Nicole Winters's Blog, page 6

Interview with Amy Mathers and her Marathon of Books

Meet Amy Mathers who is reading a book a day. Yes, a book a day. Inspired by Canadian hero Terry Fox, Amy has embarked on her own marathon, this one to help raise at least $100,000 for the Canadian teen book award, to be administered by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. The $5,000 prize would be presented to a winner each year at the centre’s annual awards gala. The organization already hands out six awards annually but surprisingly, none for teen books.

I had the privilege of having TT Full Throttle included in her list by Canadian authors. Not only did Amy review the book, but she also set aside time in her busy schedule to listen to this year’s IOMTT Races via on-line Manx radio. I couldn’t have been happier or more impressed.

As a reluctant teen reader due to a learning disability, it took me ages to get through a book. I am in awe that Amy can not only read one a day, but also summarize and post a review.

I had the opportunity to interview her about her journey which has just crossed its halfway mark. To find out more information on supporting Amy’s worthy cause click HERE.

Describe a typical day in your reading marathon:

On a good day I try to get my reading done by lunch. That gives me the afternoon to think about what I’ve read, and then by the evening I am ready to write a review. Some days I have appointments or other commitments though, which means I am reading during the day whenever I can find the time and staying up late to give myself time to figure out what I want to write. 

How long does it take you to read a book?

My speed usually starts at a page a minute, but as the book gets going my reading speed increases. Usually it works out to be around 1.2 pages a minute or faster, which means I can roughly guess how long it is going to take me to read the book when I know how many pages there are.

Do you schedule in stretch breaks? If so, what’s most helpful?

I try to take a reading break every twenty minutes or 50 pages. Usually I update my status on Goodreads and then start reading again, but sometimes I take a longer break. If the book is particularly engaging, sometimes I forget to take the break and just keep reading.

For your reviews, do you jot down your thoughts as you go through the book, or do you write the review after you’ve completed it?

As I read I keep page tags beside me, and I mark all of the passages and quotes that catch my attention. After I’m finished reading, my brain needs some time to reflect on what I read and what I liked and didn’t like. I like to have at least a couple of hours between reading time and reviewing time to sort out what I think, and the review usually comes out better when I do. Copying out the quotes helps focus my thoughts and get out what I want to write about the book.

Do you write the review right after the book is finished, or do you wait a few days?

I’m reading and reviewing a book a day. I keep myself to a strict schedule of writing the review for the book I read that day before I go to sleep so I don’t get behind.

What do you do when you need a ‘brain break’ from reading?

I tend to be a stubborn reader. Even if a book is causing me grief or seems like it is going on forever, I stick with it. I make myself read. I’ve had lots of practice from serving on the White Pine Forest of Reading Selection Committee, but it’s a skill I’ve honed over the years with the vast amount of reading I’ve done.

That said, when I finish my book for the day, I usually play a game or watch television to relax. I often have the impulse to pick up another book because there are so many I want to read, but I try to restrain myself just in case reading does end up becoming a chore by the end of the year.

Are you a writer yourself? If so, what do you like to write?

I am a writer of sorts. I write non-fiction essays based on my life and experiences that are featured on my blog, The Phoenix Zine (www.thephoenixzine.org). I wrote them before and after my heart transplant, beginning when I had to leave school because I was in heart failure. Most recently though I’ve written an article about Bibliotherapy that is featured in the summer edition of the Canadian Children’s Book News.

Soon you’ll be halfway through your marathon — congratulations! — what can you say you’ve learned the most about this experience?

I recently passed the year anniversary of when I thought up the Marathon of Books. It was a wild idea when I came up with it, and I decided to pursue it one step at a time. Now I am over halfway through my reading. I could have dismissed the idea as being too ambitious, but I took a chance, and I’ve been wonderfully supported at every turn by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, authors, the Canadian publishing industry, and my family. The whole experience has reinforced my belief that it is always important to follow your dreams, even when they seem over-the-top.

What has surprised you most about this experience?

I think what has surprised me most is that I’m still not tired of reading. People wonder how I can read a book a day, every day, and keep doing it, but reading has always been a joy for me. While I suspected that people might be right and I would get tired of reading, it hasn’t happened yet.

What have you learned about stories from this experience?

In terms of Canadian teen fiction, I went into my Marathon of Books expecting to learn a lot about Canada. What I am beginning to realise though is that through reading Canadian teen fiction, I am not just learning about Canada, but about the world. Canada is a globally-minded country filled with astute observers, and our writing reflects that in a wonderfully diverse way. In this week alone I went from reading a book about Natives in the 1400s to the Armenia genocide of 1915 to life in Iran in 1988. Vastly different situations and time periods, but all incredibly insightful.

