Ladies Start Your Engines

I'm posting this now as I have a doctor's appointment first thing in the morning and am not sure what all this appointment is going to entail.

I used to live for Nascar almost as much as I do Football, and have recently decided to watch a race or two, much to the dismay of my Disney channel tv hogging children.

What made you decide to write for our Nascar series?

Rae

You're welcome for the welcome.

That's very cool that you edit a speedway magazine. I remember when I lived in SC that the weekend pass time was to go watch races at their local speedway and we have one here in PA, but I haven't been to it in so long. I just to love the sounds of the engines and the unique smells. I've never been to a NASCAR race. Must put that on my to do list.

Tessa is a gem, I'm glad she bossed you into this.

Who are your favorite racers and was the hero of this book based on any professional racer? And was it hard to go from writing Supers to NASCAR?

As far as I can tell, your signature looks like it should. No gobbledy-gook.

Rae

I forgot to answer your question about going from writing Supers to writing for Harlequin NASCAR...

I would say my stories for both lines have a lot in common. Same focus on family and community, similar sensuality level (though the NASCAR books are slightly sweeter than my Supers), and I go for the same light tone with an emotional underpinning across both series.
Abby

Hi Kate, nice to see you! Re the horizon...actually, it's a lot clearer than it was a couple of months back!

I have another book coming out in this NASCAR series in August, but even more exciting to me personally, is that I'll be writing the stories of Chad and Zack Matheson, brothers of Trent Matheson from Back on Track, for the 2009 series.

Lots of readers emailed me to ask when those Matheson brothers would get their own stories, and I've been champing at the bit to write them!

I'm just finishing a book that is very loosely linked to Married by Mistake, one of my last year's Superromances, and it's been nice catching up with those characters again too.

My new Superromance this month, The Diaper Diaries, also has a sequel in the works.

Phew, that sounds like quite a lot on the horizon!

I hope you enjoy Fully Engaged. Although I said earlier that there are a lot of similarities between my Supers and my NASCAR stories, Fully Engaged is quite different from The Diaper Diaries...I'll be interested to hear which one people like best!
Abby

It might be because I moved the thread so more people could see it. I didn't build this one and it was stuffed into a folder and it isn't that I mind talking you, I wanted it to been by all of the members. You can always add this thread to your favorites and come to it like that.

You do sound like you have your hands full. I jut got done placing my order on here and I picked up the NASCAR and Supers book. I'll be stalking the mailman again.

I'll be back later on, I have a test today that I'm not looking forward too at the hospital.

Rae

I read Fully Engaged on the weekend - great book. I loved the way Sandra (and what a great name for a heroine) achieved her goals while staying true to herself. And I'm with Karina - liked the subplot too and thought it was cool that those two found each other while staying true to their own slightly devious selves.

Haven't read Diaper Diaries yet - looking forward to doing the comparison.

Hi, Abby. That's a really cool idea to have a romance between the two villians! I don't think I've ever seen that done.

 It sounds like you've had and will have a busy year with all your releases! Congrats on all the books.

Now I'm really anxious to get my copy of Fully Engaged. This sounds wonderful. I like the fact that you stayed true to the characters, and your question about how far you're willing to compromise is a good one--not only for real relationships, but also in creating characters if you're a writer.

Rae

Hello from the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers! I can't wait to begin reading your NASCAR series. My younger daughter is a big Kasey Kahne fan, to the point that we actually bought her and her husband a Kasey Kahne Crock Pot last Christmas -- and now she's dropped him for another driver (heart break!) -- don't know who yet -- but she only gets ONE racing Crock Pot, so she'll have to deal. She's a real girlie-girl, but they go to races and have a fantastic time, so who knew? I can see where such an exciting sport can spin off good romance plots. Do you talk to fans, or industry people, or drivers? Do you collect torn-from-the-headlines real events to spark a story idea for you? Are your characters based on real people?

Cynthia, I agree, I think my cover guy is pretty hot!

Eileen, I think the thing about Kasey is his eyes...very nice! (of course, he's also not bad at driving a race car...). Research is the fun part of writing a NASCAR romance. I have visited several tracks around the country, been to Charlotte to visit Roush Racing (I fell in love with Charlotte, BTW, what a lovely, vibrant, not-too-big-and-not-too-small city!), and went to a race at Daytona. Usually, though, I just watch the races on TV - to be honest, I think the view is better!

You're right, there's always a lot going on in NASCAR that sparks story ideas! I also find that if you thing of something that hasn't happened yet, it tends to happen the very next week...
Abby

One more question, Abby. How do you balance the technical info associated with car racing with the romance? And avoid info-dump? And do the NASCAR fans on this thread have a view on how much racetrack talk they want in a NASCAR romance?

Hey Abby,

Reading "Fully Engaged" right now and am enjoying it. Had to take a break to feed my animals!!! I also read "Back On Track" and loved it.

 Big Nascar fan here, grew up watching all forms of racing from Nascar Winston cup, to off shore racing and the NHRA. Have to fight for the TV on Sundays as how other people feel that "Circle track" is boring. Jamie McMurray fan here!!

It's interesting to see how the NASCAR series comes up with their information. What really intriques me is when the technical information is put in. Also grew up a tomboy with a father that was a mechinic for 15 years. 

 How difficult is if from the stand point of a writer trying to get that kind of information and that information right?

Any way, look forward to reading more of your books in the NASCAR series!!!

Abbey, you're amazing, so knowledgable about a sport I have barely even heard of over here. I can just see Tessa bossing you to make the most of your enthusiasm and knowledge.

I have your Supers in my TBR pile since I'm not a huge fan of motorsport, but now you've fired me up. I can feel an SOS to Barbara's Books coming on.

Best of luck for your March releases, you make us proud!

Jan 

Hey Abby!! 

I just finished the book and I loved it!!

You're right the tech stuff is fascinating. I could sit here in front of the computer for as long as I could reading.

Glad to know I'm not the only one that thinks that stuff is. Course this is coming from a semi-motorhead!!! LOL

Abby ~  so glad to hear Trent's brothers are going to be in the NASCAR line up!  I can't wait to hear what you have in store for these two! 

Now, I better get back to watching Atlanta!!