Nicole Winters's Blog, page 8

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

Before I visited the Isle of Man for the first time in 2010, I made the conscious decision not to over-research the Isle or the Races, including who the top riders were. I knew I was taking a risk by doing this, but I had good reasons which paid off.

I knew that the majority of North American readers had never heard of the Isle of Man, let alone something called the Tourist Trophy Races, (which sounds like a trophy for tourists who are marathon runners). So I came to think of the island and Scott’s race – the Supersport – as additional characters in the story, only they weren’t fictionalized (obviously). I figured the best way for readers to discover the IOM and learn about the IOMTT was for me to discover it as unspoiled as I could for the first time as well.

During my first visit in 2010, I snapped over 2,000 photographs and filled three notebooks, jotting down observations, snippets of conversations, course descriptors and anything else that struck me as interesting, amazing, beautiful, striking, etc., That way upon returning home, I could pull from all the notes which would enable me to recall different settings, specific images, scenes or emotions.

Not knowing the intricate details about the thirty-seven and three quarter mile course or how the two weeks were organized wasn’t a problem either. Everyone, from organizers, privateers, and marshals to pit crew, journalists and podium champs that I met and talked to about my book for teens was happy to discuss the TT Races. No matter how many questions I had about motorcycles, the TT course – how to learn it, how to qualify, what happens when… or what does X mean, or what’s the differences between this as opposed to that, etc., – they indulged me with lots of information. I consider myself lucky to have been able to meet and speak with so many people and their passion for the TT Races.

The same held true with not knowing who the TT riders were, especially when I first arrived during Practice Week. There were many times where I’d finish having a friendly chat with someone only to be asked by a passerby, “Wow, how do you know him/her?” or, “Do you know who that is?” Of course, this prelapsarian state didn’t last for long as practice week came to a close. I began to notice who the press focused their attention on, or I’d overhear snippets of conversations from people in the crowd as they whispered and pointed. This gave me the chance to observe riders under pressure too. A lot of what I saw I channeled into Scott’s character or it inspired various race scenes in the book.

The second year I travelled to the IOM for the TT Races I saw things very differently, but it gave me a chance to work out the finer details in my story. I still had some fun adventures, but now I had become a fan, which gave me a deeper appreciation for the riders and the immense amount of organization that goes into putting together the TT Races.

Every year since then, I’ve tuned into the Races on Manx Radio TT 365 and I hope to return in 2014.

Photographed just outside of Union Mills.

Bookstore Appearance Saturday, Nov 30th 11am-3pm Ella Minnow Children’s Bookstore: 1915 Queen Street East in the Beach

This Saturday, November 30th come celebrate Indies First – a day when over 700 authors get a chance to champion on behalf of Independent bookstores by hand-selling books!

Sherman Alexie Video on Independent Bookstores

Get a head start on your Holiday shopping

with book recommendations from local authors!

Meet:

Stephanie McLellan

Anne Marie Meyers

Nick Pemberton

Margot Denomme

                              

I will be at Ella Minnow Children’s Bookstore (1915 Queen Street East map) – which is an awesome bookstore - between 11am to 3pm, to sign copies of TT: Full Throttle, while at the same time, slinging other author’s and illustrator’s books – a sight not to be missed!

Ella Minnow has a terrific selection of books for kids and teens.

Hope to see you there!

Nicole

This is me, getting ready to sling my book at Ella Minnow Children’s Bookstore this Saturday, November 30th.

Upcoming Appearance! TT: Full Throttle book signing at North American International Motorcycle Supershow! Jan 3-5, 2014

I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that I’ve been invited to:

North American International Motorcycle Supershow

The Toronto International Centre

6900 Airport Road

(at Derry Road in Mississauga, Ontario)

Friday, January 3: 10 am – 10 pm

Saturday, January 4: 10 am – 10 pm

Sunday, January 5: 10 am – 6 pm

500 exhibitors * 1,000 motorcycles on display * 60,000 attendees

It’s the largest marketplace in North America for everything in motorcycling.

