Some evocative Springsteen lyrics started it. Geordie indie rocker Sam Fender unwittingly kicked it along.

And between them, they fired the creativity of Tauranga wordsmith Peter White, who staged a literary coup of sorts.

A British publisher wanted to know where Peter got the idea for Seventeen Going Under, Peter’s anthology of short stories on challenging and confronting social issues.

“Real life stuff” is how the author catalogues it. The trials of growing up, depression, youth suicide.

“There’s a bit of me in there,” says Peter.

Real but positive. Real but heartwarming.

“The publisher said no one’s ever done this,” says Peter. “It’s pretty unique.”

It helps to know the backstory to ‘Seventeen Going Under’ – it too is intriguing and adds to the magic of the book.

About 20 years ago Peter read ‘Meeting Across the River’, an eclectic mix of short stories examining Springsteen’s song of the same name, a classic song of hope and despair.

Each of the authors brought their own imagined context to a song which is spare on lyrics. They filled in the gaps for us.

Soaking up Fender

More recently, Peter, an accomplished and reputable Tauranga sports writer – who wrote for the Bay of Plenty Times – is between gigs.

He’s sitting in his Uber cab waiting for a fare, and soaking up songs by Geordie troubadour Sam Fender.

“He’s a storyteller too.”

Springsteen and Fender provided the inspiration, Peter White had the storyline. Photo: John Borren.

Peter’s always enjoyed songs and stories that meant something, lyrics that mattered.

“Like The Jam and The Clash," says says.

“And while I was listening to Fender songs over and over, these imaginary characters kept jumping out at me. I would scribble them down.”

No fares, but plenty of fodder for a book.

Peter was fixated with a Fender song called ‘Spit of You’ – a song about the tribulations of growing up, teenage anger and regret.

“All sounds just like you, smashing cups off the floor, and kicking walls through, that’s me and you.”

A song of “toxic masculinity”. But also a song about a deep bond with his grandmother.

Readable and believable

It got Pete thinking about his own circumstances growing up, and so he concocts his own narrative around Fender’s lyrics.

Peter White at the keyboard making his own music. He’s 40,000 words into making his first full-length novel. Photo: John Borren.

Peter, like the authors of ‘Meeting Across the River’, filled in the gaps.

“And 3000 words later I had a very readable, believable short story.

“Nan was my private sounding board. She always had time for me and listened to me if I needed to let go of whatever was bugging me.”

There was abuse and dysfunction.

“I have so many memories of waking to the sound of raised voices, followed by all sorts smashing in the kitchen. It used to scare the sh** out of me but I never made a fuss.”

And there’s deathbed redemption.

“I gave him a look that said: ‘I’m with you Dad’. He nodded and touched my arm. It was a special moment.”

Sounds bleak. It’s not. It’s gratifying, and it’s likely we can all see a little of ourselves in each of the eight stories – all titled after Fender songs, like the eponymous ‘Seventeen Going Under’, his biggest hit ‘Will We Talk?’ and ‘Angel in Lothian’.

“Fender songs deal with real life issues, but always with a positive message. I just tapped into it,” says the new author.

Authentic

Raw, powerful and uplifting. White brings credibility and authenticity to each song title, each short story, by setting them in North Shields – with its fish quay, ferry terminus and bars – on the rougher edges of Tyneside in England’s northeast.

It’s Fender’s hometown, with its Low Lights Bar where he worked as a barkeep, and where he banged out tunes during downtime and got discovered. And inspired a book to be written 12,000km away.

Peter fired off his manuscript to publishing houses in England because that’s the setting.

London publisher Austin Macauley printed 2500 copies and expects a re-run.

“It’s quite an important publisher,” says Peter.

So it’s a bit of a coup. ‘Seventeen Going Under’ is available at: TheNile.co.nz

Meanwhile, the wordsmith with a double English and history degree is 40,000 words into a full-length novel.

“It’s about two characters who meet in the First XV at Tauranga Boys' College. One becomes an All Black, the other a sports journalist.

“Two lives entwined. But not.”

And there’s also a couple of extra Fender songs screaming for Peter's attention. Hum along for the moment and watch this space.