The Tillie Ride

Category Archives: The Backstory

Trouble in River City

Posted on by Posted in The Backstory, Training .

The day began happily enough.  We did a photo shoot for the Press downtown.  Our plan from there was to head to Holland on a 44 mile training practice ride to our first school, Pine Creek Elementary.  Very quickly, we encountered a detour….

But we thought, what the hey, we’re bicyclists, we’ll go up on the side of the road.

Ummmmm…..There was basically no way we could go this way.  In the end, we had a six mile detour and a forty minute delay.  As we began to go west, we hit a fifteen mile headwind.  This is where things got really ugly. I don’t have experience with these things.  I couldn’t really handle it.  I thought about Althea Gibson when she used to lose her cool on the tennis court.  Boy did I have a meltdown!  All the worst things you could imagine.  I swore (yes, it’s true), I stomped around.  What a baby!  I’m ashamed.  I am going to work on how to handle it when I feel like I’ve reached my limit.  I really really want to make this ride, but I’m wondering if I can.  You have my word, I’m going to do everything I can to ride my bike to your school!

So much for the haircut that could go from ride to presentation!

Tillie Gets Around…

Posted on by Posted in Making Big Things Happen, The Backstory .

One of the great things about seeing a picture book through the process of idea-creation-revising-editing-publishing and promotion is that it finally gets into the hands of its readers!  Here, Tillie comes back to life for her loved ones and admirers, and is introduced to a whole new generation.  Personally, it’s been so wonderful for me to connect with Alice Roepke.  She is Tillie’s grandniece and has been so gracious about sharing photos and insight into Tillie.  It’s a huge boon for the biographer to have such help.  Alice is a big part of making Tillie the Terrible Swede a success and my husband, Roger and I are so looking forward to meeting her and her husband Terry in person when we arrive in Chicago.

Alice Roepke (Tillie's Grandniece) and her husband Terry

A recent trip to the lively and active Swedish American Heritage Society here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was also delightful.  Here I am picture with feisty Swede, Chuck Swenson.  Photo credit: John Seery

And finally, here’s another letter of encouragement from Taylor, a courageous rider herself, from  Whitehills Elementary in East Lansing.  Taylor wrote me a great letter of encouragement I wanted to share with you in case you need some encouragement today.

Dear Mrs.Stauffacher,

My teacher started reading your book DONUTHEAD and I think it is a magnificent book with tons of contradictions and laughs. You also came to our school (Whitehills Elementary 3-16-11) and I loved the story you told about Tille The Terrible. I remember you telling us you were going on a big bicycle trip which sounds really cool but you also mentioned you were scared so I want to tell you a story from my life.

I fell off my bike once while I was riding because something got caught in my spokes. I had a mild concussion and had to stay in the hospital for a night. After the 2 months of waiting I was pressured by my dad to get on my bike and ride. But I was terribly scared. I just pictured myself falling over and over again. But one day my curiousity got the better of me and I grabbed my bike and started riding. I fell a few times but I got right back up again. And soon biking was on my agenda again.
I hope my story motivates you to do well on your big trip in May!
From, Taylor

The Costume

Posted on by Posted in The Backstory .

So I want to ride into school in a period costume.  It’s pretty funny to think about, really.  What I’m wearing in this picture isn’t that far off…  But when Tillie dressed this way, it was considered scandalous.  You were never supposed to glimpse the outline of a woman’s leg! in the 1890s.  But Tillie cared more for racing than people’s opinions.  Since she was a seamstress in her own right, she made costumes like these.

But I am not a seamstress, so I had to find one–my friend, Melissa, of course, who designs costumes like this one for the Grand Rapids Ballet!  Too bad Tillie didn’t need any tentacles….

Like Tillie, Melissa has a lot of talents.  She can be a carpenter, a sound engineer, a sculptor, a seamstress and a painter.  Here she is at the Grand Rapids Art Museum with her piece from ArtPrize.

Here’s where the magic happens in the ballet costume shop.

Can you spot some costume pieces below from a famous ballet?

Right now, we’re just strategizing about things like fabrics–too hot? too cold? and the design (I want to make sure it’s easy to jump off my bike and go to the bathroom, for instance).  But soon, we’ll have some ideas to show you.  I feel so lucky Melissa is helping me!