I write queer F1 romances! I really resonated with this part:
"But against all journalistic logic to blend in, I found myself wanting to stick out. To separate myself from the masses. To write on my forehead in pink permanent marker āIām Not Like These Girls!ā I think in some ways these women and their ability to be authentic has always intimated me. I have spent considerable time and effort distinguishing myself from them in a sports media landscape that rewards those who act and assert themselves like men."
I received an erroneous message growing up that sports weren't for queer nerds like me, so I didn't learn to enjoy them until I was an adult. I also received the message that romance was too "girly" and therefore bad and unserious. Plus, I never got to read queer romances until I was an adult. (Romance novels are no less fantastical than technothrillers like The DaVinci Code which get taken more seriously because they were written for/ by men!) It was so hard for me to publicly proclaim my enjoyment of these novels, let alone write them. I feel like I'm constantly needing to defend both my enjoyment of romance novels and my enjoyment of Formula 1.
Thanks for reading, Sam! I love your point about romance novels and technothrillers. I would say the comparison is reflective of sports fan bases too: men are just as ācrazyā about their sports teams as anyone. Iāve often felt like men who go from sports fans to sports journalists are celebrated, while often women and queer people who make the same transition are encouraged to keep that information to themselves. Being a former āfangirlā seems to open the door for all sorts of questions that are too often belittling, unprofessional and a double-standard. Iād love to read one of your books!
Have you read "This is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch" by Tabitha Carvan? She does a wonderful job of exploring this exact phenomenon, which I've seen as a theme in your writing about the reception of female Formula 1 fans.
While my books are still at least a couple of years away from release, I'll definitely reach out when they hit the shelves! I think many Formula Flash subscribers would enjoy them. I've also been writing some very un-serious Formula 1 content on my substack "Five Red Lights."
I write queer F1 romances! I really resonated with this part:
"But against all journalistic logic to blend in, I found myself wanting to stick out. To separate myself from the masses. To write on my forehead in pink permanent marker āIām Not Like These Girls!ā I think in some ways these women and their ability to be authentic has always intimated me. I have spent considerable time and effort distinguishing myself from them in a sports media landscape that rewards those who act and assert themselves like men."
I received an erroneous message growing up that sports weren't for queer nerds like me, so I didn't learn to enjoy them until I was an adult. I also received the message that romance was too "girly" and therefore bad and unserious. Plus, I never got to read queer romances until I was an adult. (Romance novels are no less fantastical than technothrillers like The DaVinci Code which get taken more seriously because they were written for/ by men!) It was so hard for me to publicly proclaim my enjoyment of these novels, let alone write them. I feel like I'm constantly needing to defend both my enjoyment of romance novels and my enjoyment of Formula 1.
Thanks for reading, Sam! I love your point about romance novels and technothrillers. I would say the comparison is reflective of sports fan bases too: men are just as ācrazyā about their sports teams as anyone. Iāve often felt like men who go from sports fans to sports journalists are celebrated, while often women and queer people who make the same transition are encouraged to keep that information to themselves. Being a former āfangirlā seems to open the door for all sorts of questions that are too often belittling, unprofessional and a double-standard. Iād love to read one of your books!
Have you read "This is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch" by Tabitha Carvan? She does a wonderful job of exploring this exact phenomenon, which I've seen as a theme in your writing about the reception of female Formula 1 fans.
While my books are still at least a couple of years away from release, I'll definitely reach out when they hit the shelves! I think many Formula Flash subscribers would enjoy them. I've also been writing some very un-serious Formula 1 content on my substack "Five Red Lights."
https://open.substack.com/pub/fiveredlights/p/which-f1-driver-are-you?r=2h0l95&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
I didnāt realise this genre even existed! Fascinating read
Thanks, Alex! I know - itās a fascinating sub-genre/culture
Holy cow. Incredible.
Thanks Darlene!