Racing Mirrors Life

by Wendi Zwaduk

There are a lot of things that inspire my writing, but one of the real-life things that I love to add to my stories is racing. In Right Where I Need to Be, the heroine and her best friend go to the dirt races to watch the team she sponsors race.

When I lived in another part of Ohio, we had a little dirt track not too far away from our house. On Friday and Saturday nights in the summer, we’d go over and watch the races. There’s something exciting about seeing controlled chaos. The cars or trucks racing on the dirt surface are on the verge of losing control as they round each corner, but still they keep racing. Now keep in mind, as a spectator at one of these races, it gets dirty. Yes, the dirt from the track flies through the air and all over the crowd. So instead of jotting down notes in my notebook, I make mental notes and hope I remember for when I get to my truck and the clean notebook.

My experiences at the track paralleled the story with the hero and heroine in Right. Not only does Cass watch the races, but she’s on the verge of losing control each time she’s in Logan’s arms. She’s scared to fall in love with him because he’s such a consuming type of hero, but she continues on her journey, regardless of how messy things can get.

The drivers are in their comfort zone because they know what they’re doing as they drive, yet at the time, the possibility that another driver could wreck and cause upheaval for everyone is in the back of their minds. It’s the same for Cass. Logan’s a movie star. At any moment, the scepter of his celebrity can force into their relationship and screw everything up. Instead of throwing in the towel, she hangs on for the ride of her life.

Another thing I write about that pertains to racing and romance is the excitement of meeting that one driver that’s the favorite. When I met my favorite driver, Clint Bowyer, I was thrilled, scared, excited, and ready to run. Why? He’s a celebrity. Sounds odd, I know, but that’s part of what was scary. I didn’t want to come off as a dork or something when I asked for his autograph. This translated over to Right because when Cass first meets Logan, she’s nervous and ready to get away from him. But because I’d been in her shoes, I understood her situation and could write it in more of a convincing manner.

Maybe most of the things involved in my stories aren’t things I’ve lived through or that I have personal experience with, but those I do have experience with, I feel more capable of writing about. So I’ll keep going to the races, meeting drivers at the Auto Show, totting around my notebook.  I never know where the next great story idea might come from, but I’m not about to stop going to the races.

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Sometimes the love of your life isn’t the one you expect, but he’s the one you need.

Cass Jenson needs an actor for her made for TV movie. The previous actor dropped out, leaving her stranded. Her savior shows up looking sinfully sexy and totally right for the part, but what part is she auditioning him for? Her movie or her bed?

Logan Malone needs an acting job and fast. With his string of broken hearts, his professional life lies in shambles. To resurrect his career, he must audition for a television role which could be the job of a lifetime. That is, if he can work with distraction and Cass is a major distraction with a heart of gold. Is their budding relationship enough to survive separation, lies, and a couple zany fans?