A 26-year-old Jersey author has secured her second publishing deal with a feminist historical novel charting the rise of a young woman determined to break into the male-dominated world of motor racing.
Kelly Frost’s second novel The Racing Line, will be published in hardback by Atlantic Books on 4 June.
The 26-year-old author said she wrote the book that she was “impatient to read”.
“Anyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about motorsports and Formula One – and in particular, tackling the lack of female representation in these disciplines,” she explained.
Set in 1945, the novel follows Winifred ‘Freddy’ Vaux, who refuses to accept that the end of the Second World War should also mean the end of her time behind the wheel.
From country lanes to Europe’s most glamorous tracks, Freddy’s ambition propels her into a conservative racing world where many anticipate her fall.
Kelly said: “The Racing Line‘s heroine Freddy was inspired by some incredible female pioneers in the sport in mid-century Britain and Europe – Lella Lombardi, Rosemary Smith, Maria Teresa de Filippis – who were racing for trophies in the highest leagues.”
The Racing Line follows the success of her debut novel The Kings Head, which was recently released in paperback.
“I’m so excited that The Racing Line has found a home with Atlantic, who ensured that my debut had such a successful release,” said Kelly.
“This second novel feels like a huge step forwards in my career as an author. We’re hoping to build on the fantastic review coverage for The Kings Head and make this the must-read book of the summer.”
Since The Kings Head was published, Kelly has appeared at events hosted by Waterstones, the Jersey Festival of Words, the Alternative Book Fair, and the London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre.
In October 2025, the former Bailiwick Express journalist moved from Jersey to London to pursue writing full-time.
