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A message from hat:

A couple of years ago, I created the book you see on this page.  The process of writing and illustrating an autobiographical rhyme… helped dig me out of a deep rut and changed my life in ways I can’t begin to articulate.

Over the past couple of years, the art has just poured out of me – almost like “Hat” was what finally broke the ‘dam wall’… and after decades of not creating – I had a lot of catching up to do!

But I’ve also been hiding away – which is easy for many of us introverted-artist types.  Too bloody easy.  And when Covid hit and the world changed – it became even more easy for me cocoon in the forest (where we now live)…and distance myself from the Big Wide World.

But then a dear neighbour (Audrey) lost her husband (Pierre) to Covid and decided to move to another province to be near her kids and grandkids.  And as I was helping her pack some of her things, she said something I’ll never forget:

“Heather… you have a gift… and gifts are for for giving!“

Audrey was right.  I haven’t been ‘giving’ my gifts.  I’ve been hiding them.  Hiding my art, hiding my rhymes, hiding my songs, hiding my books, hiding my stories and making endless excuses as to why I hide, like:  “I just suck at marketing!”,  “I’m not a salesperson, I don’t want to sell and promote myself or my work!”.

But Audrey and Pierre helped me realise:  Life is short.  And insecurites (and excuses) are a waste of precious time!

And so – from now (November 2023) – I am re-launching “Hat” and will (in a month or three) reveal the first couple of pages of my next book (which – yes – will also be an illustrated rhyme!)

So – I hope you’ll join me on this journey as ‘we’ step out of the shadows and share our much’ness with the world!Lotso love,

Heather (Hat) xx

“I can’t explain the emotions your story and your illustrations provoke.  Powerful stuff.  It’s not every day that my husband tears up while reading a book”

“Your story and your poem hit me in the heart and reached my soul.  I burst into tears as I read your words because it resonated so deeply.  My sobbing, uncontrollable, as I considered all the people trapped in society’s ‘norm’.  You must get this message out!”

“I am a fellow outcast – rediscovering myself in a big, scary world.  Thank-you, oh thank-you for finding yourself and sharing your story”

“I feel overwhelmed.  I just wanted to say how beautiful your book is and to thank you from those of us still trying to break free.  You are a gift”

“Tears.  Love it.  Couldn’t feel more this way.  Grew up in foster homes.  Stifled the artist.  Never felt like I fit in.  Still don’t.  Still searching for the courage to be me.  Thank-you.”

“Wow.  I’ve just read that and cried.  This is me, and I’ve been told so many of the same things.  I am trying to dig myself out of ‘normal’.  You do what you do for ALL of us”

“Your poem is beautiful.  It captured my heart and my mind.  I want to have your books around for myself and as a reminder to allow my children to be the ‘Hats’ that they are”

“I’m spending a lot of time trying to figure out how to get my ‘HAT’ness’ back and trying to understand how I lost it in the first place.  I now have a little boy and I don’t want him to lose sight of his dreams as I lost sight of mine”