Nascar Series 2009

Hi, Kate and Wayne!  Thanks for the new forum.  And Kate, I really appreciate that lovely review of BLACK FLAGS, WHITE LIES you posted (a week ago--eeek!  Sorry I missed it until today!)

Wayne, this is the second season of this series, and it will go at least one more, as we just got the bible for the 2010 series.  The first season began with the mystery of two feuding families of NASCAR greats, the Grossos and the Murphys, where one family member was accused of the murder of a member of the other, and the mystery played out over the 16 books and was solved at the end of the season.  The main families of the original series in 2008 are the Grossos, the Murphys and the Branches, along with the members of the Motor Media Group, who handle PR for many of the drivers. (Hilton Branch, who has twin driver sons and sponsors both their teams stuns the NASCAR world by embezzling millions and vanishing, leaving his wife and kids behind with not only no financial resources but also the revelation that his mistress of 20 years is writing a tell-all book to further bury them in scandal.)

This year began with two mysteries:

1) who killed Alan Cargill, owner of champion Dean Grosso's team (which Dean and his wife Patsy have just bought) at the championship banquet. and

2) the shocking revelation spreading over the internet that Dean and Patsy's baby daughter Gina (and twin of their son Kent)  who was kidnapped from the hospital in which the twins were born and died in Mexico as an infant, may not be dead at all.  And not only does the mysterious anonymous blogger say that Gina is alive, but she's somehow connected to NASCAR, meaning she may be right under Dean and Patsy's noses.  Since the Grosso family is NASCAR royalty and Dean and Patsy are much loved, this revelation sends ripples through the close-knit NASCAR community.

There's a third mystery concerning Brent Sanford (the Sanford family is new to the series in 2009, appearing in Ken Casper's opening book.)  Brent is a pariah in NASCAR, a star driver who's been driven out of racing after being accused of sabotaging Kent Grosso's car and costing Kent a critical race.

Also new in 2009 are the Matheson and Hunt families, but characters from the past, like the Grossos and Branches are still around.

Jean

i made it here but i am little confuse about where to go is this only for book dicuess or not useing the othere place?   i have been haveing comp probelms this week and know i am little confused about what to do w/ that.  w/ no nascar on sunday i do not know what to watch. and yes i know the 24 is on top still for 3 weeks now, hope he can win at bistol.  kurt car was something else on sunday man that was wild. nothing could slow that boy down even the wall.

24 ~ as I understand, this thread will be to discuss the current 2009 NASCAR book series, beginning with the first book in the series, Ken Casper's SCANDALS & SECRETS.  The other thread will still be availabe to discuss other related NASCAR events.

Papaya ~  I know about busy, see you when you have more time.  I guess it's still to early in the series to have any solid ideas about some of the mysteries.  I'm sure we will learn more in Abby's installment.

I'm looking foward to Ken joining our discussion, thank Jean for the info.  It will be nice to have the other authors drop in and comment through out the series! 

Tammy, it's wonderful to hear that you're enjoying the series--we're having fun writing it! 

Gang, Ken's having trouble getting on here, but I've asked Wayne for help, so maybe it'll be resolved soon...

Jean

Welcome Tammy.  Glad you stopped by to see us.

Jean ~  I'm sure Wayne will be able to help Ken out.  I'm looking foward to his input!

Wayne ~  are we going to do a book by book discussion or just discuss the series in general?

Tammy, Ken can see the posts here, but he's having issues with being able to post himself.  I'm trying to get some tech help for him, but in the meantime, just wanted you to know that I totally agree with how terrific Ken's books are and that I just told him about what you've said.

 With any luck, we'll get him here soon!

Jean

Jean ~ thanks for the update.

Ken ~ glad you will be joining us.  Hopefully your tech issues will cease and you'll be able to post.  I've read, HITTING THE BRAKES, RUNNING ON EMPTY and SCANDALS & SECRETS.  I've enjoyed all.  I was really interested in Hugo and Sylvie and thought you did a remarkable job with this couple.

Ok Wayne, are you reading this season's NASCAR's in order, or just jumping in with Jean's book?

 you're going to be very, very busy!  We'll keep are fingers crossed for you.

