The Coolest Way to Kill Yourself
by Nicholas Tanek
Okay, so no one actually kills themselves in this book.
The Coolest Way to Kill Yourself pulls you into the early 90’s New York City rave scene, in all its chaotic, psychedelic glory. The narrator grabs you by your wrist and drags you behind two teenage lovers from New Jersey as they tumble through a whirlwind of reckless hedonism that eventually spirals into a dark, devastating world of drug addiction and heartbreak.
As a teenager, Lynn cried, “No one is ever going to write something for me.”
Nearly two decades later, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Nicholas did just that. The gesture came too late for our unlikely heroine, but his heart was in the right place. A broken heart… but a true love.
Reunited after years apart, Lynn and Nicholas embraced their love and sexuality, and embraced each other, despite troubled pasts, despite illness, despite all of their imperfections and mistakes. They shared the kind of honest and shameless connection that few have had the honor of knowing, and most would never understand.
“We’re not hurting anyone. We’re just living life without caring what anyone thinks about us, without caring about the consequences.”
“It’s the coolest way to kill ourselves,” Lynn said.
So turn the page, and pull the trigger.
The Coolest Way to Kill Yourself pulls you into the early 90’s New York City rave scene, in all its chaotic, psychedelic glory. The narrator grabs you by your wrist and drags you behind two teenage lovers from New Jersey as they tumble through a whirlwind of reckless hedonism that eventually spirals into a dark, devastating world of drug addiction and heartbreak.
As a teenager, Lynn cried, “No one is ever going to write something for me.”
Nearly two decades later, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Nicholas did just that. The gesture came too late for our unlikely heroine, but his heart was in the right place. A broken heart… but a true love.
Reunited after years apart, Lynn and Nicholas embraced their love and sexuality, and embraced each other, despite troubled pasts, despite illness, despite all of their imperfections and mistakes. They shared the kind of honest and shameless connection that few have had the honor of knowing, and most would never understand.
“We’re not hurting anyone. We’re just living life without caring what anyone thinks about us, without caring about the consequences.”
“It’s the coolest way to kill ourselves,” Lynn said.
So turn the page, and pull the trigger.
Fan made book trailer:
Link: http://a.co/0xVzf8j
Chipped Black Nail Polish
by Nicholas Tanek
by Nicholas Tanek
A tribute to a different kind of Jersey girl.
In New Jersey during the summer of 1989, an awkward thirteen-year-old who was obsessed with weird music fell head-over-heels in love with the coolest post-punk rock girl he had ever met. Nicholas was insecure. He was a daydreamer, wishing for romance when he was told, over and over, that he could not have it. He was a toy, pulled and pushed, wanted and used, dragged along yet held at a distance. Nicholas fell in with the out crowd, and loved every minute of it. He fell in love and got left behind, but not before she changed him forever.
This is an irrational, emotional love story for the teenager inside all of us. The music is loud, and you’re about to be pushed into the pit.
In New Jersey during the summer of 1989, an awkward thirteen-year-old who was obsessed with weird music fell head-over-heels in love with the coolest post-punk rock girl he had ever met. Nicholas was insecure. He was a daydreamer, wishing for romance when he was told, over and over, that he could not have it. He was a toy, pulled and pushed, wanted and used, dragged along yet held at a distance. Nicholas fell in with the out crowd, and loved every minute of it. He fell in love and got left behind, but not before she changed him forever.
This is an irrational, emotional love story for the teenager inside all of us. The music is loud, and you’re about to be pushed into the pit.
Other fun Stuff:
podcast
Nicholas Tanek show for Network Awesome
WPRB Interview:
Interview With Nicholas Tanek:
1. Can you tell us a little about your books?
Thank you for your time. Right now, I have two published books and one on the way. My first book is titled The Coolest Way to Kill Yourself and it is a tribute to the love of my life who passed away from complications of ovarian cancer and liver failure. It’s a love story about second chances. The title is a metaphor for personal growth. The book is filled with kinky sex, hard drugs, and an endless amount of music references. The first third of the book takes place during the New York City rave scene during the early 90’s. The last third of the book deals with finding a bond through kinky sex. My second book is Chipped Black Nail Polish. It takes place before The Coolest Way to Kill Yourself. It’s about my first love who introduced me to the 1989 New Jersey punk rock scene. My next book takes place after The Coolest Way and it is all about the NJ/NYC BDSM fetish community.
2. What inspires you to write?
Creative people and honesty. All my books are true. I change the names and label them fiction for legal reasons. Some people want me to use their real names and I do. All my books are tributes to people I love or have loved. The Coolest Way to Kill Yourself was a tribute to Lynn. Chipped Black Nail Polish was a tribute to my first love, Kim. My new book, Your Kinky Friends, is a tribute to the wonderful and wild people I know in the BDSM fetish community. So, I guess you can say love inspires me to write.
3. When did you know you wanted to write a book?
I always wanted to write a book. When I was young, I wrote screenplays. They were terrible, but the effort was there. The Coolest Way started it all. Lynn’s passing inspired me to write the book. She changed me. The selfish Nicholas Tanek died and I became a more humble and loving person. I had to write the book. I decided I would finish it even if it killed me.
4. When you write do you write the first draft on a computer or paper and pen?
I use the computer. My handwriting is atrocious. Plus, I type very fast. I make a lot of mistakes, but that’s what editing is for. I can get the story out of my head and onto the page faster using a computer. Then, edit, edit, and edit more.
5. Do you have a favorite spot to write?
For writing, my favorite spot is my bedroom. I’m surrounded by my huge music collection.
6. Do you listen to music while you write?
Definitely! I actually post a soundtrack at the end of my books. While I write every chapter (or “drop” as I call them), I have specific songs that enhance the emotion and atmosphere I am trying to create. Music is essential to my writing.
7. Which famous person, living or dead, would you like to meet and why?
That depends on what you consider famous. I have met many people who I consider famous... I had lunch with Jim Reid of The Jesus & Mary Chain. I interviewed Tom Scharpling of The Best Show, Scharpling & Wurster, Monk, and Divorce. I’ve met Chris Gethard from The Chris Gethard Show. I have had several phone conversations with Coco from The Ettes. She read Chipped Black Nail Polish and liked it. They may not be wildly famous people, but they inspire me. If he was alive, I would have loved to meet Hunter S. Thompson. It would be cool to talk with him about drugs and politics. The Dalai Lama would be really cool. Neil deGrasse Tyson would also be awesome.
8. What writing projects are you currently working on?
My next book is titled Your Kinky Friends. It takes place after The Coolest Way and it is a tribute to the weird and wonderful people in the NY/NJ BDSM fetish community. Although it has heavy sexual themes, it is not masturbation material or a typical romance novel. It is a love story in many ways. Lynn is back in flashbacks. Kevin is back. My dog, Mokey, is back too. I’m proud of it. The whole spectrum of kink is explored. People are going to end up learning about new kinks and hopefully benefit from it. The book not only deals with how people use sex to try to cope with depression and loss, but it also celebrates sexual freedom and sexual expression. I’m really excited and proud of it. I think it will get people’s attention. Well, it will get the attention of the cool people.
Social Media:Twitter: @NicholasTanek
https://twitter.com/NicholasTanek
Official : http://thecoolestway.net
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/nicholas.tanek
The Coolest Way (Facebook) : https://www.facebook.com/thecoolestway/?fref=ts
Your Kinky Friends (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/278102449249264
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