What have you learned about Canadian authors from this experience?

They are a tight-knit group. I used to think the act of writing was always a solitary one, but through my reading I am finding authors thanking other authors for their support again and again. Yes, writing is a solitary action in some respects, but in Canada there seems to exist a network of support and helpful critiquing for teen writers. They are willing to help each other out.

In a country as vast as Canada, with a variety of people and challenging weather conditions, there’s a lot to be written about. I love that Canadian authors keep surprising me with their content and insights about life. The ones I’ve met have been enthusiastic about my Marathon of Books, and I’ve appreciated how supportive they’ve been. I respect them for putting themselves out there through their writing.

 

To contact Amy click HERE

To read Amy’s review of TT Full Throttle click HERE

Isle of Man TT Races Research trip for follow-up novel to TT Full Throttle called Thunder Road

My time at this year’s Isle of Man TT Races to research a follow-up novel to TT Full Throttle was very productive. The next story, Thunder Road, will be from a pit crew’s point of view, which meant I needed to find some TT mechanics to follow around and ask procedural questions. I was lucky to have met TT rider Jim Hodson in 2010 when I first travelled to the IOM to research TT Full Throttle and saw him again this year. He introduced me to his crew and I was able to bug the guys (during non peak times of course!). Below are various pictures from my trip. You can following Jim and his crew on Facebook at: Hodson Racing. 

      

      

      

If you’re interested in sponsoring Jim’s sons Jamie and Rob Hodson for the Manx GP for as little as £20 (approx $36 CDN) please click here for more information: https://www.facebook.com/rob.hodson1

Some shots of my book in the Lexicon Bookshop in Douglas, IOM:

     

Isle of Man Police Dog Unit came to my book launch:

I met up with race photographer Stephen Davison (who took the cover photo for TT Full Throttle). We took some shots at Tower Bends:

      

I hung with John and Neil, part of the TV crew as they covered a couple of races:

      

I also had the chance to meet up with fellow Canucks Jeff Gillard and Chris Wells who were visiting the TT and helping out with the Hoft racing team. Jeff and Chris were busy making plans and prepping for TT 2015 where they will be the first Canadian sidecar team to participate in the IOMTT. You can follow them online at: http://latestdevelopmentsracing.com/?page_id=675

All in all, a terrific research trip and now comes the fun part, writing 55,000 word novel.

Stay tuned for updates.   -Nicole

Studio motorcycle shoot Aprillia RS 640

I had a chance to watch a motorcycle photo shoot with photographer Bill Petro, as he took pictures of Paul Murphy’s Aprillia RS 640. Bill’s been photographing bikes for 42 years. You can find more of his spectacular shots at: www.billpetrotv.com . Bill met Paul at the Annual Motorcycle Springshow and along with noticing the Aprillia’s polished frame, Bill says it was how tidy and neatly everything was put together that made him want to ask about photographing Paul’s bike. Bill is working on several books, one containing a collection of unusual motorcycles and another which is a review of the 40 years as a photo journalist.

Bringing Paul’s bike into the studio.

Paul Murphy has been riding bikes since he was 12 and has built 50-60 bikes over his lifetime. The Aprelli RS 640 took a year and a half to complete and he guestimates it took 700 hours. He is currently working on a 1970 Kawasaki KZ1000, building it to AMA Super Bike specifications.

The mainframe is an Aprelli RS 125 and he put in a 640CC engine made from KTM. Two unmatched items and the frame and engine put together… majority is custom hand-made parts.

Paul’s bike is carefully positioned onto place on a pristine white-painted wall/floor and on its paddock stand with a little help of a cardboard carpet. Aprilia Rs640. His bike has won many awards such as the International Motorcycle Supershow and the Motorcycle Springshow.

Studio photography with a Phase P40 digital back mounted on a old Hasselblad body and a Canon 1DsM3 for the detail shots. Thanks for letting me get in on the photo shoot, guys!

When Bill’s not photographing bikes, he’s working on “The Legends of Canadian Motocross”, which is a project that aims to preserve the history of Canadian Motocross by creating an online archive of not only 40 plus years of images but other photographers as well. The funding is collected by membership and corporate sponsors and surplus funds would be directed back into the sport by supporting the young Canadian athletes that compete on the world stage.

