Books by Nicholas Tanek
YOUR KINKY FRIENDS
A Tribute to the New Jersey – New York Kink Community.
Devastated by the death of his love, Lynn, Nicholas turned to the community they had become part of: the kink community. He reconnected with some old friends, and through them, met some new ones. Randee was an in-your-face, self-proclaimed slut, and Cassie was an intriguing, intimidating dominatrix. To Nicholas, they were just his friends.
Sometimes sex is just a distraction, but sometimes it can help to heal. For some people, sex is the only way they know how to seek or give comfort. Nicholas found an honesty and acceptance in the fetish community that he did not experience in his vanilla life. After his eye-opening relationship with Lynn, there was no going back. It was time to make new friends.
What some people are saying…
“I don’t even know what to say.” – Kevin.
“I like to sit on my naked slave and paint on a canvas while he reads your books aloud to me.” – Jennifer O’Neal, artist.
“I’m your mother. I will never read this book.” – my mother
THE COOLEST WAY TO KILL YOURSELF
Okay, so no one actually kills themselves in this book.
The Coolest Way to Kill Yourself pulls you into the early 90’s New York City rave scene, in all its chaotic, psychedelic glory. The narrator grabs you by your wrist and drags you behind two teenage lovers from New Jersey as they tumble through a whirlwind of reckless hedonism that eventually spirals into a dark, devastating world of drug addiction and heartbreak.
As a teenager, Lynn cried, “No one is ever going to write something for me.”
Nearly two decades later, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Nicholas did just that. The gesture came too late for our unlikely heroine, but his heart was in the right place. A broken heart… but a true love.
Reunited after years apart, Lynn and Nicholas embraced their love and sexuality, and embraced each other, despite troubled pasts, despite illness, despite all of their imperfections and mistakes. They shared the kind of honest and shameless connection that few have had the honor of knowing, and most would never understand.
“We’re not hurting anyone. We’re just living life without caring what anyone thinks about us, without caring about the consequences.”
“It’s the coolest way to kill ourselves,” Lynn said.
So turn the page, and pull the trigger.
What some people are saying…
“I used to think that I was a fairly liberal and open-minded person. But this world is truly a world outside my comprehension and comfort zone.” – my sister-in-law
“You will never publish this book.” – my ex-wife
“Are you crazy? I can’t believe you are publishing this.” – most of my friends
“I love the fact that you are publishing this.” – most of my cool friends
“You have disgraced me.” – my mother
“Why is your mother so angry about your book? Make sure you shovel the snow from the driveway.” – my father
CHIPPED BLACK NAIL POLISH
A tribute to a different kind of Jersey girl.
In New Jersey during the summer of 1989, an awkward thirteen-year-old who was obsessed with weird music fell head-over-heels in love with the coolest post-punk rock girl he had ever met. Nicholas was insecure. He was a daydreamer, wishing for romance when he was told, over and over, that he could not have it. He was a toy, pulled and pushed, wanted and used, dragged along yet held at a distance. Nicholas fell in with the out crowd, and loved every minute of it. He fell in love and got left behind, but not before she changed him forever.
This is an irrational, emotional love story for the teenager inside all of us. The music is loud, and you’re about to be pushed into the pit.
What some people are saying…
“I should have put you in therapy.” – my mother.
“I can’t believe you’re publishing this. You do not have my permission to use my real name.” – name redacted.
“I insist that you use my real name.” – Kevin.
“Finally, a title that doesn’t scare people off. Not like the first book, The Coolest Way to Kill Yourself.” – Kim Gray, publicist