Kiss The Bricks Release Week: Last Giveaway!

My 5th book, Kiss The Bricks, releases tomorrow, and with that, I'm wrapping up my 5 weeks of 5 giveaways each week!

This Week's Prizes

This week is all about my protagonist, Kate Reilly, and fellow female racing drivers.

• Grand prize: a Team Kate polo shirt (if I have your size!), a mini-helmet from the release of Avoidable Contact, a breast cancer awareness can koozie, a signed hero card from Indy 500 driver Pippa Mann, a copy of Sarah Fisher's Getting Behind the Wheel of Your Dream Job, and a Team Kate stuff sack to hold it all.
• Runner-up prizes: assorted caps and a commemorative tile from a race at the Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.

How to win? 
By 12 midnight on Wednesday, May 3, do one of the following:

• Comment on this post.
• Comment or share my Facebook or Twitter posts.

I'll announce and contact the winners by the end of the week. Thanks so much for entering this and other weeks. I hope you'll check out Kiss The Bricks!

One Surprise After Another

AKA, Phoenix, Part 2!

The entire weekend in Phoenix was one surprise after another ... and nearly all of them were Kate-themed, which  meant I was both in and out of my element! To explain:

Surprise #1. The presence of Bill Zahren, aka, Pressdog, who came in from Iowa to enjoy the weekend. He gets the "traveled farthest award" and my sincerest thanks for being there. Let me know when I can return the favor, Bill!

Surprise #2. A go-kart party! The Kate Reilly Avoidable Contact 28. There were 10 of us in total, and we had a great time in three sessions of electric kart racing. Sure I looked impressive:

But I'm really not very good (that's how I was out of my element). But we had so much fun, it didn't matter—so much fun that there was even a "turtle" award for the slowest (no, I didn't win).

Surprise #3. There was a pro in the field! (And a couple near-pros, but they're the next item.) Cassie Gannis races in the NASCAR All-American Series and in NASCAR K&N Pro Series West ... when she can get the funds together to do so. As Bill tweeted after hanging out with Cassie—someone get this girl a sponsor! She's got real potential.

So not only did Cassie show up, she brought her parents, and they all brought her racecar, which they showed us around and let us crawl all over. So cool!

Surprise #4. More friends showed up to race and celebrate. Thanks so much to (top row) Barb, Kathy, Jenson, Cassie, and Bill, along with (bottom row) Randy and Lorrie, Allison, and Mary. 

Surprise #5. Kate gets a helmet! Thanks to Barb, Mary, and Steve of Paint by Steve. Be sure to check it out at my next booksigning! Or at Kate's next race....

Surprise #6. We all got Kate-helmet prizes. Yes, those are mini helmets, and we all got one as a prize for our finish in the overall standings. Last place also got the coveted "turtle" award, and I'll not embarrass anyone, but I'll say it wasn't me. Barely! 

After the official awards presentation, I signed everyone else's mini-helmet and, in turn, got everyone else to sign mine, so I had a memory of that fabulous day.

No surprise? One excited author, who's really grateful for all my wonderful friends who made it such a fantastic book event and birthday.

Kate on Pinterest

If you'd ever like to see some of the visuals that go along with my books, I invite you to check out my Pinterest boards. I use the book boards to collect ideas, photos, images, and video links while I'm working on the book, and then later I flesh them out with site photos ... so they're a jumble, but they'll give you a flavor of the locations!

And the Team Kate board is open to anyone who sends a photo of someone in a Team Kate shirt in a notable location or with a notable racing- or book-world person. Join Team Kate!

Avoidable Contact: (Kate #3) set at the 24 Hours of Daytona (Florida) endurance race

Braking Points: (Kate #2) set at Road America (Wisconsin) and Road Atlanta (Georgia)

Dead Man's Switch: (Kate #1) set at Lime Rock Park (Connecticut)

Team Kate: photos of team Kate members around the world

Photo Roundup: LBGP

Photos ahead!
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But first, a book and writing update: The big news of the weekend is that Kate book #3, Avoidable Contact, is finally DONE! And by done, I mean, proofed, checked, double-checked, comma-checked, and so forth. Next step: printing! I keep telling myself ... of course, I caught every single mistake! (Leave me my illusions, OK?)

And before I turn my thoughts to Kate book #4 or to plotting terrible deeds at the Long Beach Grand Prix, I wanted to share some of the other great memories from the race weekend this year.
_______________________

First, my main partners in crime this year: Barb Kreisel, Scott James (photographer extraordinaire!), and Mary Lascuola. This was us after a long Saturday at the race and a long, fabulous conversation over dinner. Same time next year, team?

Below is the same group, plus Patsy White, who does production work in IndyCar's pit lane for the pit lane reporters.

Then two photos with other Women of Pressdog(r): Sarah Fisher top, and Pippa Mann below.

And then two people who were very important to Avoidable Contact. The first is Chris (Christine) Syfert, a longtime member of the racing community who primarily compiles statistics for teams or the Series (her role with ALMS and now IMSA). Chris and Tommy Kendall (yes, the racer/announcer) got together on a winning auction bid last year, to benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation, for their names to be used in the book. I was telling her about her role....

