Author Joe Hawke discusses the short story collection “On Earth As It Is In Heaven,” which debuts Sept. 25.
GREAT FALLS, VA — When Joe Hawke was 20, he and his college sweetheart eloped and traveled 75 hours to San Francisco aboard a series of Greyhound buses.
With the release of “On Earth As It Is In Heaven” on Sept. 25, the Great Falls author will finally see stories in print that were inspired by that journey of youthful discovery.
Pegasus Publishers describes “On Earth As It Is In Heaven” as a “heartfelt journey through love, duty, and sacrifice, collecting chronologically 12 short stories that examine personal themes of “Christianity & Islam, American & Pakistani culture, virtue & sin, family, and belonging.”
For most of his 30-year career, Hawke was in the helicopter industry. He also worked in commercial banking, leasing, venture capital, and private equity investing, as well as mergers and acquisitions.
A lifelong writer, Hawke began writing in earnest in 2023, leading to the publication of his first novel in July 2024. “American Justice” is a contemporary satire parodying the justice system and political environment. He’s already penned the sequel, “Redemption,” and is working on a cookbook,
“The Man Cave Cooking Guide: How to Feed Your Family – and Yourself – with Love.”
Patch recently spoke to Hawke about his writing, what inspires him, and what people can expect from “On Earth As It Is In Heaven.”
What inspired you to start writing and how long have you been writing?
I always enjoyed writing, in part, I think, because I’ve always love words, word play, the musicality of words and language. I took creative writing classes in both high school and college. Probably reading Jack Kerouac’s On the Road inspired me to write for an audience. I was twenty, had just eloped with my college sweetheart, and was traveling to San Francisco on Greyhound buses for 75 hours, from one Chinatown to another. It took me nearly four decades to publish, but some of the stories in On ”
“Earth As It Is In Heaven” relate to writings from that era of my life.
What type of subjects interest you as a writer?
I like to explore themes that speak to certain universal aspects of humanity, while acknowledging our differences, culturally or otherwise. I also enjoy exploring and playing with language, where the story lends itself to that type of writing. I also admire writers like Tom Wolfe, who consistently capture certain moments and aspects of American society. I think fiction can be a useful tool to hold up a mirror to society as a whole.
What or who has been the greatest inspiration for your work?
Good writing, I think, tends to inspire one to write. But in terms of “On Earth As It Is In Heaven,” my inspiration clearly came from my parents.
How would you describe your writing style?
I would like to think that my writing is authentic. I try to pay particular attention to the authenticity of voice from the point of view of the particular story.
Your new work is a collection of short stories. Is this their first time being published or have they been published before? If so, where and when?
This is the first time this collection is being published. An earlier version of the final story, “Me and My Uncle,” was published by Reedsy.com in response to one of their weekly prompt competitions. It was not award winning, but it was published and received commentary and note from some peer authors, which I appreciated.
How would you describe “On Earth As It Is In Heaven”?
I would describe it as a collection of short stories that tells a tale over a series of several decades. It’s a story about love and family, cross-cultural tensions, and the triumph of acceptance, which, George Orwell said, is love.
How does it feel to have this book finally published?
It is gratifying to see the printed and bound version of the final product. I’m old school: I like to turn pages, feel the paper, mark the page, close the book. Screens are fine, but they don’t provide the same tactile experience.