The Oracle

Issue date: 1/26/10 Section: News

Josh Hackett's memoir, No Chaser

Josh Hackett, an '09 graduate, is self-publishing a 60-page memoir called No Chaser that will be released in February. The book, which includes poems, prose and short stories, covers the last six years of his life and starts with young adulthood.

The Oracle recently sat down with Josh to ask him about the project. To view the complete interview, visit www.hamlineoracle.com

Oracle: What inspired you to publish a book?
Josh Hackett: I'm part of a poetry group called the Skull & Poems Literary Society. We started as a group of writers who were craving real criticism. You need someone to cover your page with ink. So we work as a group that edits for one another and we help each other grow. We published American Music last year, and this book is the natural next step for us. My writing works better in context, and the book is a way to show that.

O: What story does your memoir No Chaser tell?
JH: It really covers a wide range, and it became a coming of age piece. I am the main character and it follows my development and how I grew up. It shows how things that seemed so catastrophic and terrible when I was younger, aren't absolutely awful because I can handle them now. Sort of like, the most important moments of your life aren't always filled with happiness‚ sometimes they will hurt.

O: Describe your writing style.
JH: As a writer, I have to be honest‚ even with fiction, or people will see right through it. I'm really inspired by Frank O'Hara, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jason Shinder. You don't really need an epic life story to write good work, and I don't play around with things outside my experience - those aren't my stories to tell. My writing tends to start out fairly insular, and I edit to make it more relatable. This book took about three months total and there are 37 pieces in it. I would write one first draft every day for a month, and then spend the next month doing editing.

O: Where do you plan to go from here?
JH: In the grand scheme I like to look at it as Chapter One for me. I'm currently working on a fiction novel that covers 16 years of journal entries. I'm also planning on grad school in the fall, planning to eventually gain my Ph.D. in philosophy and hopefully spend my life teaching and writing.

O: Where is your book available?
JH: The official book release is Feb. 13 at Nina's Coffee Cafe, at 7 p.m. I'm going to be reading the book and selling copies of it. Right now the book will be a PDF online, and made-to-order printed copies. I'm hoping to market it to local bookshops around town.

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