Kevin Hibshman On Books And Writing

Kevin Hibshman joins me for the latest edition of books and writing. Hibshman resides in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

This interview has been edited lightly.

“Cease To Destroy” came out last year. Would you tell me a little bit about it?

In the book before this one (“Just Another Small Town Story”), I wanted to expand my prose writing. I didn’t really want to do short stories so I used a kind of hybrid style for a lot of it, like a poetic prose. That book had a lot to do with formative experiences that occurred during my childhood. “Cease To Destroy” in some ways is a part two or at least a continuation of both that style and subject matter.

The book shifts from present day to where the last one left off somewhere in the late 80s-early 90s. It’s filled with people, places and things that are important to me. There are also two pieces based on dreams that affected me in a profound way.

How long did it take to write? Do you have a writing routine?

It didn’t take too long. I’m lucky in that once I get the juices flowing, it just comes out rather copiously. I did much more editing and revising with this one. I wanted to make sure it was the best I could offer at the moment, especially since “Just Another Small Town Story” had done so well.

I’ve never had any sort of writing routine. I just wait until an idea or a line pops up in my head and go from there. It has to be spontaneous. I can’t do anything under pressure.

How did you go about getting the book published?

My brother John [Patrick Robbins], who doubles as my publisher, urged me into this one. He’s amazingly supportive and felt I should put another book out. We were very happy with “Small Town” and wanted to keep up the momentum.

Do you have any literary influences?

My first big influence was Patti Smith. I got into writing through rock and roll. The rock poets and then the punk poets: Jim Carroll, Lou Reed, David Bowie to name a few. They led me to some of the French Symbolists and to the Beats.

Any big projects in the works?

John and I have a book nearing release: “Lost in the Garden of the Heathens.” It’s a split book so you get two writers for the price of one! I’m also working with poet Merritt Waldon on an “Exquisite Corpse” book where we trade lines and do fun stuff.