Young adult novelist Frank Portman began his writing career in an untraditional way. You may recognize him as singer/songwriter Doctor Frank, or as a member of the Mr. T Experience. Several years ago, Portman s clever lyrics intrigued a publishing agent who suggested Portman consider writing a young adult novel. After much thought, and prodding by the agent, Portman gave it a shot. His first novel, "King Dork," was born. It is based on a song from the Mr. T Experience s 2002 album, "...and the Women Who Love Them." In August, Portman s second book, "Andromeda Klein," was released.

NeXt talked to Portman about his writing, his music, his experience in high school and how the three come together to make for entertaining young adult fiction.

NeXt:Tom Henderson, the main character in "King Dork," is in a band with his best friend. How much of this story is based on personal experience: Did your music career grow out of your days as a high-schooler just having fun with your best bud?

Portman: There was this guy I knew mostly because he was just after me in school in alphabetical order, and we used to have "notebook bands" and design album covers and logos for imaginary bands. But when I actually started playing in bands in high school – the longest-lived band name was the Bent Nails, though it was called the Plague at first – that guy wasn t involved.

NeXt: The main character in "King Dork" has a comical dislike of J. D. Salinger s "The Catcher in the Rye." Are you in what Tom labels the "Catcher Cult?"

Portman: No, I m neutral on the Catcher Cult. There are a lot of great things about that book, but I have always found it to be a bit creepy when everyone claims to have the same opinion on any given thing. It has a Village of the Damned / totalitarian feel about it. I figure at least somebody has to be lying, and it makes me wonder what s making them do that. Tom Henderson s idea that it is a sinister cult is funny, but the answer probably has more to do with group dynamics and terror of being outside the consensus – which is, of course, ironic given that the item in question is perceived as a document of rebellion.

NeXt: Your new book, "Andromeda Klein," is written from the perspective of a girl.How did you tap into a girl s thought process?

Portman: I just started writing and as the character developed that "tapping into" stuff just took care of itself. I honestly didn t think too hard about that part of it, or find it particularly difficult, once I "knew" the character. NeXt:How is promoting your books similar to and/or different from promoting your music? Portman: I have been able to apply a lot of the things I learned in all those years of punk rock "street marketing" to the book thing, certainly, but a book published by Random House is a lot different than a record on a little label like Lookout Records, so it s hard to compare. One thing I still can t quite get used to is that on a book tour you don t get paid for the shows. Can t we do something about that one, somehow?

NeXt:You might want to check with your agent on that one!Toward the end of "King Dork," the main character Tom says, somewhat ironically, "In movies and books there s this thing called the character arc where the main guy is supposed to change and grow and become a better person and learn something about himself. Essentially, there s supposed to be this part right at the end where he says: "And as for me, well, I learned the most valuable lesson of all."What do you hope readers learn from your novels?

Portman: I find the notion that a novel or other piece of art should exist primarily to teach people stuff to be faintly repugnant. And honestly, if anyone is relying on "King Dork" or "Andromeda Klein" to teach them life lessons, they re already in pretty big trouble.

NeXt:What are you working on now?

Portman: I m working on a sequel to "King Dork" called "King Dork Approximately."

Kelsey Bradbury is a sophomore at Penn State.