I recently had the joy of working with debut author Lexi Richards on the ARC management for her Formula 1 romance, Podium Perfect. As a Danny Ric-loving girl myself, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to promote a story set in the fast lane of racing, glitz, and slow-burn chemistry, and this one didn’t disappoint. Podium Perfect is now available on Amazon and free to read in Kindle Unlimited, so grab your copy and buckle up for a ride that’s equal parts fun, heartfelt, and full of emotional horsepower.
Podium Perfect
Fast Cars, Fake Dates, And Way Too Many Feelings.
Avery Silver, the daughter of an F1 mogul father and a high-society mother, is determined to prove she got her new job as the director of the Silver Racing Foundation for more than her last name. Her plan? Turn the foundation’s boring gala into the event of the season and finally fund the youth sports programs she cares about. Too bad her family is more interested in appearances than making a difference.
Teddy Ross, Silver Racing’s ridiculously handsome new driver with a cover-worthy smile and personality of a brick wall, is focused on winning races and has zero time for romance. But when a nosy reporter starts sniffing around his family’s criminal past, Avery and Teddy agree to fake date to keep the press and her image-conscious family off their backs.
From gelato in Milan to stolen moments in Amsterdam, their Insta-worthy dates start to feel suspiciously real. But when secrets surface, Avery has to decide if love is worth risking it all for a shot at her own podium perfect ending.
Podium Perfect is a Formula 1 romantic comedy that reimagines a classic romance trope at 200 miles per hour. Perfect for readers who love speed, sparks, and happily ever afters.
Tropes/Themes:
Fake Dating
Formula 1 Sports Romance
Medium Spice
Rich Girl/Working-Class Guy
Celebrity/Public Image Pressure
Smart/Driven Female Main Character
Jet-setting Romance
Hidden Past/Family Secrets
Getting to Know Lexi Richards
Congratulations on your debut, Podium Perfect! Can you share a little about your journey to publishing this book and what inspired you to write a Formula 1 romance?
Thank you! The journey was a long one. I started writing this book in 2022. I had no idea if what I was writing was any good, so I started working with a writing coach and joined a writing group to get feedback on my work, and was pleased to learn I was on the right track (pun intended). Many drafts and three years later, I’m excited to share Podium Perfect with the world.
You have a background in communications and spent years crafting speeches and press releases. How have those experiences shaped your writing process and approach to storytelling as a romance author?
Crafting speeches, press releases, and memos forces the writer to be very succinct and paint a whole picture in as few words as possible. Where I think this shows up in my writing is in the pacing of my story. Each chapter really moves the characters and the plot forward and serves a purpose. In fact, I wrote the most pivotal and emotional scenes first during my writing process and then went back and filled in the details.
What first drew you to the world of F1? Are you a lifelong fan, or did the story idea spark your interest in racing?
I was a fan first and that sparked the story idea for me. I’ve always been a voracious reader and dreamed of writing a book, but was waiting for the right time and a good idea. I have two little boys, and as a family we started watching Formula 1 when my oldest, who is now nine, was a toddler and developed an interest in race cars. Not only did I fall in love with the sport itself, but I found the drivers to be incredibly attractive and charismatic. I thought that a romance with one of them as the leading character could be incredibly compelling and wasn’t something I had seen on a bookshelf before. I wasn’t the only one with that idea; since 2022 tons of F1 romances have come out, and it’s so fun to see this budding new subgenre take off. I’m so excited to be a part of it.
Avery and Teddy have such strong chemistry. How did you approach developing their dynamic and balancing the tension between fake dating and genuine connection?
I enjoyed letting them catch feelings for each other slowly. I’m not a fan of insta-love or lust in romance books. While my main characters were immediately attracted to each other, I wanted characters who take a little more time getting to know each other, who are a bit more guarded. Though they both had good reasons for fake dating, I think readers will come to see that they also used it as a safe excuse to spend time together.
Podium Perfect blends glitz, emotional vulnerability, and humor so well. What do you think sets your take on contemporary romance apart from others in the genre?
