Rock ‘n’ Roll High School 50: Making Love Outta Nothing At All

Woo Hoo! Can you believe I made it all the way to 50 posts for RNRHS? No? Okay, me neither. It’s not very often that a harebrained idea gains any traction, but I suppose there will always be the Flowbees and Bedazzlers of the world and if my blog ever becomes known as a Bedazzler of the Internet, that would be a sparkly crowning achievement. For my 50th RNRHS installment, I invited erotica author Tiffany Reisz to entertain you with her well-groomed word choice and bedazzled turn of phrase. I could go on about what a clever, singular writer she is, but you would be doing everyone a favor if you just sucked it up and bought one of her books. Then I wouldn’t have to explain it and you could get on with the order of the day, which is reading her lovely Air Supply-ish post.

Tiffany Reisz

Owensboro High School, Owensboro, KY, Class of 1996, Currently: I’m a famous Belgian sleuth by day, the scourge of Carpathia on the weekends, and a writer of erotic women’s fiction for MIRA Books when I’m not, you know, sleuthing or scourging. My debut full-length novel THE SIREN, the first book in The Original Sinners series, comes out July 24.

Band and/or song that reminds you the most of high school: I remember the first time I heard “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette off her album Jagged Little Pill. Sophomore year of high school, I was on some stupid trip with my parents. They were snoring up a storm in the hotel room so I was trying to sleep with my Walkman (it’s like an iPod only it holds about ten songs). I’d tuned into some Georgia rock station and heard that intense opening…I…want you to know…that I’m…happy for you…And then those lyrics! And that sexual anger! It was a revelation to hear a line like, “Every time I scratch my nails down someone else’s back I hope you feel it. CAN YOU FEEL IT?” Oh yes, Alanis. I can feel it.

Favorite piece of music memorabilia (poster, t-shirt, etc.) in high school: My musical tastes were profoundly shaped by my aunts and uncles and much older cousins. My father’s sisters are all singers. So tiny four-year-old Tiffany heard a lot of Eric Carman, Journey, Reo Speedwagon, and all those unattractive late 70s, early 80s bands who could rock the power ballads to the rafters. So when Air Supply came to Owensboro when I was a freshman, I was so there. I got a t-shirt and slept in it often. And like the good virginal nerd I was, me and that t-shirt were Making Love Outta Nothing at All.

Band that you hated that everyone else at school seemed to love: NIRVANA. I didn’t hate them but I didn’t get them either. Not then. Too much disaffected male rage. I liked Smells Like Teen Spirit, but I couldn’t get into grunge. I wasn’t sad enough, I suppose. My big high school crush was on David Letterman. I paid a ton of attention to the OJ trial. I read criminal procedure thriller novels and regency romances. I was a forty-two year old New Jersey housewife trapped in a Kentucky teenager’s body. Grunge and I didn’t have anything to talk about.

Best show or concert you saw in high school: I saw REO Speedwagon in concert with a guy I had a huge crush on. Nothing happened. #gay #theguy #nottheconcert #ittotallyrocked

Best high school make-out song: Believe it or not, this modern power slut was once a True Love Waits virgin back in her high school days. I didn’t date. No boyfriends. No making out. But if I was going to make out with someone in high school, it would have been to Romeo & Juliet by the Indigo Girls. Or Fade Into You by Mazzy Star. Remember Mazzy Star? Yeah, me neither.

You can learn more about Tiffany at tiffanyreisz.com. Her latest book, Immersed in Pleasure, is out now!