And last, but certainly not least, the wonderful Oliver Gavin, Corvette Racing driver, who took the time to make sure Kate's racing lines, curb usage, gearing, and driver change process were correct. Phew! Such a relief to know it's all correct (I think).

Lastly, one of my favorite photos, a selfie with Barb as we were signing paperwork for our two-seater ride. Don't we look like we're about to have a fantastic time?! Joy, that's what it is.

Find these and more photos of Team Kate all over the world (mostly at races) on the Team Kate Pinterest board. And feel free to send me more photos to post!

Team Kate Coast to Coast

This weekend will mark the end of the racing season for two series: IndyCar and the ALMS. Of course, it's not only the end of the season for the ALMS, but also the end of the line before it merges with Grand-Am next year. But Team Kate will close 2013 out with a bang—that's right, we'll be at both races this weekend, giving away Team Kate prizes. (Hints: watch for a Team Kate giveaway at the IndyCar tweet-up, and look for me at Petit!)

What you can win:

• Team Kate book bag, earplugs, bookplate, belt buckle
• Swag from Glass Hammer Racing, Pressdog, or #SteelOvaryNation
• Team Kate shirt OR signed copy of Dead Man’s Switch
• **Kate Reilly Limited Edition Kreisel watch (for Time to Win prize only)

Team Kate Prize

What you need to do:

1. Take a photo of yourself with someone in a Team Kate shirt (like the two of us pictured here)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Women in Racing Prize 

What you need to do: 

1. Take a photo of yourself with a former or current female racing driver, or any other woman involved in racing in a professional capacity (e.g., working on a crew, driving a pace car, reporting from pit lane, etc.)
   (bonus prizes for a Glass Hammer Racing driver, a Woman of pressdog® or a #SteelOvaryNation sign)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28 (referencing @GlassHamrRacing, @pressdog, or #SteelOvaryNation)
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Time to Win Prize*
(*including a Kate Reilly limited-edition Kreisel Timepiece)
Number available: 2

What you need to do: 

1. Take a photo of yourself with me AND either a woman in racing (defined above) or a member of the Corvette Racing team
   (bonus prizes for a Woman of pressdog®, my friend Pattie [pictured here], a Corvette Racing driver or team manager)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Good luck hunting us down!

Prizes for COTA

It's ALMS (and WEC) racing on the fabulous Circuit of the Americas, and that means more chances to win Team Kate gear!

What you can win:

• Team Kate book bag
• Team Kate bookmarks, earplugs, bookplate 
• Team Kate shirt OR signed copy of Dead Man’s Switch

Team Kate Prize

Number available: 3
What you need to do:

1. Take a photo of yourself with someone in a Team Kate shirt (two female crew are around, one of them pictured here)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Women in Racing Prize 

Number available: 3
What you need to do: 

1. Take a photo of yourself with a former or current female racing driver, or any other woman involved in racing in a professional capacity (e.g., working on a crew, driving a pace car, reporting from pit lane, etc.)
   (bonus prizes for a Woman of pressdog® or for my friend Pattie here)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Time to Win Prize*
(*win the prize pack above, as well as a Kate Reilly limited-edition Kreisel Timepiece)
Number available: 1

What you need to do: 

1. Take a photo of yourself with a Team Kate crew member (above) AND either a woman in racing (defined above) or a member of the Corvette Racing team
   (bonus prizes for a Woman of pressdog®, for my friend Pattie, or for a Corvette Racing driver or team manager)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Good luck hunting down that mystery crew member!

Win in Baltimore!

It's ALMS (and IndyCar) racing on the streets of Baltimore, and that means more chances to win Team Kate gear!

What you can win:

• Team Kate book bag
• Team Kate bookmarks, earplugs, bookplate
• Team Kate shirt OR signed copy of Dead Man’s Switch

Team Kate Prize

Number available: 3
What you need to do:

1. Take a photo of yourself with someone in a Team Kate shirt (a woman, not the guy on the right, but the same shirt)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Women Behind the Wheel Prize 

Number available: 3
What you need to do: 

1. Take a photo of yourself with a former or current female racing driver
   (bonus prizes for a Glass Hammer Racing driver or a Woman of pressdog®)
2. Tweet it to @katereilly28
   OR
   Post it to Facebook and tag me (Tammy Kaehler)

Good luck hunting down that mystery crew member!

BeatByAGirl.org to Sponsor Kate Reilly

For Immediate Release

BeatByAGirl.org to Sponsor Kate Reilly in ALMS Corvette

Indianapolis, IN  – Glass Hammer Racing announces new sponsorship of (fictional) race car driver Kate Reilly, competing in the GT class of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in the #28 Sandham Swift Racing Corvette.

“From the first chapter of Dead Man’s Switch, I knew we had to bring Kate Reilly on board,” exclaimed Greg Gaich, founder and owner of Glass Hammer Racing (GHR). “Rising through the ranks to a full-time racing career sometimes requires stepping over the dead bodies of lesser racers, but until Kate, I’d never heard of doing so over an actual dead body,” continued Gaich, barely able to contain his enthusiasm “I can’t wait to see what she’s got in store for us in Braking Points.”