That is a lovely compliment. I think what sets Podium Perfect apart is that I tried to keep two different types of readers in mind as I was writing, female F1 fans who know a fair amount about the sport, and romcom readers who know nothing about the sport. Readers in the first category, the F1 fans, will recognize certain events and Easter eggs that I put in the book for them. But I also wanted the race scenes and aspects to be accessible to the second group. The feedback I got from my friends who read early drafts was that they really enjoyed learning about F1 through Avery and Teddy’s love story. I also cannot take a romance novel, or myself, too seriously, so it was really important to call out some of the silliness and bring humor to the genre.
This is your debut release. What part of the publishing process has surprised or challenged you the most as a first-time indie author?
I love writing and I really enjoy the marketing aspects of being an indie author. The hardest part has been the timing. I’ve found it challenging to line up the release timing for various formats and platforms. Another challenge I didn’t anticipate was how hard it is to get your book stocked in physical stores as an indie author. On the flip side, I have been so pleasantly surprised and delighted by the online community, and how many generous and welcoming bookstagramers I’ve connected with during this process. The success of the book is entirely due to that lovely community.
You’ve mentioned that your family’s Sunday morning F1 tradition inspired this story. How much of your real-life experience made its way into the book?
So much of my real life experience is in this book. For example, many of the locations that the book takes place in are places I’ve lived or spent a good deal of time in, from Los Angeles and Austin to Amsterdam. The cities that I don’t know as well are where the action takes place in a more controlled environment that was easy for me to bring to life, a race track, a hotel lobby, a hospital, etc. And some of the hiccups Avery has with the gala, the pears, the dress alteration gone wrong, etc, are real life stories from various events I’ve been a part of.
Every writer has moments of doubt or burnout. What helped you push through to the finish line with this book?
I’m part of a fantastic writing group here in Austin. We meet on Fridays and cheer each other on, so that really helped keep me accountable. And also, professional therapy. Talking to a professional helped me realize that I owed it to myself to finish this book and helped me face self doubts and insecurities.
Podium Perfect has some amazing tropes readers love, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, and he falls first. Do you have a personal favorite to write or read?
I don’t have a favorite particular trope, but I love using traditional romance tropes and formulas and applying them to smart, ambitious young women. As a reader, I don’t love when female main characters are a hot mess and need rescuing. So I love thinking about how a very strong main character with her act together would apply the trope.
What advice would you give to other debut authors who are trying to find their voice and community in the indie romance space?
Don’t be afraid to reach out to individuals you follow online and say hello or introduce yourself. It’s a warm and welcoming corner of the internet.
You’ve crafted such vibrant, cinematic settings in Podium Perfect, from Milan to Amsterdam. What draws you to writing stories set in glamorous, international backdrops?
For me, first and foremost, it’s the opportunity to provide some escapism. I was definitely inspired by Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, where the characters are so wealthy most readers won’t be able to relate personally, yet they are so likable and the settings so lush that it is impossible for the reader not to enjoy the ride. I also really enjoyed playing with the idea of privilege. There’s been a lot of talk about nepo-babies, particularly in sports and entertainment, in recent years. I was interested in exploring what that experience might be like for the nepo-baby herself. How could one take advantage of those opportunities in an ethical way?
Can you tease what’s next for you? Are you planning to stay in the sports romance lane, or are there other genres or tropes you’d love to explore?
In addition to sports, I love magical realism. I’m currently working on a romance about a matchmaking witch who suddenly loses her magical powers. The switch from international jet-setting to cozy, small-town vibes has been a fun change of pace. And yes, there are more interconnected F1 romances to come where Avery and Teddy will make cameo appearances.
Lastly, what does success look like to you as an author, beyond sales or charts? What keeps you motivated to write and share your stories?
As long as I have ideas, and there are readers for my work, I’ll keep writing. What motivates me is bringing a smile to a reader’s face. If my work can be a respite from the day for someone, that’s success to me. I’m not trying to write literature, I’m trying to write entertainment that a reader can lose themself in.
Bonus, and just for fun, who is your favourite F1 driver and team?
My favorite driver is George Russell. I’m also a big fan of his girlfriend, Carmen. They are an adorable couple. My favorite teams currently are Mercedes and Williams. Williams is something of an underdog, and so that is always fun to cheer for.
Podium Perfect is available now on Amazon and free to read in Kindle Unlimited. You can also add it to your Goodreads list, or visit lexirichardsauthor.com to learn more about her upcoming releases. Follow Lexi on Facebook or on Instagram at @lexirauthor for more updates and behind-the-scenes content.
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