Karen Booth
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!
Dear Duran Duran,
OMG, I know, this letter is totally late. Looking at my calendar, it’s twenty-seven years late. The thing is, it would have been totally lame if I’d written this in 1985. It would have said, “I love you!” 100 times, written in my loopiest high-school-girl handwriting. I know this because I sent that exact letter to Rick Springfield in 1983 and we all know how that turned out. For Rick, I mean. I’m totally fine.
And let’s be honest. You guys were ridiculously huge in 1985. My fan letter would have made zero impact. After months and months of sold-out monster-domes and groupies galore and ever-flowing-Stoli-fountains, no one would have cared about a heartfelt declaration of adoration from a sixteen-year-old Minnesota girl, no matter how sincerely it may have been written. And my letter would have been off-the-charts sincere.
So let me first say this, regardless of how stunningly adorable any of you may be or how much my still-super-girlie brain cannot resist the oh-so-witty British-isms, the clever interview quips, the penetrating stares into the camera lens, I am proud to say that it’s still about the music.
Back in the day, you were my escape. In my room with the door closed, listening to “Careless Memories” or “My Own Way” or “The Reflex”, it didn’t matter that the boys at my school were lame and didn’t appreciate my punk rock hair. It didn’t matter that I had no idea what to do with my life or that there wasn’t a lot of money or that I may have felt a bit stuck. Music took me to another place, and it was a pretty glamorous kick-ass locale when it was with DD.
There’s no question that DD set me on the more obsessive tangent of my musical path. I’d always been drawn to music, ever a lover if you will, but my early DD fan days taught me to live and breathe it. That led me to the campus radio station in college, which led to my first music industry job, which eventually led me to meet my husband. What if I’d been listening to REO Speedwagon instead? The passion surely would have died. I might be caking on purple sparkly eye shadow, ringing up Big Gulps and Power Ball Tickets, without the most amazing guy ever in my life.
I admit that I fell off the DD wagon for a few years. Little Miss Music Industry Rock Chick gave in to her moments of music snobbery. It wasn’t always a pretty sight. Life changed after I hung up that hat, the hubby and I had kids, and I was sucked into the paradigm shift that parenthood brings. Karma got me back and I spent a few years with stacks of Raffi and The Wiggles CDs in the car. I assure you that my children only like good music now, DD near the top of the list for my thirteen-year-old daughter. The apple does not fall far from the tree.
Here we all are! Totally adorable, I know.
I road-tripped to see you in DC in October. You probably don’t remember. I was the girl you waited for at the end of the meet-and-greet, whose friend had passed out in the hall. Don’t worry, she’s fine, although I think she’s hoping for a rain check on the photo op. Despite the need for EMTs, the experience was awesome…and the Facebook likes when I posted the photos? Forget about it.
The show was incredible, everything I wanted it to be. The old songs sounded even better than when I saw you in 1985, when they were shiny and new. More importantly, the songs from All You Need Is Now (one of my favorite records of 2011, btw) were busting at the seams. The audience sang every word of every song that night—it wasn’t just nostalgia, it was about here and now, which I suppose is the point of your new record. Funny how that works.
And so now, twenty-seven years later, when I say, “I love you!”, it won’t be 100 times. Not because it would be ridiculous for a grown woman to do. Not because I should be spending my day doing more productive things. It’s just that you surely deserve more.
Karen xoxoxo
Here’s something you probably don’t know about me: I’m a singer. No, not like a singer singer. I’m not “for hire” or “talented” or “good”. I just like to sing, all the time, everywhere. I can’t help it. For example, I’m incapable of not singing in the car, unless we’re listening to talk radio, which I avoid at all costs. If my hubby is driving, I turn and mumble-sing (it’s a thing, look it up) into the car window. He would make fun of me if I sang for real, but I can’t keep it in. I’ve got the music in me. Somebody said that once. Regardless, the fabulous Shoshanna Evers is in charge of RNRHS today and even though she wasn’t really singing, she had the guts to get up in front of her school and pretend like she could sing. Which is pretty much what I do in the privacy of my shower every morning. I just want to know one thing. Who else is guilty?
Shoshanna Evers
Typical Suburban NY High School, class of ‘98, currently: I’m an erotica author, syndicated advice columnist, RN, and stay-at-home-mom. My tagline is Sexily *Evers* After…
Band and/or song that reminds you the most of high school: Probably anything by Green Day. That song that goes “I hope you had the time of your life”…
Favorite piece of music memorabilia (poster, t-shirt, etc.) in high school: I had a Sublime t-shirt that I stole from my older brother. I started listening to them just so I could wear the T-shirt and not be a poser. Although now that I think about it, I don’t think it’s supposed to work that way.
Band that you hated that everyone else at school seemed to love: the Backstreet Boys. (Sorry fellas!) I just couldn’t get why they were so hot.
Best show or concert you saw in high school: I never went to concerts in high school. I did, however, dress up as Posh Spice with a group of my girlfriends dressed as the other Spice Girls, and we lip-synched “Tell Me What You Want (What you Really Really Want)” for a talent show… so that was basically a concert… or not. LOL!
Best high school make-out song: I’m trying so hard to remember the songs I used to make out to in high school, but I can’t remember the music – just the taste of cherry Chapstick mingled with cigarettes, which is what my high school boyfriend used to taste like. I guess I have a different sense-memory when it comes to things like that.