While Glass Hammer Racing has had a long-standing interest in open-wheel racing, both on the short-track midget circuits and on the formula car side, it has recently been expanding into sports cars. In addition to driving, solving mysteries and dodging bullets on race weekends, Kate will also be responsible for advising GHR drivers on career paths in sports car racing and, more importantly, how to avoid being the cold, dead body of a racer who has a habit of showing up in the early chapters of her books.

“I’ve learned a lot the hard way, and I’m thrilled to be able to pass on my wisdom to young female drivers—though I hope I don’t have to mentor another driver in how to solve a race-day mystery and still make the podium,” comments Reilly, whose Corvette will feature the Glass Hammer Racing logo and BeatByAGirl.org URL. “Glass Hammer Racing is a great organization that helps give up-and-coming female drivers a chance to make their mark on the racing world. I’m excited to work with young women and help them develop into racers—and someday we’ll get even more than four women on the grid for the Indy 500 and for every race on every track.”

“In all seriousness,” Gaich remarked, “GHR was founded to help open up the joys of motorsports to little girls like my daughters. We can do that by offering classes geared just to young women and by supporting female drivers who can serve as role models. Kate can do that by capturing the imaginations of her readers and opening up possibilities they might never have imagined. We are delighted to partner with Kate, Sandham Swift Racing, and author Tammy Kaehler to help share what we love with an even broader audience.”

# # #

About Glass Hammer Racing, LLC 

Founded in May 2010, just a mile-and-a-half from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during Indianapolis 500 practice, Glass Hammer Racing conducts introductory racing experiences geared to just young women, exposes young women to role models in all areas of motorsports and supports the advancement of young women in their motorsports careers through scholarships and sponsorships. For more information, please visit Glass Hammer Racing on the World Wide Web, http://www.beatbyagirl.org, or follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

 

About Kate Reilly

Kate Reilly is known to readers and fans through the Kate Reilly Racing Mystery Series—Dead Man’s Switch (August 2011) and Braking Points (April 2013)—written by Tammy Kaehler and published by Poisoned Pen Press. The two novels are available wherever the American Le Mans Series competes, in local bookstores, and online. The next Kate Reilly Racing Mystery (due Summer 2014) will feature Reilly and the Sandham Swift team racing their Corvette at the 24 Hours of Daytona. More information and links at www.tammykaehler.com. Follow Kate Reilly on Twitter.

Win Team Kate Prizes!

If you're at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, you could win one of three fantastic prize packages. Details, photos, and requirements to win below:

Team Kate: Basic Prize

Number available: 3

What you need to do: Tweet a photo to @katereilly28 and @GlassHamrRacing of

  * You
  * Someone in a Team Kate shirt (see right)

What you can win:

  * Signed Dead Man’s Switch
  * Signed Braking Points
  * Team Kate book bag

Team Kate: Premium Prize 

Number available: 2 

What you need to do: Tweet a photo to @katereilly28 and @GlassHamrRacing with #beatbyagirl of

  * You

  * Someone in a Team Kate shirt

  * Someone in a Glass Hammer Racing shirt 

What you can win: 

  * Team Kate shirt

  * Signed Dead Man’s Switch 

  * Signed Braking Points 

  * Team Kate book bag

  * Team Kate bookmarks, earplugs

Team Kate: Grand Prize 

Number available: 1 

What you need to do: tweet photo to @katereilly28 and @GlassHamrRacing of

  * You

  * Someone in a Team Kate shirt

  * A Glass Hammer Racing–sponsored driver (in race or street clothes)

What you can win: 

  * Kate Reilly Special Edition watch (man’s or woman’s)

  * Team Kate shirt

  * Signed Dead Man’s Switch 

  * Signed Braking Points 

  * Team Kate book bag

  * Team Kate bookmarks, earplugs

 

Tweet away and good luck!

Team Kate in Indy

by Kate Reilly (guest blogger)

This is unexpected. I didn’t realize at the beginning of this week that by the end of it, I’d be in Indianapolis. But here I am.

I didn’t even realize that Jack (that’s my boss at Sandham Swift Racing, Jack Sandham) had planned to be here to “check things out,” as he put it. But he called me Monday and told me to get my butt on a plane Tuesday, so here I am.

Turns out, Jack’s always dreamed of bringing a team to the Indy 500, so he’s at the Racing Capital of the World to talk to Series officials and teams. I’m here because “I have buzz” (Jack’s words). I asked him if that meant I’d be part of a team he brought to the Indy 500, and he told me anything could happen.

But I’m also here because of Corvette. You see, the new (gorgeous!) 2014 Corvette Stingray is the official pace car this year, in honor of the car’s 60^th anniversary. And, well, let’s just say that there will be a lot of other Corvettes putting rubber down on that oval this weekend and next—and I’m not supposed to say much more….

Just keep your eyes peeled at the track this weekend. You never know who you might see!