Title: Drive For Ed
Author: Eric R Smith
BLURB from Goodreads
For Ed Hatchel, the world of racing he knew and loved had been replaced by the below the speed limit commuting of a Driver’s Education car. A tragic past had put his life behind pit road wall. Teaching students the basics behind the wheel became a daily routine. The students in auto shop class can see the change in Mr. H. So does his wife Becky. Can racing continue past the damage? What will it take for this gentleman to start his engine again?
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
What is your name, where were you born
and where do you live now?
My Name is Eric Smith. I was born in Washington, North
Carolina. I now live in Sophia, North
Carolina.
What is the name of your latest book,
and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?
My book is called Drive For
Ed. This novel is about a retired NASCAR
crew member, overcoming a tragic past, with the help of his students who want
to feel the thrill of racing.
Who is your publisher? or do you self-publish?
I self-published this novel.
How long does it usually take you to
write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
This novel took me about two
years. I stared pretty strong, but I was
going to school also at the time and my son plays a lot of sports. Luckily I finished my Bachelor’s Degree and
my first novel.
What can we expect from you in the
future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
I’m working on another novel in
the same genre. It will actually be a
three part series. I like to write about
cars, and racing. It is difficult to
write about the excitement scene and heard at the race track. I want to write about cars and racing in
hopes of exciting a young male audience.
My son is excited to read this book and is halfway through now.
What genre would you place your books
into?
I would say this book can be
placed in a contemporary genre. Also
this novel could be placed in a coming of age genre. The main character Ed Hatchel is struggling
to overcome a tragedy that has turned his world upside down. At the same time, one of his students, Jenny
is dealing with coming into her own as an individual.
Who designed the Cover of your books?
I designed the cover for this
book. I wanted to blend the, ho-hum
everyday routine of driver’s education with the excitement of racing. I think the yellow caution and the checkered
flag is a perfect blend. Plus, the
driver and passenger in the car symbolize the journey we all are taking, a
journey that should not be taken alone.
Do you choose a title first, or write
the book then choose the title?
I saw a vanity license plate that
said DRv-4-ED. I thought; what if a driver’s education teacher was named Ed? The rest just seemed to flow.
How do you come up with characters names
and place names in your books?
The character names were sort of a
merge from friends and family. I would
take a first name from one family member and merge it with the last name of a
friend. The area where I live has an
incredible tie to grass roots racing. No
flashy sponsors or large money prizes, just people who love to race. I wanted to pay homage to that so I used a
lot of local references.
Do you basic plot/plan for your book,
before you actually begin writing it out? Or do you let the writing flow and
see where it takes the story?
I had this book planned out before
I wrote the first word. I could see the
entire book laid out in my mind. There
were a couple of chapters that I went back and added, but for the most part it
was planned first.
Are there any hidden messages or morals
contained in your books?
I like to think that each reader
can come away from reading this novel with their own lesson. For me writing this the moral is that no
matter how hard life may be, you can always see thru it with your friends and
family.
Do you think ebooks will ever totally
replace printed books?
I think the feeling you get from
sitting with a printed book, and feeling the pages between your fingers, and
the smell as the pages fan in front of your nose can never be replaced.
What piece of advice would you give to a
new writer?
Ideas become novels. The transition can be challenging but never
give up. Writing is a great ingredient
for life’s recipe.
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