If you need more information you can check out the website.  www.locmx.com

She Rides: A video inspired by the women who ride the IOMTT

Friends collaborated on this animation project from one of my Isle of Man TT poems called, SHE RIDES, inspired by the women who ride the TT. Love it!

http://nicolewintersauthor.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/She+Rides-SD.mp4

TT: Full Throttle named in The Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s annual magazine Best Books for Kids & Teens 2014!

I’m thrilled to find out that TT: Full Throttle

was named in The Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s

annual magazine: Best Books for Kids & Teens 2014!

The guide contains recommended books for kids and teens ages 0-18 and helps parents, teachers, librarians, booksellers and children’s literature enthusiasts stock their bookshelves with the very best books Canada has to offer.

All of the titles in Best Books for Kids & Teens have been handpicked by expert committees of educators, booksellers, school and public librarians from across Canada, so every book included in the guide is guaranteed to be a great read!

The Writer Blog Hop

The Writer Blog Hop is a tag for writers who blog. A writer came up with the four questions below and answered them on his/her blog, then tagged three blogger friends to answer the same questions on their blogs and so on. The writer who tagged me is the talented Heather Jackson. She writes for a cute and wacky horror-comedy TV cartoon called CAMP LAKEBOTTOM. You can check her out at: http://heatherjacksonwrites.com

Thanks for the tag, Heather! Okay, here goes:

1) What am I working on/writing?

I’m returning to the Isle of Man for the IOMTT Races in a few weeks to work on the sequel to my YA debut novel, TT: FULL THROTTLE. The spin-off, THUNDER ROAD, features Dean Conners, one of the characters in the previous book.

2) How does my work/writing differ from others of its genre? 

I enjoy writing stories where the hero must overcome an internal conflict, rather than an external (evil) protagonist. A lot of YA and sports stories are usually hero vs. villain (or Team A vs. Team B). When I think back to high school, I recall that it was mostly overcoming internal obstacles such as asking a cute boy to dance, or auditioning for the school play, rather than battling some sort of one-eyebrow evil antagonist bent on world destruction. It’s not to say I won’t ever write a more traditional good vs. evil tale in the future though.

3) Why do I write what I do?

Growing up I wasn’t a good student or an avid reader in fact a learning disability lead me to become a reluctant reader. It wasn’t until I read S.E. Hinton’s THE OUTSIDERS did I experience a life changing epiphany. Here was a teen (S.E. Hinton was 16 at the time when she wrote it) who told a story that I devoured in a day (a serious feat for a reluctant reader). Deep down I had secretly wanted to be a writer, but my grades were poor and I thought that if I had low grades how could I even entertain the thought of becoming a writer? But I knew I wasn’t dumb and that I too had the ability to dream big, like Hinton. I now write about misunderstood characters because I know what it’s like to be misunderstood. I write about characters who sometimes get in their own way because I had let my limitations prevent me from becoming who I wanted to be. I write about characters who battle inner demons because I’ve been there.

4) How does my writing process work?

If I were summarize my writing process in four steps it’d be this:

Noodle around the idea in my head until the story is 90% formed.
Jot everything down on 4×5 cards and post them on a wall, create scenes and if necessary add more cards, or change them around until I have the story fully developed.
Write a first draft (aka a dawg’s breakfast) quickly which could be anywhere from 3-10 days.
Take the rest of the year to rewrite/edit, edit, edit/polish.

Now it’s my turn to tag three writers who will answer these questions next Monday. They include: Claire Humphrey, Stephen Geigen-Miller and Charlene Challenger.

CLAIRE HUMPHREY’S short fiction regularly appears in magazines and anthologies, most recently including Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Apex, Interzone, PodCastle, and Long Hidden: Speculative Fiction from the Margins of History. She is also the reviews editor at Ideomancer.
@clairebmused
clairehumphrey.ca
dickensianfantasy.blogspot.ca

STEPHEN GEIGEN-MILLER is a writer of fiction, comics and free-associative paragraphs that seemed to make some sort of sense at the time. He is best-known as the co-creator of the comic book series Xeno’s Arrow (with Greg Beettam) and the webcomic Cold Iron Badge (with Patrick Heinicke). Stephen lives in Toronto with his partner and their two children.
@Stephen_GM
backfromerstwhile.blogspot.ca/

 

CHARLENE CHALLENGER is a writer and graduate of Ryerson Theatre School. Her first novel, the young adult fantasy THE VOICES IN BETWEEN, is published by Tightrope Books. Her work is also featured in Stone Skin Press’s A 21st Century Bestiary and Exile Editions’ Start a Revolution: QUILTBAG Fiction Vying for Change. She is currently working on the sequel to Voices. She lives in Toronto.
@CharChallenger
charlene-challenger.tumblr.com

Upcoming Appearance! TT: Full Throttle book signing at 33rd Annual National Motorcycle and Tattoo Show April 12 & 13

I’m excited to be attending my first

National Motorcycle and Tattoo Show!

