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The Sweet KISS Of Success From: Lancasteronline.com by Carla Di Fonzo Colette Shaw's secret life isn't a secret anymore. The classically trained musician and director of residential programs at Franklin & Marshall College said she once hid her devotion to the pop-metal band KISS from her highbrow peers. Now, you could say she's an open book on the subject. Shaw has published her first novel, "Won't Get Fooled Again," scheduled for local release June 1. It's the story of Suzanne Curtis, an executive who gets caught up in misadventures while trying to keep her professional life separate from her secret rock 'n' roll lifestyle.The tagline for the book is "It's always the quiet ones who hide the biggest secrets." "It's not really a book about KISS, and I'm not Suzanne," Shaw said. "But there's autobiographical elements to the story, sure. "I think everyone has a secret they try to keep from people that's actually very harmless," she said. "The theme is universal, and I loved writing a book that might help others with dueling passions to explore their interests." Shaw came out of the rock 'n' roll closet in 2003 as the subject of the documentary film, "Living the Fantasy," an exploration of KISS fan culture. She also has been documenting the writing of "Won't Get Fooled Again" on www.KISSfiction.com for about three years. Shaw said one of her biggest hurdles was finding the right publisher - then getting a crash course in Media Law 101."Well, I had to clear all the KISS music I mention in the book," Shaw said. "That was pretty easy, but also a learning experience. "Another interesting experience came about because one of the guys from KISS makes a cameo appearance in the book," she said. "Usually, legally protecting a writer who wants to use a real-life person in a work of fiction isn't that difficult, but there was a big legal case going on at the time that was slowing things up." Shaw was referring to the legal battle between hockey player Tony Twist (former St. Louis enforcer) and Todd McFarlane, creator of the comic book "Spawn." "McFarlane created a character named Tony Twist, and that happened to be the name of a real person," Shaw said. "The real Twist sued McFarlane." Shaw's agent assured her that Twist would never win the lawsuit, based on similar cases in the past. "And he didn't win," she said. "But then Twist appealed." A St. Louis circuit judge overturned the jury verdict and awarded Twist $24.5 million for unauthorized use of his name. Naturally, the case made Shaw's lawyer a bit skittish. "They sent me back to KISS for official permission, and my agent went about collecting information to protect me in the event of legal problems," she said. "Luckily, everything worked out, and I got the OK." As Shaw was writing the book, she kept in contact with KISS' raunchy showman, GENE SIMMONS. She said keeping Simmons informed of her progress was a way to show respect for the source of her inspiration. "People were telling me, 'You don't have to talk to them.' But I'd keep saying, 'No, I'm not writing this book in bad faith'," Shaw said. "That would be like a slap in the face to the guys who got me through hard times with all those hard guitars." Shaw went to her first book signing over the weekend at a KISS Expo in Cincinnati - her first "gig." Next month Shaw will do another book signing at a KISS Expo in New York and later appear at the New York/New Jersey Expo. In between events, Shaw will take on another special project. "I'm going to produce a show," said the thirtysomething who is originally from New York. "I'm doing a spoof of KISS when they recorded with the Melbourne Symphony Ensemble. I play a stuffy classical type. "I figured a short film would be good for promotion," Shaw said. "It's better then just going out there and saying, 'Hi, I'm fun! Buy my book.' " Shaw said she's a proud member of the "KISS Army" - the legions of KISS fans worldwide - and that "Let Me Go, Rock 'n' Roll" is still her favorite song. "(KISS) got me through a lot of hard times," she said. "I can remember when I first conceived the book. It was the year my mom died. "I was thinking about growing up, getting married, stopping the rock 'n' roll," Shaw said. "A year later I was so miserable. Then I began to realize the opposites in my life could coexist and not be at odds any more. "I love higher education, but I couldn't imagine life without the rebelliousness of rock - which provides me with joyful release." She said the guys in KISS proved to be inspirational when it came to her dreams of being a writer. "They were so fearless," she said. "They became a model for me. When I started writing the book three years ago, I didn't eat and sleep much, I was totally focused." She said she has outlines for other books and might possibly write a sequel to "Won't Get Fooled" in the near future. Right now, Shaw's just thrilled to be living her fantasy. Shaw will be selling advance copies of "Won't Get Fooled Again" after the screening of "Living the Fantasy" Wednesday, during a free film festival at F&M College's Roschel Center for the Performing Arts. |
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