( CNN ) -- The modern and dysfunctional man , who struggles to find his footing in relationships , career and , in fact , the world , has in many ways been the bread and butter of best-selling British author Nick Hornby 's career . Best-selling British author Nick Hornby releases his latest novel , `` Juliet , Naked . '' Best known for his novels `` High Fidelity '' and `` About a Boy , '' both of which were turned into movies ( as was his memoir , `` Fever Pitch '' ) , Hornby 's latest novel , `` Juliet , Naked , '' released in the United Kingdom on September 1 , has just been released in the United States . It focuses on an American singer-songwriter , Tucker Crowe , who still rests on the success he saw with one album in the 1980s , an obsessed English fan , Duncan , and his exasperated girlfriend , Annie . Hornby 's love for music has inspired more than plotlines . It has fueled a partnership with the rock band Marah and other projects , which recently included penning the lyrics for Ben Folds ' `` Levi Johnston 's Blues . '' Meanwhile , Hornby is also the force behind the screenplay of the critically acclaimed film-festival darling , `` An Education , '' which will be released in New York and Los Angeles on October 9 . CNN spoke with Hornby about how he develops the characters for his books , the challenges of writing in a woman 's voice and his own prowess in relationships . CNN : Your newest novel , `` Juliet , Naked , '' seems to revisit the kind of character that anchored `` High Fidelity , '' the obsessive , somewhat dysfunctional music fan . What is it about this type that had you coming back , and how have the years changed this character ? Hornby : Well , I conceived them as being different . Rob in `` High Fidelity , '' he was n't the obsessive . It was the people around him . This one [ Duncan ] is one of three characters ; he 's the nerdy obsessive . ... The Internet 's changed everything . There are no record stores to hang out in anymore . Ten or 15 years ago , he [ Duncan ] would n't have found anyone to talk to . And nobody 's career [ character Tucker Crowe 's included ] is allowed to die . Way back , obsessives had to admit other interests into their lives . These people do n't have to really do anything like that . Watch the author talk about music , comedy and relationships » . CNN : Your books , and now your screenplay , are so rich in complicated and incredibly flawed characters who , in turn , have complicated and flawed relationships . How much of what they struggle with is autobiographical ? Are there aspects to these characters that are reflections of you ? Hornby : I think sometimes there are . I have three kids by two moms . Tucker has five kids by four women . But my experience is relatively ordinary . My relationships are fairly stable . A lot of this is trying to write comedy , and complicated relationships are funnier than straightforward ones . CNN : At times , for instance in your book `` How to Be Good , '' you 've narrated as a woman . What are the challenges of taking on a woman 's voice ? Hornby : Anytime the narrator is someone who is not you , the challenge is equal . The challenge is to make people laugh . My last book , `` Slam , '' was for young adults , and I had to write as a 16-year-old boy . Of course , it makes me more nervous writing as a woman . I just made sure every woman I knew read the narrative as soon as I finished . But no woman speaks for all women . CNN : You 've been open about having a son , now 16 , who is autistic . How much , if at all , has that informed your writing when it comes to getting into the heads of kids and adolescents in , for example , `` About a Boy ? '' Hornby : It has n't . Not yet . The experience of fathering a child like that is so different , but I think you have to be very careful about how you use it and how it affects other people . CNN : Your screenplay for `` An Education , '' which is based on an autobiographical essay by British journalist Lynn Barber , was first recognized at the Sundance Film Festival in January and continues to get critical acclaim . How has this creative journey differed from the one you 're used to traveling in the book publishing world ? Hornby : The process is incredibly different . With movies , it always feels like such a long shot getting it made . With books , you write and talk about it with your editor . With movies , you need the money , the cast , the director -- I felt much more confused by the the movie-making process . CNN : But with movies , the insecurities you might have about your own work as an artist , as a writer , are helped by others . It 's not all on you , right ? Hornby : Yes . I can look at the film and take pride in other people 's work .
Nick Hornby , author of ` ` High Fidelity '' and ` ` About a Boy '' releases new book Tuesday . ` ` Naked , Dead , '' features the dysfunctional male , female fan type of character . Internet has changed how the obsessive type thinks and acts , Hornby says . ` ` An Education , '' for which he wrote screenplay , gets critical acclaim , festival success .