Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Hickman.
Hi Josh, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a graduate of the Booker T. Washington High School for Performing and Visual Arts and UT Austin Film school. I’ve written since I was a child, authoring my first “book” of short stories at the age of twelve. Working a variety of jobs including bartender, musician, artist, filmmaker, muralist, teacher, and private investigator, I eventually moved from Dallas to Los Angeles in my thirties. I spent fourteen years in Hollywood working a myriad of jobs, including writing for some area periodicals. I had started about four serious novels, but couldn’t finish any of them. After ten years of mulling over jokes and ideas, I started my first comic novel. Having a lifelong natural ability for comedy, I realized that I had found my niche, completing my first four books in just two years. I continued writing after relocating back to Dallas three and a half years ago. Delayed by illness, I finally completed my fifth comic novel. My sixth book, just released in May of this year, is a collection of short stories titled Songs in the Key of H: Tales of Irony & Insinuation.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I haven’t really suffered from writer’s block yet, but I was sidelined by a near-fatal illness in 2019. Writing helped me get through the months of recovery. Time is often a problem. One must be able to set enough time aside uninterrupted for writing, which can be difficult.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
For the past five years, I’ve concentrated on humor in what seems like an increasingly unfunny world. Though my literary comedy is somewhat gentle, I’m always looking for ways to undermine hypocrisy and the status quo via satire and absurdism. Life, death, self-delusion, charlatans, and double standards are always under my creative lens. Getting people to laugh—perhaps laugh at themselves—and to think via laughter is important. I am of course proudest of my latest book Songs in The Key of H: Tales of Irony & Insinuation. I think it’s me at my sharpest and most contemporary. I mixed laughter with meditative poignancy in a way that I hadn’t previously.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I read non-fiction almost exclusively. The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense by Dr. Gad Saad is a good recent book. I listen to Bill Burr’s podcast from time to time, and I watched Norm MacDonald’s podcast/show when it was on. I like old showbiz stories and tales of social intrigue. I get much of my inspiration and information from just doing tireless research.
Pricing:
- $14.99
Contact Info:
- Website: www.joshhickmanbooks.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1717411370
