Lynne Breedlove, singer with the seminal San Francisco dyke band Tribe8, has just published her first novel. `Godspeed` is the partly-autobiographical story of a boi`s obsession with amphetamines, bad women and rock `n` roll. It`s a scorcher. I liked it so much that I tracked down Breedlove and asked her some questions. Here`s what she said:

What`s your favourite part of Godspeed?
The funny parts, the sad parts, the love parts, the Mom parts - hell, I don`t know. It`s my baby, I love it all. I like to read aloud the parts that make folks laff.

Is memoir-infused novel-writing the new rock `n` roll?
I think people realised somewhere along the punk line, they like the story and it`s hard to hear at the show, so they like to read or hear stories read to them. As the
lyricist for T8 there are times I like to just yell and get sweaty and don`t care if people hear the words, but there are times I think Christ! - I spent all this time expressing myself, I`d like them to hear the verbal message as well.

How do you feel when you look back on those times?
Relieved I made it and am able to bring the message back. I hope others can learn from my experience. I also loved those times, and needed to write them down so I could get away from glorifying them, so I don`t have to go back again. But, like Piaf, I don`t regret a thing.

How do you manage to stay sober?
A spiritual program of personal growth, community, therapy, taking responsibility for myself. Also creativity, art. The book was a great help in teaching me to let that part of my life go. But anyone can write it all out, it doesn`t need to be published. The idea is to have a reminder, whether I talk to others about my experiences, or write about it, both are essential to my sanity. I have to check-in regularly and help others with similar issues. It`s easy to slip into glamorising the rock `n` roll lifestyle, but the hilarious paradox is: I never played rock `n` roll til I got clean. So, looking at my life the way it is now makes the old life not so fabulous.

What`s cooking with Tribe8 at the moment?
We`re writing a new CD, touching on trans issues, hilarious slants on money, children, love, family. Leslie (Mah) wants me to write something serious, maybe one obligatory love song. The film `Rise Above: The Tribe8 Documentary` is coming out in theatres and DVD soon. It`s got rave reviews at festivals so far.

Do you have plans to publish more books?
I may write another book, but I`m going for a screen adaptation first. If I like film I may stick with that. I really want to write things I can perform, like one-freak shows, monologues, stand-up comedy, films, as long as I am not just sitting at the computer. All the world`s a stage. Other book ideas? I don`t wanna give `em away, but they`ll be rollercoaster rides, as I have to write like that to keep from boring myself to death.

Is there anything else you`d like to say?
Trannies and dykes workin` together. No hating.

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