A Conversation with Leigh Hutton, Author of RACE GIRL (Go Girls Chronicles #3–with a giveaway!)

Thanks so much for agreeing to be with us today, Leigh! What 5 things should readers know about you?

Thank you for having me, Becky!

I . . .
Was a reluctant reader as a teen

Love kick-butt female leads

Love sexy burly guy leads

Write about strong, inspirational girls and women

Renovate old houses for my day job.

I am with you on #s 2 and 3! I wish I did #5…my house could use the help!

Tell us all about your main characters—who are they? What makes them tick? Most importantly, what one thing would they need to have with them if stranded on a desert isle? 😉
Tully Athens has always dreamed of following in the footsteps of her hero Michelle Payne. Of living up to the Athens name and becoming the third generation of women from her family to rule the track. But Tully’s never been sure she’s got the nerve, and when her mother is killed in a horse racing accident, her whole world is shattered.

Six months later, in the heat of a Queensland summer, sixteen-year-old Tully is ready to face her fears. But getting back in the saddle leads to a whole lot more than she bargained for, with an out of control crush on the boy from their rival thoroughbred farm – the gorgeous but cocky larrikin Brandon Weston – and a forgotten filly with stardom in her eyes . . .

When faced with the most difficult decision of her life, will Tully choose to train and race her new filly in Melbourne? Or will she sacrifice it all to fight for love on the land that feeds her soul?

Tully would be lost without a horse to ride, Brandon would be lost without Tully 😉

Where did the inspiration for this book come from?

The incredible female jockeys risking their lives every day for the horses and the sport they love. Also the beautiful valley we live in near Dayboro, Queensland (Australia) and the gorgeous thoroughbred farms near Beaudesert – we pass them often when travelling down to northern NSW and I’ve always wanted to set a story there.

Great!

How long have you been writing, and what (or who) inspired you to start?

My first career was as a journalist and I’ve always loved to write. I started my first novel about four months after the birth of my first child – having an outlet and being able to continue and explore my passion for writing really helped me survive life at home with children lol

Wow—just four months? I was still napping in my spare time at that point—I don’t think I was even reading all that much (sacrilege, I know)

What do you like best about being a writer? What is the most challenging part?

I need to write about as much as I need to eat or sleep, so I suppose the best part is having that outlet and being able to express myself through words. Making the time is the hardest for me at the moment as I imagine it is for most writers.

If only time turners were real…

What are you working on right now? What can readers look for from you in the next year?

I have a lot of ideas including more books in my Go Girls Chronicles and some really intriguing women’s fiction stories so I’m doing my best to find time to work on a few projects at the moment.

Great! Can’t wait 🙂

What authors and/or books have inspired you?

Jilly Cooper was really the first author I found and her Rutshire Chronicles went a long way to inspiring my first series, The Go Girls Chronicles. I also love The Hunger Games and Jillaroo by Aussie Author Rachael Treasure – both have also really inspired my writing.

Jilly and Rachel are new-to-me authors—I’ll have to check them out!

What are you currently reading? What are your thoughts about it so far?

I have three books on the go at the moment and late at night is the only time I have to read so often fall asleep with my Kindle on my chest – honestly can’t even recall the central character’s name in the book I’ve just started reading, so can’t give much insight into it *so sorry*. It takes a good read to get me hooked and hold my attention, the best book I’ve read recently was the new Girl with a Dragon Tattoo.

Doesn’t everybody fall asleep with their Kindle? Though I usually lay on my side so it doesn’t hit me in the face if (okay, when) I fall asleep. I’m still deciding on the new GWTDT…maybe I *will* add it to the TBR 🙂

If you had to “sell” your book in a single Tweet, what would you say?

Fresh on the heels of Michelle Payne’s historic Melbourne Cup win, comes a blockbuster Australian story about a Queensland girl and the ‘race that stops a nation’ . . .

Perfect!