Buy your tickets NOW!

I’m really looking forward to this.

I’ll be on hand to sign copies of  TT: Full Throttle in addition to bringing along lots of Isle of Man mementos (eg. photos, press passes and printed materials) that I  collected along the way to help me research and write the first  fiction book based on the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Races.

Upcoming Appearance! TT: Full Throttle book signing at North American International Motorcycle Supershow!

I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that I’ve been invited to:

North American International Motorcycle Supershow

The Toronto International Centre

6900 Airport Road

(at Derry Road in Mississauga, Ontario)

Friday, January 3: 10 am – 10 pm

Saturday, January 4: 10 am – 10 pm

Sunday, January 5: 10 am – 6 pm

500 exhibitors * 1,000 motorcycles on display * 50,000 attendees

It’s the largest marketplace in North America for everything in motorcycling.

Buy your tickets NOW!

I’m really looking forward to this.

I’ll be on hand to sign copies of  TT: Full Throttle in addition to bringing along lots of Isle of Man mementos (eg. photos, press passes and printed materials) that I  collected along the way to help me research and write the first  fiction book based on the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Races.

Help me celebrate Indies First this Saturday, November 30th at Ella Minnow Children’s Bookstore

This Saturday, November 30th come celebrate Indies First – a day when over 700 authors get a chance to champion on behalf of Independent bookstores by hand-selling books.

I will be at Ella Minnow Children’s Bookstore (1915 Queen Street East map) between 11am to 3pm, to sign copies of TT: Full Throttle, while at the same time, slinging other author’s and illustrator’s books – a sight not to be missed!

Ella Minnow has a terrific selection of books for kids and teens.

Hope to see you there!

Nicole

This is me, getting ready to sling my book at Ella Minnow Children’s Bookstore this Saturday, November 30th.

How my first time around the IOMTT course shaped Scott’s journey in TT: Full Throttle

I treated the IOMTT course, all 37 ¾ miles of it, as a character in TT: Full Throttle. For research, you probably think I drove around it daily, familiarizing myself with the landscape and taking meticulous notes. While part of that is true, it’s not the whole picture. You see, during my first visit to the Isle in 2010, I nearly went home without completing a full lap.

There were many attempts to ride around the course, either by car or by hopping on the back of someone’s bike, but each time we drove past the town of Ramsey towards the mountain stretch, we’d have to turn back because the road was closed.

Just like my character Scott, who was trying desperately to qualify for the Supersport race, I too was feeling like time was running out, that I’d never get to lap the course in its entirety. I had been looking forward to viewing the famous landmarks depicted on TV and DVDs as well as those beautiful images in guidebooks. I wanted to see the Gooseneck, Guthries, Bungalow, Brandywell, Kate’s Cottage, and perhaps stop at the Creg-ny-Baa for a pint. I wanted to experience what it would be like to ride towards the grandstand and imagine the waving checkered flag. As my visit drew to a close, I had to accept that I had seen most of the course and that when I returned to Toronto, I’d just have to watch videos to research that last section.

On Senior Race Day, the final day of the IOMTT, I was hanging out by the startline an hour before the race. My friend Pete, a former race mechanic, pointed to someone in the crowd and told me that I should talk with him because he knew a lot about the sport. Pete made introductions and I started chatting with Nick Jefferies. I can’t remember exactly what I’d asked, but after he’d answered it, I followed it up with, “So, have you ever raced before?” and this slow grin spreads across his face. (Ha! I know, right? 64-time qualifying TT rider with 11-TT podium standings – I had no idea. See my blog post on why I didn’t over-research the TT Races.)

Nick asked if I’ve been around the TT course yet and was shocked when I’d told him no. He told me that I couldn’t leave the Isle of Man without doing so. We ended up watching the final race from his friend’s place at Signpost Corner and the next day, a few hours before my plane departed for Gatwick, I hopped on the back of his comfy-touring bike and we went for a ride.

