Karen Booth
Back in the saddle with Rock ‘n’ Roll High School after a sliver of time away from the topic. Feels so good to swim around in the murky depths of adolescent music memories once again! Today’s post is from my dear writer pal, Hanna Martine, who is an amazing author and semi-professional beer drinker. Her debut paranormal romance, Liquid Lies, is out now and I think you are a complete fool if you don’t run right out and buy it. (No pressure.) Hanna writes about so many amazing bands in her post today, I hardly know where to start, but one thing that really stuck out to me is that I’m fairly certain no other RNRHS guest has mentioned INXS. How is that possible?
Hanna Martine
Western Chicago suburbs, Class of ’92, currently does mommy things, drinking things, writing things, happy things
Band and/or song that reminds you the most of high school: I entered high school in 1989, and was promptly introduced to “alternative.” You know, back when that word actually meant something. I was obsessed with Ministry and Nitzer Ebb. I think I tried to become an alterna-kid, but failed miserably. By the time I graduated high school I was on the dance team. A complete one-eighty.
My senior year was 1991-1992, which was when grunge just exploded. All the hair bands were shoved aside and suddenly–it felt like overnight–there was this completely new sound coming out of tape decks and car stereos everywhere. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is the obvious song choice for that time, but I remember being more affected by Pearl Jam. “Ten” made me go wow. It still does, to this day.
U2’s “Achtung Baby” came out at the end of 1991 and it (besides being absolute perfection and my most favorite U2 album ever) completely defined my senior year. I “re-discovered” who would become my all-time favorite band (after a brief flirtation with them during junior high), each song makes me think of a different episode in my senior life, and it signified a shift in how I thought about myself and my future direction (deep thoughts, I know).
Favorite piece of music memorabilia (poster, t-shirt, etc.) in high school: I get a little lump in my throat when I think about my Sinead O’Connor T-shirt from her 1990 tour. Once upon a time it was white, with a blue dove on the front and “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” scrawled in gold on the back. It was huge and baggy, and when it finally dissolved into molecules I might have given it a funeral.
Band that you hated that everyone else at school seemed to love: I’ve never been a fan of either Mariah Carey or Gloria Estefan. And I don’t think I ever took Color Me Badd seriously, even back then.
Best show or concert you saw in high school: INXS with the Soup Dragons opening. I was more excited to see the Soup Dragons and wore their T-shirt for years. We missed the first few songs because my boyfriend at the time was the worst driver ever and for some reason couldn’t find this giant arena just off the interstate. Michael Hutchence was a god, and their CD “Live Baby Live” was recorded that night.
Best high school make-out song: “Say Anything” came out my freshman year, solidifying “In Your Eyes” as the Make Out Song De Rigueur for my entire generation. This was before standing outside a girl’s house holding a radio was considered stalker-ish.
Hanna Martine’s debut, Liquid Lies, Book One in the Elemental series, is out now. You can learn more about her at hannamartine.com.
My critique partner, the astoundingly talented Karen Stivali, has a brand new ebook from Ellora’s Cave today, titled Marry Me. In honor of the release and in the spirit of the title, I will purchase a copy of Marry Me for the person who tells me the best wedding reception story. It can be embarrassing (you tucked your dress into your pantyhose), steamy (nothing like a good grope on the dance floor), salacious (ditto for a roll in the coat closet), or stupid (really? you didn’t realize that guy you made out with was your cousin?). Just entertain me and the fine readers of my blog. I choose the winner at my own discretion, by the end of the day (Friday, June 1st). In the meantime, big congrats to Karen, and here’s more about Marry Me!
Marry Me
When British drummer Ben Davis lost his childhood sweetheart, he was certain he’d never love again. He focuses on music as his band rises to stardom. A never-ending stream of groupies satisfies his needs until he meets intriguing clothing designer Julia Jones.
Julia’s career rocketed from seamstress to up-and-coming designer for the A-list, but her personal life didn’t fare as well. Her last boyfriend crossed from controlling to violent and she vowed never to be in that position again.
Sparks fly the instant Ben and Julia meet, but she resists his intoxicating charms, certain a celebrity romance will bring only trouble. But before long the heat between them becomes undeniable and she allows him into her bed and her heart. The more in love Ben falls, the more he fears losing her. When Julia’s life is endangered, Ben’s reaction terrifies her, forcing them both to confront their biggest fears if they want a chance at a future together.
Karen Stivali is a multi-published author of erotic romance with Ellora’s Cave, including Long-Distance Lovers, co-authored by Karen Booth (imagine that!). Her first full-length novel, Meant To Be, is a work of women’s fiction and will be released by Turquoise Morning Press on August 26, 2012. To learn more about Karen, visit her site at karenstivali.com.
The following is a public (note: also pubic) service announcement from my dear friend, author Tiffany Reisz.
Hello World!
FELT TIPS – The World’s Greatest Charity Anthology of Office-Supply-Related Erotica is coming December 12, 2012. Mark your calendars! The anthology, like its readers, will be coming soon!
Please congratulate all our fine FELT TIPS writers when you see them on Twitter. They donated their time and talents to this charity anthology. Because of them, some kids who couldn’t afford new school supplies and some down-on-their-luck parents who can’t afford work clothes will be getting a hand from our one-handed read.
