I should’ve been sleeping or relaxing actually worth it?
And then there was my editor - won’t name him - but we butted heads like crazy. He told me my work was too chaotic, too advanced, and not sellable. That hit hard. I paid him to do a job, and it felt like he barely did it. I felt defeated. But the people around me - friends, family, people who had heard me ramble about this massive story - kept asking, "Where is it? When is it coming out?" That support was the spark that kept me going through the lows."
What advice would you give to someone beginning their writing journey?
"Just do it. That sounds cliché, but the hardest part is actually sitting down and writing. Get the words on paper. Believe in your story. Believe in yourself. Improve with every draft, but don’t let fear or perfectionism hold you back. The process is messy, but it’s worth it."
Name an author that inspired you to write and why.
"Honestly, it all started with J.K. Rowling. Say what you want about her now - and I’m not here to argue beliefs or controversy - but her books changed my life. As a kid, her story of coming from nothing and creating something massive really hit home. She introduced me to fantasy and helped me believe that someone like me could write something meaningful.
From there, I found Tolkien - thanks to Sanderson constantly referencing 'Grandpa Tolkien'. And once I dove into Tolkien’s works, I fell in love with the depth of his worldbuilding, the language, the history, the myth. It was everything I wanted to create.
C.S. Lewis deserves a mention too. I’ll be honest - his fiction was dense for me. Hard to get through. But outside of that, his other works - especially The Weight of Glory - spoke to me in a different way. That’s probably one of the most powerful things I’ve ever read."
Anything else you'd like to discuss in terms of being a writer, self-publishing, a fun fact about yourself, anything.
"I think one fun fact is that I didn’t start this journey thinking I’d become an author. I was a political candidate, a prison operator, a veteran. But life has a funny way of rerouting us, and now I can’t imagine not writing. If this series reaches even one person the way books once reached me, it’s all been worth it."