The best thing that’s happened to me this week was learning the Girl Racers is a finalist in the 2011 Aspen Gold Reader’s Choice Awards – run by the Heart of Denver Romance Writers.
I’m so pleased that Girl Racers has been selected – this book has a special place in my heart.
The idea for the book was born during a visit to my family in Australia. I had borrowed a big yellow mustang from my brother to drive during the visit. It was a fun car to drive – but I had barely made it to the end of his street when a police car appeared and I was pulled over.
He didn’t book me – he couldn’t because I was doing nothing wrong. I was not speeding and had not been drinking. This redneck policeman pulled me over because of the car I was driving… in his universe, apparently women should not be allowed to drive big yellow sports cars!
From that incident came the idea to write a book about women taking on men at their own game. I wanted an all-girl team driving a sexy red sports car to show just what women can do behind the wheel.
I grew up with a father and brother who were both passionate car lovers – exotic, fast, sexy, unusual classic cars. I wasn’t a car nut, but slowly these lovely things slid their way over, around and under the mental block I’d developed against them. So now, I have to admit, I do like a nice car. Or a fast one. Or a sexy one…
Thank you the readers who selected Girl Racers as a finalist in this award. I wrote the book just for you…
Now, I have to wait patiently until October to find out the final results.