Below is a list of our FELT TIPS writers and their stories. A big ole thank you to each and every one of them. Special thanks as always to Allie Sanders, my fearless editorial assistant.
FELT TIPS
THE TABLE OF CONTENTS
Jenny Lyn – Indelible
Karen Booth – Taking Dictation
Karen Stivali – Hard at Work
Heather Cole – The Saint of Office Hell
Blacksilk – Of Silver, Sin, and School Desks
Brittany Lawrence – Mine
Eric Andrew Satchwill – What Is It, Suzie?
Gwen Marie Porter – My New Office Chair
Amber Lin – Proof
Jason Darrick – Stapled
Kelly Jamieson – Getting Down to Business
AmyBeth Inverness – In the Closet
Rebecca Stewart – Special Delivery
Marie Wright – The Drawing
Sopphey Vance – Down to the Point
Lynne Silver – Doing it Write
Jillian Boyd – Mark Me
Shoshanna Evers – Tape
Alyssa Linn Palmer – Vee
Sandra Bunino – The Fountain Pen
Antonio Angelo – Trust Me
Lela Gwenn – Whiteboard
Xander Grimm – The Night Shift
Kiki Snow – The Benefits of Multitasking
R. Brennan – Routine Maintenance
Maxine Marsh – The Boss
Cara Ellyn – Private Message
Erin Danielle – All Marked Up
Lucy Felthouse – A Stroke of Peach
Anya Winter – The Server
Diana Cruz – A Rough Night at the Office
Emily Cale – A Planned Encounter
Patricia Correll – Theo’s Donation
Morgan Sierra – The Motion of the Ocean
Candice Bundy – Open Rack
K Fish – The Antique
Memory Scarlett – Silky & Silvered
Michelle Ribaric – All Work & No Play
Stella Harris – Turnabout
Juliana Sliema – Caught
Jade Adkins – Embrace the Strength Inside
Amanda Fletcher – What Happens at STAPLES
Allie Sanders – Love Letters
Tiffany Reisz – Teacher’s Pet
Tiffany Reisz is a multi-published author of scorching erotic fiction. Her latest, The Siren, is out now. Learn more about Tiffany at tiffanyreisz.com.
So excited to reveal the cover for my summer release, For Keeps. It’s the story of Allie and Cooper–she’s 40, he’s 28, together, they’re damn hot. Note: this story features half-dressed dining on crepes. Blurb coming soon…
Lucy Felthouse takes the helm of Rock ‘n’ Roll High School today–thank goodness she brought us some Backstreet Boys love. There has been way too much in the way of NKOTB-ness going on around here lately. Lucy’s an astoundingly prolific author, a graduate of the University of Derby, where she studied Creative Writing. During her first year, she was dared to write an erotic story – so she did. It went down a storm and she’s never looked back. Lucy has had stories published by Cleis Press, Constable and Robinson, House of Erotica, Noble Romance, Ravenous Romance, Resplendence Publishing, Summerhouse Publishing, Sweetmeats Press and Xcite Books. She is also the editor of Uniform Behaviour and Seducing the Myth.
Lucy Felthouse
William Allitt School, Currently: PR & Marketing/Writing
Band and/or song that reminds you the most of high school: “Pretty Fly for a White Guy” by The Offspring. For no other reason than when it came out, the entire school seemed to be obsessed with it, singing it constantly, etc. It could possibly be because some of the lyrics sounded rude, too: “Give It To Me Baby” which of course at that age was hilariously funny. Now, it sounds more like a line from one of my books.
Favorite piece of music memorabilia (poster, t-shirt, etc.) in high school: Ah, that would depend on the year (or the month, day of the week, direction of the wind…). I changed my mind frequently, depending on who the newest boy band was. I had Take That, Boyzone, Robbie Williams, Backstreet Boys, Westlife and Blue posters. Then suddenly I was too old for posters, which is probably just as well because I changed my mind so often that I’m surprised the wallpaper wasn’t filled with holes from frequent poster removal.
Band that you hated that everyone else at school seemed to love: I honestly can’t remember one. I’ve always been a bit of an individual with my music taste, particularly as I’ve got older. Now my iTunes is full of tracks which range from 60s and 70s rock and pop through to the boy bands and female vocalists of today. I have seriously eclectic taste.
Best show or concert you saw in high school: Probably the Backstreet Boys. I did see them three or four times, and I loved them. Sadly, though, I saw them again a couple of years ago, and it just wasn’t the same. It felt like they were just going through the motions, rather than touring because they really wanted to. The passion was gone – it seemed. Either that or they were incredibly jetlagged.
Best high school make-out song: I don’t remember a song that you would classify as a make-out song, but I do remember at the local disco, which is where spotty teenagers congregated to swap saliva (*vomits at the thought*), hearing “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65 quite a lot. Like I said, not at all a make-out song!!
Find out more about Lucy at lucyfelthouse.co.uk. Her latest is The Cottage in the Woods. Excerpt and links to purchase are here.
*****
Living in her remote cottage in the woods, Heidi doesn’t get many visitors. So when she spots a fox in her garden, she’s delighted. However, her joy quickly turns to dismay when she thinks the beautiful creature may be injured. Heading out to see how she can help, Heidi is astounded when something happens that makes her question her eyesight – not to mention her sanity. Once she gets over her shock and discovers the reason behind the peculiar encounter, Heidi is mighty glad that the fox chose her garden to visit.
