Padme's Library: Confessions of a Punk Rocker by Nessie Strange

Friday, October 9, 2015

Confessions of a Punk Rocker by Nessie Strange

Title: Confessions of a Punk Rocker

Author: Nessie Strange

Series: Living Dead World #.5

Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Release Date: September 25, 2015

Publisher: Etopia Press

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Summary:
The dead should stay dead...

Jack Norris has just lost his best friend—who also happened to be his band's drummer—to a drunk driving accident. As he struggles to deal with the band's uncertain future and his own personal demons, those issues soon become unimportant. His dead friend has come back. And he's not showing any signs of going away. Questioning his own sanity, Jack finds his life spiraling out of control. But when a new acquaintance not only hooks him up with a drummer, but promises to help get rid of his ghostly stalker, Jack's life does a one-eighty.

Drew MacLellan, the new drummer, is more than just a new set of sticks—he's the brother of the insanely hot Jen MacLellan, who's definitely not Jack's biggest fan. Jen is nothing like the women Jack's dated in the past, but the more he gets to know her, the deeper he falls. The only problem is she's got a boyfriend. Caught between his growing attraction and the desire to do the right thing, Jack does everything he can to keep his distance. But the more he sees of her, the more he realizes he can't. He's determined to win Jen's heart, if only he can figure out how to help his dead friend rest in peace...permanently.

1. What is the biggest influence/interest that brought you to this genre?
I think from a pretty young age I was interested in any type of horror, paranormal, or fantasy type stories. My family watched and read those genres, so I was exposed at an early age. Probably too much to list, although Stephen King was the first ‘adult’ author that I read, and I was probably middle school age. There was just something about these genres that have always grasped hold of my imagination. As an adult, I’ve just become obsessed with making these things seem real through stories.

2. When writing a book, what is your favorite part of the creative process (outline, plot, character names, editing, etc)?
I am total freeform when I write the first draft of a book. I’ve tried outlining/planning activities, but have found that I’ll exert all my creative energy on planning the story rather than actually writing it. That isn’t to say I don’t plan—just that most of it goes on in my head. And by that, I mean I’m almost constantly thinking about it. After that, I really enjoy going back in and revising. I know some writers loathe editing, but I’m such a perfectionist that when I actually get to go back and polish my story, it’s almost a euphoric feeling. It’s like YES!!! I can finally go back and fix this!

3. When reading a book, what genre do you find most interesting/intriguing?
I’m definitely drawn to paranormal and fantasy type stories—things with creatures, magic, mythology, etc. I’ll try most any genre, though, as long as the characters come alive for me.

4. If you could co-author with any author, past or present, who would you choose?
That’s such a tough one. I would love to dream up a really whacked, off-the-wall, dark urban fantasy with someone like Richard Kadrey (Sandman Slim series). Not sure how much of a market there would be, but it would be fun to write!

5. Have you always wanted to write or did it come to you "later in life"?
I’ve always loved writing. I was a daydreamer as a kid and was always praised for the creativity in my stories. In high school, I attempted my first novel. It was a terrible—I only made it fifty pages before the story fizzled out. Then I finished my first novel in my early twenties. This was when I first time I became serious about wanting to publish. I did land an agent, but was never able to sell the story. So I finished another, but there was no interest in that either. I look back at those efforts and realize I probably wasn’t as ready for publication as I wanted to believe. They were good practice though. I remember feeling discouraged and setting aside writing for a couple years before beginning Living Dead Girl. With that novel, I actually found a critique group and got some awesome peer feedback before submitting—and eventually—finding a publisher.

Author Bio:
Nessie is a Massachusetts native and mother of two who has dabbled in everything from abstract painting to freelance sports reporting. She also loves a good story, whether it's reading or writing one. Active membership in a writer's critique group has helped erase the memory of two horribly written practice novels.