Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an American ghostwriter from New Brunswick, New Jersey. I graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelors in English. I has been a ghostwriter for over 15 years. This is my first book that I wrote under my own name.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Coolest Way To Kill Yourself is the name of my book. Love inspired my book. The love of my life, Lynn passed away the summer before Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey. Lynn and I had a summer romance in the early 90′s. We were a part of the NYC rave scene and the NJ punk scene. We both wrote and I would get published. The poems and stories were all for other girls I liked. She would be upset. She would cry, “No one will ever write anything for me. Why doesn’t anyone write something beautiful for me?” Well, I wrote a book for the girl who thought no one would every write something for her.
No one actually commits suicide in the book. The book does not condone or promote suicide. The title refers to giving yourself over to love. We both fell into addiction and were victims of abuse. We wanted to kill off the people we were. Our relationship was the most honest and beautiful relationships I have ever experienced. We did not care what anyone else thought about us. We expressed ourselves through sex, kink, and fetish. We became empowered. We became enlightened.
When Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey, I had to use a generator to power my laptop. Her story… our story had to be told. The story is filled with hard drugs, kinky sex, and many music references. It is an unconventional romance that few are fortunate enough to experience. This is a New Jersey love story that spans more than two decades. It is a story of redemption. Love and sexual expression helped us overcome addiction, abuse, poverty, and depression.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes, I have many.
I need music playing in the background. While writing this book, I listened to many records. Some of the bands included My Bloody Valentine, Roxy Music, Withered Hand, ex wife, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, The House Of Love, Tiny Teeth, The Dandy Warhols, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Pale Saints, Elbow, Pixies, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The Beta Band, and many more.
I like to get into a zone. I have the music playing and the door locked. My dog, Mokey is usually by my side. The cover of my book is me in front of my laptop with my dog, Mokey in my lap. Lynn’s picture is looking at me. Melissa Blair (who also edited the book) did the cover that way because a major aspect of this book is me writing the book. That is why anyone who loves writing should appreciate this book. The power of writing and being creative is a major theme.
My main style is to get the ideas on the page. I get it out of my head and onto the page. Then, proofred, edit, proofread, edit, over and over again.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Hunter S. Thompson, Anais Nin, Henry Miller, Pauline Reage, Charles Bukowski, Kurt Vonnegut, Philip K. Dick, J.D. Salinger, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Steven King, Clive Barker, and many more.
What are you working on now?
I am working on a prequel to The Coolest Way To Kill Yourself. I originally met Lynn in 1992/1993. I had more confidence and was able to be romantic with girls while I was in high school. Before that, I met a very wild and mysterious punk rock girl in 1989. I was going to high school in the fall. This woman took me to my first punk rock and indie rock shows. She was a very wild woman who changed my life, opened my mind, and inspired me. Right now, the working title is Chipped Black Nail Polish. New Jersey had a very cool independent punk rock / hardcore / indie rock / ska scene in the late 80′s and early 90′s. This book captures that era.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
http://thecoolestway.com
Facebook:
http://facebook.com/thecoolestway
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Coolest-Way-Kill-Yourself-ebook/dp/B00GUSAX7G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392222405&sr=8-1&keywords=the+coolest+way+to+kill+yourself
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18673607-the-coolest-way-to-kill-yourself
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Write.
What are you reading now?
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
How to Talk Dirty and Influence People by Lenny Bruce
Zombie Spaceship Wasteland by Patton Oswalt
Attempting Normal by Marc Maron
A Bad Idea I’m About to Do: True Tales of Seriously Poor Judgment and Stunningly Awkward Adventure by Chris Gethard
What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to promote my current book, The Coolest Way To Kill Yourself. Then, I want to help edit and produce a book that my editor wrote. Melissa Blair is writing a book titled Tell Me Everything. It is a fascinating true memoir about growing up in New Jersey with some emotional issues, surviving a horrible marriage, and find love. Tell Me Everything by Melissa Blair is a book that definitely gets kinky and explores some unique fetishes in a very heartfelt and non-exploitative way. Then, I want to publish Chipped Black Nail Polish, which is the prequel to The Coolest Way To Kill Yourself.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch
The Iliad & The Odyssey by Homer
and maybe… The Bible, but NOT for religious or spiritual reasons.
Author Websites and Profiles
Nicholas Tanek Website
Nicholas Tanek Amazon Profile
Nicholas Tanek’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account
Nicholas Tanek is a post from Awesome Gang