The question I frequently get is why did I decide to set a romance series in the world of race car driving? My initial response is to want to relay the story of a road trip with my friend Barbara to the Smokey mountains where we almost drove off a cliff (seriously! I have pics) and spent our time plotting a racing story we were sure neither one of us would ever write. But I did, obviously. Because (and here’s the real answer) when I was looking to start a new series, it was a clear-cut, easily recognizable world that readers would understand, whether they were a NASCAR fan or not, and I wanted to build a sense of community and brotherhood.

But deeper than that, racing has that key player most romances have- a strong man who either is seeking power, has power, or has recently lost power. Whether it’s Diesel Lange from my fifth book in the Fast Track series, Slow Ride, who has been injured in a crash, or a Duke who has lost his fortune in a Regency historical, we’re drawn to those brooding men who push away the women who try to help them. Greek billionaire or wealthy driver, we want to know that money can’t buy everything and that life without a partner to share it with is lonely. We want to root for the guys who fight for their success. Sometimes it’s a noble cause, like in the case of cops and firefighters, but sometimes it’s just because as human beings we like to win. We want to stand on top of the winning car and have champagne sprayed on our heads, and we want to stand next to successful significant others and know hard work got us there.

If a man is passionate about what he does for a living, chances are he’ll be passionate about a number of things- and yes, I’m talking about boom-boom here because sex and romance go hand in hand in my book(s). I want to create heroes who are aggressive and determined and yet down-to-earth. The kind who love their mamas and respect women and fight to be the first across the finish line.

In my Fast Track world that is who they are- men who work hard, play hard, and love deeply. So I hope you’ll enjoy the final book in my series, JACKED UP, about the most ordinary of all the men I’ve featured, Nolan Ford, and the woman he falls for, Eve Monroe. I wanted to end the series with the same type of guy I started with- reliable, solid, who knows who he is and where he’s going, who can command a car at 160 mph or jack up a whole car in 9 seconds, and stay calm in the eye of a female storm.

There will be one last glimpse into this world, when Nolan’s brother Rhett has a short story out next year, than it will be on to a whole new setting for me. I’m sorry to leave the track in my writing, but here’s a picture of me and my two wonderful friends at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, getting my racing fangirl on.

Cheers!

Erin

www.erinmccarthy.net