April 13 & 14 at the Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto

National Motorcycle and Tattoo Show Website

Their Facebook Page

Twitter: @NtlMtrcycleShow

I’ll be there to sign copies of my debut novel,

TT: Full Throttle

A fiction story about Canadians travelling to the Isle of Man

to try and qualify for the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Races (IOMTT)

 More about this book

Read the first chapter

What the heck is an IOMTT? Watch:

All the cool folks I met at the Motorcycle Spring Show – March 15 & 16, 2014

I had a lot of fun this past weekend signing copies of TT FULL THROTTLE

and meeting people who are passionate about bikes at the Motorcycle Spring Show.

Highlights include:

cafesupercross.com

Who’s introducing a high-octane, invitational superbike racing webcast series

called Motorcycle WARS (which sounds really cool).

42nd Paris National Rally Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group

http://www.cvmg.ca/

Looks like a ton of fun!

Michelle Duff

http://www.michelle-duff.ca/

Always fun to talk shop about books with a fellow author.

Motorsoul Riding School

http://www.motorsoul.ca/

Congrats Ginny, for winning a 2014 Show award!

@MotorsoulRiding

***

Dave Nobel from Competition Cycle in Whitby

I’ll be watching and rooting for you for TT 2015!

***

http://glorydayscelebrationofspeed.com/

Another super-fun looking event.

The very cool folks at:



It’s nice to meet people you’ve been following on Twitter

@EatSleepRIDE

Lovebone Apparel

Great to see you guys! I’m just sorry I couldn’t stay and chat. I love your new store on Etsy!

https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/LoveboneApparel

@LoveBoneApparel

Lions Foundation of Canada who were promoting their Ride for Dog Guides program.

http://www.dogguides.com/ride.html

@LFCDogGuides

Fort Erie Motorcycle Swap Meet

Forteriemotorcycleswapmeet.weebly.com

Always fun to run into the gang at Sidecar Racers Association.

I’ll see you guys in a few months at the Isle of Man TT!

http://www.sidecarracers.com/

@SRAEast

And last, but certainly not least, a big shout out to the awesome staff, volunteers

and organizers at this year’s Motorcycle Spring Show 2014; thanks so much for your support!

http://motorcyclespringshow.com/

@motorcycleYYZ

TT Full Throttle – Nicole Winters – Media Press Kit

TT: FULL THROTTLE

Debut novel by Nicole Winters

TT: Full Throttle is a fictional motorcycle road racing story for ages 13+

Summary:

Scott has one obsession: to fulfill his late father’s dream of racing in the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Races, the most dangerous and prestigious motorcycle road race in the world. Far from their home in British Columbia and still reeling from a recent tragedy, Scott and his roommates-turned-pit crew have only five days during Practice Week to secure a spot in the TT. Scott must qualify with a fast enough time or he doesn’t race. But the pressure of working with a rookie crew on the potentially lethal course puts Scott’s safety and his friendships on the line. As race day draws near he and his friends will have to swallow their pride to help Scott achieve his dream.

Nicole Winters travelled to the Isle of Man in 2010 and 2011 to research this story, securing a press pass enabling her to speak with privateers, podium champs, marshals, mechanics and pit crew. She attended newcomers meetings and even volunteered as a roadside marshal. TT: Full Throttle is the first fictional book that centres on the IOMTT Races.

“A great book about a great event.”

Charlie Williams, England

52-time qualifying TT rider

20-TT podium standings

9-time TT winner

Manx Radio TT Commentator

“Speed, suspense, adventure, and love. The author grabbed every emotion a TT racer experiences and told the perfect story.”

Brandon Cretu, USA

4-time qualifying TT rider

Youngest American to qualify for the TT

“This may be fiction, but it captures the real life tension and dramas experienced by every TT Newcomer.”

