Lazy Hat was originally a business model that I developed in 2009 while I was sitting in a small room in Afghanistan. The original idea was nothing like it has turned out, but here we are, still using the name with the hope that the ministry will someday still create a community. The original idea consisted of a very elaborate living history town that would require multiple investors and a lot of good people to make it work. (You can read more about the original idea here)

When I retired, I decided that I would try and finish a book that I had been writing since I was 18. I am still working on that book. But as I was gathering the information for the book, I was able to self-publish a few various journals just to get started and get used to the way the process worked. As I compiled my writings, I put the poetry and thoughts that I had jotted down over the years together in the first actual book that I published called "A Warrior's Writings". The following book, "Preparing Makes Sense", is more kid-focused to promote emergency preparedness among the younger generation. 

Since that time, I have been privileged to assist my father, Benjamin R. Bates Jr., in publishing a few books as well. There are a few new books in the works with more to come in the future. Be sure to follow our author page at www.amazon.com/author/lazyhat 

Most of my books can be found below. I do have a few more prayer journals that are available on Amazon. "A Warrior's Writings" and "Warrior Ready" is available on Barnes & Noble as well.