Nicholas Tanek is an American author, ghostwriter, speaker, and podcaster from New Brunswick, New Jersey. A Rutgers University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in English, he grew up immersed in the New Jersey punk rock and skateboarding scene before diving into the early 1990s New York City rave culture. Struggling with drug addiction, he turned his life around after reconnecting with Lynn, the love of his life, who tragically died at 37. Her loss inspired his raw, acclaimed memoir, The Coolest Way to K*ll Yourself, which explores his experiences in the punk rock and BDSM subcultures, addiction, depression, and unconventional sexuality.

He has also written Chipped Black Nail Polish, a novella about punk rock romance, and Your Kinky Friends, a non-fiction work on alternative lifestyles. Nicholas hosts the podcast Your Kinky Friends, where he interviews members of the kink community, and is a frequent speaker on topics like mental health, addiction recovery, and sexual expression. A liver transplant survivor, he channels his optimism into advocating for creative change and open-mindedness.