John McBride, IOM

3-time qualifying TT rider

23-time MGP qualifying rider

Former TT Travelling Marshal

TT Full Throttle Book Trailer

Read the First Chapter

Reviews:

Nicole Winters: Toronto author talks YA fiction and motorcycle racing

examiner.com, January 31, 2014 

TT Full Throttle

CM: Canadian Review of Materials, January 3, 2014

Podcast Appearance

Those Diner and Motorcycle Guys.com, November 8, 2013

Nicole Winters and TT: Full Throttle

Youmotorcycle.com, October 30, 2013

Book Review: TT Full Throttle

Mobtreal.com, October 2, 2013

Review of TT Full Throttle

The Guy Who Reviews Sportsbooks, September 29, 2013

Author Bio:

Growing up with a learning disability, Nicole Winters was neither a good student nor an avid reader. It wasn’t until she was assigned to read S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders did all that change. Devouring the novel in one day, she realized that the right story could engage even the most reluctant of readers. She went on to read a variety of subjects including hobbies and nonfiction. She realized her school marks were not an accurate reflection of her intelligence. This is a message she’d like all students who struggle in school to understand:

I know what it’s like to try your hardest and not see results on the page. Don’t let C’s and D’s make you feel inadequate or less than. There are many kinds of intelligence (spatial, musical, logical-mathematical, people smart, etc.) and school only measures some of these; it’s up to you to figure out what makes you happy and pursue your passion.

http://nicolewintersauthor.com

@nicolewintersya

@scottsaunders1  (character’s twitter handle)

@ttfullthrottle

#IOMTT  #booksforboys  #YAlitchat

   

For high-res images email nicolecwinters@yahoo.com

Interview Questions:

1. Why did I decide to write about the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Races (or IOMTT)?

2. Researching the Isle of Man TT Races for TT: Full Throttle

3. Marshalling at the IOMTT Races: Research for TT: Full Throttle

4. How my first time around the IOMTT course helped shape Scott’s journey in TT: Full Throttle

Format: Trade Paperback

Dimensions: 264 Pages, 5.12 × 8.27 × 0.79 in

Published: September 18, 2013

Worldwide release: March 1, 2014

Publisher: James Lorimer & Company Ltd.,

ISBN – 10: 1459405161

ISBN – 13: 9781459405165

Contact information:

For media inquiries:

Kendra Martin

promotion@lorimer.ca

1-416-362-4762

For additional information contact Nicole at:

nicolecwinters@yahoo.com

TT FULL THROTTLE, fiction book about the Isle of Man TT Races launches in UK, US, Germany and more!

Scott has one obsession: to fulfill his late father’s dream of racing in the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Races, the most dangerous and prestigious motorcycle road race in the world. Far from their home in British Columbia and still reeling from a recent tragedy, Scott and his roommates-turned-pit crew have only five days during Practice Week to secure a spot in the TT. Scott must qualify with a fast enough time or he doesn’t race. But the pressure of working with a rookie crew on the potentially lethal course puts Scott’s safety and his friendships on the line. As race day draws near he and his friends will have to swallow their pride to help Scott achieve his dream.

Sample Chapter HERE

 

Reviews

“A great book about a great event.” (Charlie Williams, 52-time qualifying TT rider, 9-time TT winner)

“Speed, suspense, adventure, and love. The author grabbed every emotion a TT racer experiences and told the story perfectly.” (Brandon Cretu, 4-time qualifying TT rider)

“This may be fiction, but it captures the real life tension and dramas experienced by every TT newcomer.” (John McBride, 3-time qualifying TT rider)

“I wasn’t prepared for the depth of the character building that Nicole Winters achieved in the 260 pages of her book. If you love bikes, buy this book. If you don’t love bikes, buy this book anyway. In addition to actually creating a realistic presentation of what it means to race a motorcycle to its edge and beyond, more importantly — this book showcases the people who do it, and how they cope with personal tragedy, victory and pain — and the balance of risk, even in the midst of love.” (Mobtreal.com 2013-10-02)

“Winters does a wonderful job of not only explaining the technical aspects of the bikes, but also her description of the course. The scenes in which Scott is on the track, whether in practice or during a qualifying run, are superbly written. The reader not only experiences the thrill of the sharp turns and fast straight sections, but also gets inside Scott’s mind as to what he is thinking about at that moment.” (Lance Smith The Guy Who Reviews Sports Books 2013-09-29)

“Winters’ descriptions of Scott’s thoughts as he races down a track realistically convey the excitement and adrenaline rush a biker feels during a competition. Her rapid fire description of what it’s like to ride a bike at 160 mph and her enthusiastic articulation of motorcycle mechanics should have teen boys (however reluctant the reader) tearing through the pages of the novel and Googling videos of the infamous Isle of Man TT, statistically the most dangerous motorcycle race in the world. In TT Full Throttle, Winters has successfully delivered an action-packed young adult novel without skimping on character development . . . and without the teen angst.” (Jenice Batiforra CM: Canadian Review of Materials 2014-01-03)

Available (in English):

United Kingdom

United States

New Zealand

Canada

Germany

Finland

Japan

France

Denmark

Sweden

Italy

Holland

Estonia