Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Research, Olympic Style

One of the cool things about writing a novel is doing the research. I like researching. I've learned a lot and have met some interesting people. In fact, sometimes research can end up being life altering! Like, what if after researching Uncharted, Story for a Shipwright, I learned how to build a boat and then changed my vocation to shipwright! 

Well, that didn’t happen, but in the course of my gadding about the internet, I became acquainted with an author whose research led her to the Olympics, and I don’t mean as a spectator. I met Carol Newman Cronin over two years ago when I submitted a few lines of Uncharted—then known as Story for a Shipwright—on MissSnark’s First Victim. Carol left a kind and helpful comment so I followed her over to one of her Websites (she has several) which featured a nautical theme (what’s not to love!) and from there, I found her middle grade novels, Oliver's Surprise and Cape Cod Surprise.

Maaike Bernstrom Photography
From time to time, I would lurk, checking in to she what she was up to. Last year, I found that Carol had completed an adult novel, Game of Sails, anOlympic Love Story. The logline intrigued me: The story is about two opposites who team up for the sole purpose of making it to the Olympics—and then try hard not to fall in love. I then read an excerpt and knew I had to finish the story.

I snooped around her Website a little more and found out that as part of her research for Game of Sails, Carol helped on the race committee for the 1996 Olympic Trials. That's impressive enoughI mean, talk about getting into your research!but soon thereafter, she won the next Trials she attended. 

Then, in 2000 she decided to put together her own Olympic campaign. Of course, she would have to put her writing on hold for four years, but after she returned from the 2004 Games in Athens, she had collected all the research she needed and finally completed Game of Sails! Imagine that! “Research” that would land you in the Olympics!

I read Game of Sails and loved it, not only the story, but her apt writing. I don’t normally post reviews on Amazon (or here, for that mattera blog post for another time), but I enjoyed it so much, I just had to. My review is here. You don't need to know the difference between a tack and a jibe to feel the tension she creates in a sailboat, to experience the elation of victory and shed tears of defeat.

So, how’s that for the practical application of research!

In addition to writing novels and sailing, Carol also writes articles for assorted boating magazines.


12 comments:

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    1. Liza, I think you'd really enjoy GAME of SAILS! I plan to get the MG books for my grand kids and start them off right.

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  2. Carol posted you link on FB ad now I will have to read your book. Carol is a great Sailor/writer/person. Trisha

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    1. Trisha, thanks so much for stopping in! It has been such a pleasure getting to know Carol and her writing. She was a big help to me with portions of Uncharted--I hope you enjoy reading it when it comes out. :)

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  3. I love doing research for books, and that includes reading novels that are similar to my topic. :)

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    1. Similar topics really are helpful. Game of Sails ended up being very helpful for me--There is a sailboat race in Uncharted, and I've never done more than just some slow and easy sailing!

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  4. Interesting story, and interesting way to build a community of writers who share their expertise. I'd love to read your book, Bridget -- where do I find it? (I probably haven't looked through your page carefully enough, have I?)

    On another note, have you done much sailing yourself? I love sailing, but by that I mean I love sitting on a sailboat while other people do the work. When I try to sail myself, I end up going 'round in circles.

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    1. Ha, Lisa--you sound like my kind of sailor. I sail with Todd--that is, he's the sailor and I'm the sitter. I understand the dynamics of sailing, and I've done some steering, but I prefer Todd did the decision-making.

      Oh, and Uncharted will be available on October 1, through Amazon and other online retailers, or you could order it through any bookstore.

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  5. Hey, JB, I'd love to read an arc of Uncharted and write a review. I responded to an Email in this regard from Rhemelda but I don't like reading in PDF form. Is there another option??

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