I had no idea just how important my trek around the course with Nick would later shape an integral part of the novel.

Story-wise, I knew I’d have to give both Scott and Mags some sort of skill set to help readers believe they could tackle what’s considered the Mt. Everest of motorcycle road races. For Mags (a mechanic), needed to have a scene (at Goodmans race track) where our hero (and readers) could observe her in her element, as it wasn’t enough just to say she’s a good at what she does. We had to see her unobserved in action. Regarding Scott, I’d mentioned that he’d grown up racing with his dad, that he’d studied the TT course like it was an exam, and that he’d even had a few European road races under his belt. But still, a 37 ¾ mile course with over 200 bends/turns at top speeds? I needed something more.

As Nick drove me around the course, he pointed out where racers would enter or exit the corner’s apex, where they’d grab airtime, or what gear they would need to negotiate a particular turn. He also referred to visual markers (tree, curb, billboard, etc.) that could be used as a marker on what was coming up next, or how far they were around the course.

I received a staggering amount of information and I realized that if I was overwhelmed, Scott probably would be too. It’s no wonder newcomers are known to follow the centre yellow line the first few times they’re on the course at top speeds – it’s hard to remember what’s coming up next if you don’t know the lay of the land. So I took the essence of what Nick said and, months later with additional advice from another TT rider, John McBride, I began to shape the information into a classic hero-mentor scene between Scott and Paul Parker, a retired champ Scott meets who guides him around the course on the back of his bike. This scene would not only show (rather than tell) how challenging the TT course is for our hero, but the inside information Scott gains in that chance meeting also helps readers believe that he just might have a shot at achieving his goal.

I had a lot of fun that day and I’ll always be grateful to Nick for going out of his way to give me a tour and indulging me in my basic road racing questions. Was I freaked out when we were zipping along the mountain stretch, rounding blind corners in strong headwinds with sheep grazing by the side of the shoulder? Heck yeah, at first, but when I realized I was with a professional who knew the course like the back of his hand, I relaxed and enjoyed it.

I have a lot of great memories of my experiences researching this book, but this is definitely one for the podium.

Win one of two copies of TT Full Throttle: HERE

TT Full Throttle – Soundtrack – Created one just for kicks, listen for free!

Just having a little fun creating a playlist of songs that were running through my head as I wrote TT Full Throttle. I really like 8tracks.com. When I’m writing, I can type a mood into their search mode and someone out there will have created a list of songs. The best part is that you don’t have to sign-up, you don’t have to pay, and you don’t have to listen to annoying commercials. Here’s my playlist: http://8tracks.com/nicolewintersya/tt-full-throttle

-Nicole

 

TT Full Throttle – Soundtrack

Just having a little fun creating a playlist of songs that were running through my head as I wrote TT Full Throttle. I really like 8tracks.com. When I’m writing, I can type a mood into their search mode and someone out there will have created a list of songs. The best part is that you don’t have to sign-up, you don’t have to pay, and you don’t have to listen to annoying commercials. Here’s my playlist: http://8tracks.com/nicolewintersya/tt-full-throttle

-Nicole

 

TT Full Throttle – Toronto Book Launch Pics!

I had a fantastic time during my book launch on Thursday, October 24, 2014. It began at Chapters/Indigo during the day and then continued later that night at Studio Cycle Group! Thanks to everyone who came out, it was so nice to see friends and meet new people! Thanks also to Frank for snapping some terrific pics! Here are some photo highlights:

                             

TT Full Throttle – Toronto Book Launch

I had a fantastic time during my book launch on Thursday, October 24, 2014. It began at Chapters/Indigo during the day and then continued later that night at Studio Cycle Group! Thanks to everyone who came out, it was so nice to see friends and meet new people! Thanks also to Frank for snapping some terrific pics! Here are some photo highlights: