Simone Soltani: On Combining Her Love of Sports and Romance

Simone Soltani is a romance author and former ghost writer for a serialized fiction platform. Born and raised in Washington, DC, she holds a BA in Geography from The George Washington University, which she likes to think comes in handy for world-building in her novels. When she’s not writing, she spends most of her time planning vacations she’ll probably never get to go on, reorganizing her many bookshelves, and watching sports while cuddling with her dogs. Follow her on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

In this interview, Simone discusses how a self-published social media campaign helped land her a traditional publishing deal with her debut sports romance, Cross the Line, her hope for readers, and more!

Name: Simone Soltani
Literary agent: Silé Edwards (Andrew Nurnberg Associates)
Book title: Cross the Line
Publisher: Berkley
Release date: July 23, 2024
Genre/category: Romance (sports romance)
Elevator pitch: A rom-com set in the fast-paced world of Formula 1 in which a talented driver whose reputation is in tatters enlists his best friend’s sister to help revive his image.

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What prompted you to write this book?

I’m a huge lover of sports romances in general—from hockey to baseball to football—but I noticed that there weren’t too many set in the world of Formula 1. Considering F1 is my favorite sport, and I know plenty about the drama that happens both on and off the track, it felt like the perfect world to build a romance within. I couldn’t resist writing about elite athletes doing what they do best—driving fast cars—and also finding love.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

I will admit, I had a relatively non-traditional path to publication. I began brainstorming ideas for a Formula 1 romance series nearly a decade ago, but it wasn’t until 2020 that I sat down to organize all of my plots and ideas into outlines for books, and I only began writing Cross the Line in early 2023. Surprisingly, the original idea I had for the book all those years ago didn’t change at its core, though new details and characters developed over that time.

My plan was to self-publish in September 2023, and I began a social media marketing campaign to bring attention to the book. However, it garnered not just the attention of potential future readers, but that of several editors at traditional publishing houses. A week before I was set to self-publish, I received an offer of publication from Pan Macmillan in the U.K., which also led to Berkley in the U.S. picking it up.

Of course, traditional publishing takes time, which meant it would be several more months before the book would hit bookstores. In May 2024 Cross the Line released in the U.K., followed by its U.S. release in July. So, needless to say, this book has had a long, long journey!

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

So, so many! As this is my debut novel, I had zero experience beforehand of the traditional publishing process. I was surprised by just how many hands go into making a book the best that it can be, plus how many people are involved in getting the book on readers’ radars. It really is a huge team effort.

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

The biggest surprise—which really shouldn’t have been a surprise, considering how much I love F1—was how much I enjoyed the research aspect. I considered myself pretty well versed on the “lore” within the sport, but I discovered things I had no idea about. Researching also gave me the opportunity to read all the F1 nonfiction that had been on my list for a long time, but that I had been putting off because I simply didn’t have the time to dive into them. Gotta love anything that gives you an excuse to read!

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

I wrote this book at a time in my life where I was deep in the depths of grief, and I wanted to write something that would help lift me out of it. Cross the Line features two of my favorite things—F1 and romance—along with sprinkles of other things I enjoy, like travel, Bollywood movies, and macarons. It stars two “sunshine” characters who are kind and supportive of each other through the ups and downs of their respective lives and careers. It’s a light-hearted book, and it brought light into my life that I desperately needed. I hope it can bring readers a little bit of that light too.

Also, I would love if the book caused readers who weren’t familiar with F1 before to become fans!

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

Keep going! Cross the Line may be my debut novel, but I’ve written many others before this. Without that experience and that time to grow as a writer, I wouldn’t be the author I am today. Plus, it only takes one “yes” to make your publishing dreams come true.

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