INK & BLOOD: THE STORY BEHIND POST-PUNK ROAD SHOW

OKAY, LET GO!

It was with my finger poised only a fraction of an inch from hitting the “Publish” button and officially launching the Fates On Fire Store, thereby releasing my first novel, Post-Punk Road Show, into the wild, that I took a momentary pause to reflect on the journey thus far.

It had been nearly two years in the making, from ideation to publication, and what an unforgettable, joyous, and oftentimes frustrating adventure it had been. As I’ve said previously, the literary business is, effectively, analogous to the music business that I’ve spent a lifetime dealing with. No more so than the fact that creating the actual art (writing a book or song) is generally an exciting, exhilarating process of personal expression.

Conversely, the process of taking said work of art and turning it into a saleable retail product is basically the antithesis of the creative act. Significantly upping the ante was that I also chose to simultaneously start my own publishing business. What transpired was 18 months in a perennial cycle of learning, acquiring such arcane skills as developmental editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, graphic design, book manufacturing, marketing, website design, and ecommerce platforms. While sometimes vexing to the point of fatigue, I soldiered on, developing an entire host of new competencies.

Considering all of this, I then began to think about the story behind the story: the genesis of the novel itself.

THE STORY BEHIND POST-PUNK ROAD SHOW

Post-Punk Road Show is a peculiar novel for a number of reasons, the least of which is that, technically speaking, it is a work of historical fiction, while also feeling, ostensibly, like an autobiography of sorts (which it is not). While many of the characters are, or are based on, real people, all of the story, dialogue, and interactions among the characters are products of my imagination. However, most of the events in the book actually occurred, and I was present, even if I slightly altered the timeline to suit my needs.

It’s been said that a story decides what it will be when the writer is absently banging away at the keyboard. This is correct, of course, and while I gave her some historical events in which to inhabit, the story herself is exclusively responsible for spinning the tale of the anti-hero Sebastian, as well as giving birth to Brooke, the personification of his conscience and true desires.

It was shortly after the Cruel World festival in 2023 and the conclusion of a frenetic year when Post-Punk Road Show decided she needed to materialize. I’d just finished Rock ‘N’ Roll Zero: A Magical Life in the Margins of Music when I realized that the context around its writing was, possibly, a story in itself. I started taking ad hoc notes on sundry scraps of paper and on my phone over a couple of months. This ultimately gave me the idea of using an expanded epistolary format.

Admittedly, it would have been infinitely easier to use a traditional prose format rather than the one I chose. Still, despite the challenges, it was both rewarding and unique. I wanted the reading experience to feel like digging through an old, dusty box in someone’s garage, filled with various individual documents that, when read together, tell a story in a somewhat disjointed yet cohesive, compelling fashion.

I like the fact that there is a lot of “space” between the short chapters and pages. It’s reminiscent of the space between notes in a song, known as intervals. These intervals within the story allow the reader to fill in the intentionally missing pieces and small details using their imagination; thus, every reader experiences a personalized version of this book. 

Post-Punk Road Show is also a heartfelt tribute and open love letter to post-punk music. It is an honor to feature the bands mentioned directly and indirectly in this book and immortalize them in fiction, because they are immortal in life. This music and these bands have brought me immense happiness for over 45 years, so it is a privilege to give back in some small way. 

I realized, after completing it, that Post-Punk Road Show is now part of a long tradition of American road novels, in which a damaged character embarks on a motorized quest seeking something. Sometimes they emerge as better people, sometimes not. I’ll let readers be the judge in the case of Sebastian.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

I confidently hit the “Publish” button, immediately followed by notifications to Fates insiders for the exclusive presale event, and all of this became real. What would people think? How would they react to my art? I knew I was far too close to it to be anywhere approaching objectivity.

I didn’t have to wait long; sales began to occur, and, most importantly to me, I received direct feedback from the 20 or so well-known writers, musicians, and post-punk influencers I had sent advance reader copies to. I cannot begin to describe the feeling of receiving praise from an established author or musician you admire and adore for your art. It’s simply otherworldly. I was reduced to tears in a couple of cases. Even if I wouldn’t have sold any copies, this alone would have been worth all the effort. Becoming a legitimate author and welcomed into the literary community was something I never dreamed would occur in my life, and now it has.

OBLIGATORY SALES PITCH

I hope you enjoyed hearing a bit more about the story of Post-Punk Road Show on this backstage tour, of sorts. If you’re intrigued in any way, I encourage you to head over to the Fates On Fire Store, which is powered by our global ecommerce partner, Payhip, and grab a copy of the limited print editions, or even the budget-conscious $12 ebook version. To entice you further, I’ll throw in a 10% “cool kid” discount! Thanks a zillion for reading and supporting independent art!