The following is an interview with Kate Clark Stone regarding the recent release of her debut novel, The Last Sunday in May, with Lake Union Publishing. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Clark Stone about her creative process in bringing the story and characters to life on the page, the themes that she hopes may resonate with readers, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the release of The Last Sunday in May! What can you share with us about the genesis behind this project, and how would you describe the story’s premise?
Kate Clark Stone: Thank you!
The year after my daughter was born, I was complaining to my best friend that, once again, there were no women racing in the Indy 500. She suggested that I write about it. I’d been saying for years that I wanted to write a book, but I had two toddlers and a job with a decent amount of travel. It was not the time to start a project! But the idea wouldn’t leave and about two weeks after the 2017 Indy 500, I started writing The Last Sunday in May.
I love the short description of the book: Who says motherhood and motorsports don’t mix?
Mack Williams was once the hottest woman in motorsports. Until her wild ways forced her to leave racing in her rearview mirror. Ten years later, she’s a single mom in rural Indiana, with a struggling family business and a dad who needs full-time care. Mack thought her days of impulsive choices were over, but a last-chance opportunity to qualify for the famous Indy 500 leaves Mack unable to say no, whatever the risks — moving in with her estranged sister, facing down her daughter’s absentee father, and working with her new teammate, Leo. He’s gorgeous, supportive, and every kind of distraction Mack can’t afford. Juggling her personal life with a professional dream close within reach, Mack won’t let a second chance slip away again. Win or lose, the stakes have never been higher.
BD: How would you describe your creative process in both researching the high-speed world of racing and crafting the engrossing narrative of Mack’s story?
KCS: Oh, the research was dangerous! My husband would find me watching clips of old races when I was supposed to be writing. At some point, I had to make myself put words on the page and “reward” myself with research. I could write 1,000 racing books; I enjoy the sport and the research so much. Plot was a lot harder! The racing plot came to me easily (The Indy 500 has so much built in drama!), but I battled with the emotional plot for literal years.
The main character, Mack, came to me instantly. Through all the drafts and changes of the book, Mack never changed. And how I wanted to end the book never changed. Basically, everything else did! The book started as a YA, but I quickly ran out of steam for that storyline. I took a two-year break while I worked and raised kids and moved to a new city, and then I was home during the pandemic and desperate for something to occupy my brain. I wrote a version of The Last Sunday in May, then wrote it all over again, and then did it again. It took me nine years to get from first sentence to publication. I do not recommend doing it this way!
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Mack’s story may connect with and impact readers, and what, if any, conversations do you hope that it might inspire?
KCS: I wrote The Last Sunday in May at a time in my life when I felt unseen and unsure of who I was. I was working at a non-profit, had two kids under three, and my husband started working two hours away from where we lived. I felt like everyone else got all of me. During the pandemic, I became an accidental stay-at-home mom and I felt so guilty for wanting more, for wanting something for myself. Just like my main character, Mack, I decided to take a chance on myself and pursue the work I’ve always wanted to do. I hope The Last Sunday in May leaves readers feeling empowered and energized to take a second chance in their own lives. I truly believe it’s not too late to start something new or return to something you love!
I also hope the story inspires more people to understand that the reason they don’t see more women drivers in the upper tiers of racing (There are lots of women in many disciplines of racing!) is from lack of funding, not lack of talent and skills.
And finally, I hope the book inspires at least a few people to attend the Indy 500!
BD: What makes Lake Union the perfect home for The Last Sunday in May?
KCS: My clever editor, Nancy Holmes. She immediately got what I was trying to do with The Last Sunday in May. I didn’t originally have much of a romance between Mack and Leo, but she helped me see how building out a relationship for lonely Mack would help develop her character, not take away from it. We’re both visual thinkers and think in movies. She’s smart, hilarious, and magically both laid back and takes writing seriously.
BD: Are there any projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight our readers?
KCS: I’m currently working on a novel about wealthy Southern country club moms who behave badly. It’s a big departure from writing about the Indy 500, and Indiana, but wildly fun. I lived in Nashville for ten years (and still live in Tennessee), and it’s fun to set a book in the other place I’ve lived and loved.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about The Last Sunday in May and your work?
KCS: My website, kateclarkstone.com, where you can sign up for my newsletter!