You can learn more about Shoshanna and her Sexily *Evers* After books at shoshannaevers.com. Her latest is Bedhead, available from Ellora’s Cave!
Just so everyone is aware, my blog is not devoted to all things NKOTB. I’m not going to rename it “Hangin’ Tough”. Obviously, I need to circulate a memo that reminds everyone that if we are to perseverate about any band in Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, it shall be Duran Duran. I am in charge, after all. Julie A. Lindsey is today’s resident Block Head, but she threw in some LL Cool J to keep it real and some Color Me Bad to keep it, uh, less real. You know I appreciate both ends of the spectrum. Julie’s got a brand new book out this week, Bloom, which is the first in her Seeds of Love series. Check it out, congratulate her and while you’re at it, tell her that the NKOTB thing is cool–we all have our own unexplained musical preoccupations.
Julie Anne Lindsey
McKinley High School, Canton, Ohio, Class of ’93, Currently: I’m a wife and mother to three nutty offspring, plus I write.
Band and/or song that reminds you the most of high school: LL Cool J. We played “Boomin’ System” so loud, so often, I’m sure I rattled my brain. “Rump Shaker” was also a huge party song and Sir Mix-a-Lot….holy smokes I’m cracking up at my keyboard now, answering these questions and searching YouTube for the videos. Too funny! Oh look, my dork is showing.
Favorite piece of music memorabilia (poster, t-shirt, etc.) in high school: Tee shirt! I snuck away one weekend with some friends who loved country music (few and far between at my high school) to attend Jamboree in the Hills a HUGE Lollapalooza style country music festival that comes to southern Ohio every year. I was another person that weekend. No R&B. No hip hop. I wore cut off, bleached out jean shorts, some borrowed Justins (super cute boots) and a cut off white tee that said “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy.” It was exactly the balance I needed and when I got home, I realized my little world was way smaller than I’d ever thought before. Two hours away there was a whole other culture livin’ life completely untouched by my world. Mind you, I went through the exact same revelation when I arrived at college. LOL. Some lessons we keep learning.
Band that you hated that everyone else at school seemed to love: I never got into Mariah Carey. She’s huge always has been, I know. I just never heard her sing and felt my booty shake. She didn’t/still doesn’t do it for me. LOL
Best show or concert you saw in high school: I have an envelope full of ticket stubs from NKOTB concerts in Ohio! I even saw Kid-n-Play open for them once LOL (Yeah, hip hop was my public face, but I stayed a closet Block Head till the very end) Sadly, I missed their reunion tour last year, but not for lack of trying to find a sitter!
Best high school make-out song: Oh boy. Color Me Bad “Sex You Up.” That song got a LOT of action back then. Not from me of course *blushes* *coughs* but that’s what I heard.
Julie’s sweet romance novella Bloom launched Turquoise Morning Press’s new Honey Creek line this week. Two more in her Seeds of Love series will follow in 2012. You can learn more about her at blog.juliealindsey.com.
Author Maisey Yates gives us a glimpse into her teen days with tales of her inclination to don black, black, and more black. I spent some time wading in those waters…lets just say my dad has made every funeral joke known to man. Of course, if a person had any emotional depth at all, they would understand that a teenage girl must BROOD. She must explore the darkest corners of her mind, contemplate her existence and the reasons boys are so unbelievably lame and confusing. When that is done, she wants to show the world what lives in her heart, and what says that better than black nail polish? Lots and lots of black nail polish.
Maisey Yates
Homeschooled, Medford, Oregon, Class of 2004, Currently: I write intense, passionate, occasionally funny romance for Harlequin Presents.
Band and/or song that reminds you the most of high school: Oh man, that’s HARD!! I think I will always remember me and my three best friends (we were known as the Fearsome Foursome) pretending to be a girl group and singing the mash up of Dismissed, by ZoeGirl. We had some attitude. And since I know very few people will know the song…here’s the video:
ZoeGirl “Dismissed”
Favorite piece of music memorabilia (poster, t-shirt, etc.) in high school: I had a necklace that had a guitar pick on it that I got at a Switchfoot concert. I wore it all the time. Because it looked cool and gave guys the impression that I might play the guitar.
Band that you hated that everyone else at school seemed to love: Now I have to remember what was popular when I was in high school…Basically most anything pop-ish (except the above) because we were WAY TOO COOL to like pop music. We wore black and painted our fingernails black and scowled and went on all guy surf trips…(that’s a story, I tell you.)
Best show or concert you saw in high school: I had some solid concert experiences in high school. I went to a concert festival that lasted four days and saw some of my favorite bands. Newsboys, DC Talk, Switchfoot, Jennifer Knapp. I got to meet Switchfoot and buy the above mentioned over-worn necklace. So Switchfoot gets the honor of being my favorite concert. I also got to see them more than once in high school.
Best high school make-out song: I didn’t make out in high school. True story. I got my first kiss the summer I graduated. I was too busy wearing black to date, I guess. But if I could have made out with a boy to any song, it probably would have been “Hold Me” by Plumb. I think I was in high school when that song came out…I’m getting senile.
You can learn more about Maisey at maiseyyates.com. Her latest for Harlequin Presents is The Petrov Proposal.
