Deleted, but not forgotten | Reading, Writing, and Randomness for June 2025

Nora Ephron had a saying: “everything is copy.” The idea being, in the life of a writer (or creative of any kind), everything is potential fodder for art. In today’s writing world, one might say that “everything is content.” Deleting scenes from drafts is a process every writer is familiar with: scenes, subplots, entire characters become victim to creating the best paced, most coherent version of a story. And sometimes, even our favorite scenes just don’t fit. But, unlike days of yore, we don’t necessarily have to kill our darlings anymore. We just have to relocate them.

Enter the world of Bonus Content. From art to backstories, fake social media feeds to extra details, and outright cut scenes, readers who love books often love all these bonuses and extras. Popping a bonus scene on a website is so commonplace, even Rebecca Yarros is doing it. I’m obviously nowhere near on the level as Rebecca Yarros, but as I start artfully relocating some of my scenes, I thought I’d start sharing them here with you every so often. Read on to find the first peek at some content cut from THE RACING LINE, as well as the usual reading roundup and assorted randomness.

Reading

Now that I’ve put the first draft of THE RACING LINE to bed, and started outlining books 2 and 3 in my F1 series, I’ve finally started letting myself read all the other F1 Romances out there. And it was a great month to start as TWO F1 Romances were released in May. I haven’t read either of those yet as I have a million things on my TBR, but I’ve got one on audio from Libby and it’ll be my next read. So expect a LOT of F1 Romances in June’s reading roundup!

I did finish up two of the books I’ve been reading for research, though. If you want to learn more about how F1 works from a holistic team view, I’d recommend How to Win a Grand Prix by Bernie Collins, and if you’d like a wider view of F1, including where it’s going, On the Grid by Luke Smith was a great read.

✨ = Five Stars | 🎧️ = audiobook | 📖 = Book Club | 🏎️ = F1 Book (Fiction and Non-fiction)

(Note: Since I’m writing a Formula 1 Romance, I’m not planning on rating other F1 Romances at all, but obviously, you should read them ALL so publishers know people REALLY want to read more F1 Romances!)

• Gwen and Art Are Not In Love by Lex Croucher

• 🏎️ Fast & Reckless by Amanda Weaver 🎧️

• ✨ Radiant Sin by Katee Robert

• ✨ The Roommate by Rosie Danan 🎧️

• Lights Out by Navessa Allen 🎧️

• ✨ Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams 🎧️

• 🏎️ How to Win a Grand Prix by Bernie Collins

• ✨ Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry 📖 

• ✨ Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter

• ✨ The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren 🎧️

• 🏎️ On the Grid: Life Behind the Scenes of Formula 1 by Luke Smith

Writing

I’m deep in revisions (49% at EOD May 31st) on THE RACING LINE and I’m starting to realize what might not make the cut. That includes 2 of 3 scenes I wrote as a sort of prologue; scenes that track some of Maeve and Jill’s teenage relationship, building some investment in them as a couple (before time jumping to where they haven’t spoken for 8 years). In thinking about how to structure this to grab readers (and, crucially, agents), I’m realizing that starting with the current time and using flashbacks carefully and strategically is potentially better.

This scene may still find a place, but it’s more likely going to be cut. As a little teaser for what you can look forward to in THE RACING LINE, enjoy this little snippet.