Thank you for reading 'Go For The Gap'. I hope you enjoyed this story.

The story of Nio is unlike any story I've ever written. It's my first steampunk story, my first LGBTQ+ story, and my first story about racing. I'm a big Formula 1 fan, and always have been. For the longest time, I've wanted to incorporate racing into a fantasy/science fiction story. 

While the Speed Sprint races featured in the novella are very different from the average F1 racing weekend, it's heavily inspired by the sport. Those that are familiar with F1 will find easter eggs and subtle references to drivers, teams, tracks, events... Perhaps the most important reference is the title of the novella, 'Go For The Gap', which is based on a famous quote by legendary Brazilian driver, Ayrton Senna (1960-1994):

In the racing world, "a gap" refers to the fraction of time/space a driver has to overtake another car. It's about taking opportunities when they present themselves. Hesitating means losing.

As you may have discovered, this quote applied to more than just Nio's on-track antics.

Now, you will most likely wonder whether Nio and Ruben will get a sequel. The answer, for now, is 'no', but it's not a definite 'no'. My next focus will be on (finally) finishing my high fantasy trilogy.

Until the next time!

Dante