Equally fascinated with horror
movies, comedians, and true crime since early childhood, Josh Hickman spent
equal time wading in the heady waters of Famous Monsters of Filmland
magazine, the Three Stooges comedy shorts, and Helter Skelter while
growing up in various parts of Texas. When he became a writer, Hickman
incorporated his comedic sensibility and lifelong love of the horror and true
crime genres into his satiric writings. His past comic novels also include the
fictional comedy bio THROUGH TICK & TINN: THE TRUE STORY OF THE GREATEST
UNKNOWN COMEDY TEAM EVER KNOWN and the illustrated surreal, cautionary
high-seas treasure-hunt saga AMBERGRIS. Hickman lives and works in
Hollywood.
His latest book is the
satirical fantasy, The
Kinfolk: Cult of Sex and Cheese.
Visit his website at http://www.joshhickmanbooks.com.
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About the Book:
Hollywood
Author Josh Hickman will release his latest brand of satirical, humorous books
in mid-November. In the author’s new book, THE KINFOLK: CULT OF SEX AND
CHEESE he explores the maddening
world of cults. Mr. Hickman’s new novel
follows his last satirical fantasy book, FIVE
Hollywood writer Mr. Hickman releases his new book as the fourth in a
fantasy book series he has created and published. In THE KINFOLK: CULT OF SEX AND CHEESE he
chronicles the rise and
fall of a “seductive, fanatical cult” led by the
enigmatic Dillman “Papa Dilly” Bradford.
With THE KINFOLK: CULT OF SEX AND CHEESE once again fact meets
fiction in the funny fantasy worlds author Josh Hickman creates. This time his
fascination with cults has produced a fresh, yet familiar cast of charlatans,
rubes, losers, and lucky fools, finding laughs in the cult impulse, religious
fervor, and the common pathos of the average person who will do anything to
find solace and belonging. Once more, author Hickman focuses his gaze on tragic
comedy that is human existence--with all its fears, pitfalls, trials, and
triumphs--and again he speaks hilarious truth to power in his latest entry THE
KINFOLK: CULT OF SEX AND CHEESE.
“For as long as I’ve read books I’ve always been a huge fan of comedic
novels,” Hickman asserted. “It was time I decided to start expressing my own
comedic side of creative writing.”
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It’s a pleasure to have you here today, Josh. Can you tell
us what your new book is about?
The Kinfolk: Cult of Sex & Cheese is a comedy about a cult. I’ve been fascinated with cults and the religious cult impulse for many years, and I wanted to explore the pathos, hypocrisy, and absurdity which can arise in the cult milieu. What is it in us that makes us give up so much, to do such crazy things, to make such leaps of faith for a tenuous chance at belonging, deeper meaning, and perhaps some sort of “salvation.”
Can you tell us a little about your main and supporting
characters?
The leader of the Kinfolk cult is Dillman “Papa Dilly” Bradford who started out as a sickly child, but quickly took to faith-healing and monkey training. His fiercely loyal wife Mama Milly props him up during fits of delusion and protects him from any detractors. They, their eventual three children, and the odd, estranged Cousin Rear make up the core of the cult. Runaways, burnouts, hippies, and the spiritually lost are slowly picked up by the Kinfolk in their travels across the country.
Your book is set in Los Angeles
and its environs. Can you tell us why
you chose this city in particular?
L.A. has a long history of oddball cults, some tiny, some huge. At one time or another, groups such as the Source Family, the Manson Family, Synanon, Scientology, the Sybionese Liberation Army, and the Center for Feeling Therapy were all based here. If you had to pick a cult capitol, Los Angeles might be it. I later move the cult north near Fresno where they attempt a takeover of the tiny town of Lemon Curd, California, with hilarious results, of course.
Open the book to page 69.
What is happening?
Great choice, 69 is a wonderful page. We are learning of Cousin Rear’s background in Texas working at the Shootin’ Fish In A Barrel! kiddie amusement park. Then we go into his failed career as a reverend in the Itching For Zion Church. Kicked out of the congregation for not obtaining a permit to solemnize marriages, he takes his business on the road as “Marryin’” Rev. Rear, specializing 3rd and 4th marriages.
What has been the most pivotal point of your writing life?
I think writing The Kinfolk: Cult of Sex & Cheese was the most pivotal so far. It took longer to write than my other books, requiring more research. I think its also the most thoughtful and philosophical of my books, perhaps. I tried to make it fully fleshed-out and realized, not concentrating so much on the laugh-a-line writing I had been shooting for in past books. It’s probably the most realistic of my books, though there is still a good deal of my trademark absurdity and surreality.
What kind of advice would you give other fiction authors?
Do your homework, do your research, and write what you know. If you ever catch yourself typing away and suddenly think “I’m not really sure about what I’m writing here,” stop. Do as much editing as you can beforehand, so that by the time you get to the page you know what you’re doing, and you know what you’re saying. Endless rewrites aren’t good for anybody, I don’t think.
GIVEAWAY!
Josh Hickman is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Terms & Conditions:
- By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
- One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter.
- This giveaway ends midnight January 31.
- Winner will be contacted via email on February 1.
- Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!