Wayne, thanks!

Abby's posted on the other forum (yay!) for those of you who aren't checking it.  It's a little confusing, having two, isn't it?  

'Night, all!

Jean

Okay, I'm here now, too! Wayne, thanks for starting this thread, especially when you're busy with your own writing.

I'm not sure how early people receive the April NASCAR books...Obviously I already have a copy of my book , but I have Helen Brenna's From the Outside on order...can't wait!

I just uploaded an excerpt from Checkered Past onto my website - there's a link on the homepage if anyone's interested. (If you're on my mailing list, you've probably seen it already).
Abby

Wayne, I see what you're saying--I'm fine either way.  I do it the way Kate does, having marked them both as favorites so I can see if there's a new post.  It's probably me at fault, having performance anxiety, not sure how to do the discussion of the books when one is mine.

Jean

with the majority! 

Forgot to say Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone! 

Jean

Glad to help, Ken! You're not as techno-clutz as you think! Enjoy!

Thanks, Scott--we genuflect in your direction! 

Welcome, Ken!  So happy to see you here!

Some of the gang here have remarked about the fact that you had to introduce not just one mystery this season like last year but THREE--Fuelgate, Alan Cargill's murder and whether Gina Grosso might still be alive--want to tell us how much hair you ripped out doing that and still writing a romance while you were at it?

Jean

Jean ~  I see you got our picture up!  Good for you! 

Scott ~ thanks for your help.

Ken ~ glad you could finally join us.  Was it challenging to have to incorporate not only one mystery, but three into Tara and Adam's story?  Did you have a time frame when each mystery needed to be in place?

RWA ~ I came to the litearcy book sale / signing in Atlanta.  Too cool, what an interesting event.  I really enjoyed meeting some of my favorite authors!

Kate, I had to cancel on the Atlanta conference late in the game--sorry I missed out on a chance to meet you!  We'll be in D.C. this year...wanna make a road trip?  The Superromance authors are throwing a bash for readers after the literacy signing, and I'm putting together a NASCAR tote full of books and other goodies.  There will be a bunch of totes with different themes to be given out as prizes.

Ken, it's sure not gonna be the same without you, dang it.  But I agree...Nashville will be fun.  It's so pretty there, plus country music and romance go together sorta like country and NASCAR do!

I agree, Abby--he did a great job of laying the groundwork for all those mystery threads while still writing a terrific romance.  Having recently finished the 2009 season-ending book, I've pretty much decided I lost my mind when I agreed to do the wrap-up for 2010 in novella length when I barely managed everything in novel-length!  Romance?  Hurry up and kiss the girl, dude--time's a wastin'!

Jean

Kate, yes, Trent makes an appearance in both books (in fact, he and Kelly get married in Chad's!). I kind of fudged the timing so that Chad's book takes place in the January after Trent's book finished in November, but of course I can't have Trent being the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion since he didn't win in last year's Harlequin series . Confused? Don't worry, it all makes sense on the page...

So the start of Chad's book has Brady recovering from his heart attack and having just got engaged to Julie-Anne (they feature in Checkered Past a lot).

Trent also features in Zack's book because it was a feud between those two (a crash that Zack believes Trent caused deliberately to prevent him making the Chase) that led to Zack quitting NASCAR a few years back. Those guys have unfinished business...

I just heard from a reader who's read Checkered Past, so obviously the new books are going out now, which is exciting. I'm expecting Helen's any moment...
Abby

Kate, all the 2010 stories will be novellas, and you'll get two stories in each book.  The lead-off will be Liz Allison (Davey's widow) writing with Wendy Etherington and...ta da!...our own Abby!!  A lot to look forward to!

RWA is at the Marriott Wardman Park July 15-19.  The literacy signing will be July 15.  It would be fun to see you!  (But Nashville is closer to you than D.C>.?!?!  Obviously, my geography needs work...I'm headed for a map right now!)

Jean

make any diffe to me i have both on fav too so i just have checking both. so whatever everyone wants is cool w/ me.