I just got a copy of STRUTS AND FRETS. And I'm SO into it. It's funny, poignant, and a fascinating glimpse of the indie music scene. Author Jon Skovron provided the ASK MY SISTER letter below. Read on for a little taste of his fun writing style.
Dear Roz,
You're a girl after my own heart, so I'm just gonna lay it on the line for you. There's this guy that I've had a major crush on for forever, but we've been best friends for so long that I don't even think he consider me a girl anymore. I'm worried that if I tell him, he's going to be totally grossed out and then it's going to screw up our friendship.
Plus, he's really into this snotty, rich girl who, I kid you not, looks like she just stepped out of Twlight, or True Blood, or one of those other sexy goth shows. Not that she would give him the time of day. She's way to shallow to ever appreciate him or his talent. But every time he starts mooning over her, I want to punch him in the mouth.
So what do you think? Should I:
a.) tell him
b.) punch him in the mouth
c.) punch her in the mouth
d.) all of the above
Fiver
Dear Fiver,
Rule number one. There is no point trying to understand boys (or girls for that matter). When it comes love, they’re incomprehensible. Rule number two. I’m all for punching people who are annoying or oblivious. But it rarely works out well.
Eva would tell you to talk to him. Talking can be a good thing. In my experience, though, it doesn’t always work out. The last time I told a boy how I felt, he kept his girlfriend and tried to have me on the side. Of course, your crush might be nobler than my crush. Nah. I doubt it.
Have you tried more subtle hints-dressing girly when he’s around? Doing something special with your hair? You can mention some guy that’s interested in you. Jealousy is an excellent motivator. Just don’t go overboard. You don’t want to end up like poor Desdemona in Othello. Slain.
Good luck!
Roz
About Struts & Frets
More than anything, Sammy wants to play guitar in a famous indie rock band. The problem is that his front man is a jerk who can't sing, his bassist is a burn-out who can't remember the songs, and his drummer is just out to lunch. But Sammy needs this band because it's the only good thing he's got going. His father skipped out before he was born, his mother is an overworked therapist with a drinking problem, his grandfather is slowly losing his mind to Alzheimer's, and the girl of his dreams is dating his jerk lead singer.
Now that jerk lead singer has entered them in a Battle of the Bands contest to win free studio time and guaranteed radio play. Sammy has two weeks to get them to sound like a real band, or face public humiliation in front of the entire local indie music scene.
About Jon Skovron
Jon Skovron is an insatiable music geek who can play eight instruments, but none of them well. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, has lived all over the US, and now resides with his wife and two sons in Washington, DC. His short stories and reviews have appeared in publications like Jim Baen's Universe and Internet Review of Science Fiction. Struts and Frets is his first novel.
Learn more about Jon at his website
http://jonnyskov.com/ He's on IndieBounds Indie's Next list. You can buy his book
here.