What is your most recent book? Tell us a bit about it.
The Elephant Talks to God
Tell us about yourself.
I am from Atlantic Canada, where I have lived all my life. My mother was a British War Bride and my father came from United Empire Loyalist stock. The Estey ancestry goes back to medieval Italy and the House of D’Este. I am interested in, and directed by, all this heritage. I have been writing for over thirty years.
What inspired you to write this book?
My mother gave me an elephant figurine as part of a Christmas gift. While struggling for a subject for a short story, I looked around my room and stopped at the elephant. It was to be a one-off story. The Elephant (and God) had other ideas.
How did you choose the title?
I wanted the most straight-forward title of such a weighty character and subject matter.
How did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get started?
I had no interest in writing, books, reading or any of the arts until Grade Eleven. Within the space of a week (for no obvious reason – I say that God cuffed me on the back of the head) I started writing “funny” short articles. The first of them which I remember (and it may indeed be the first) was about a classroom pencil sharpener which chewed up my pencil. I would do one or two of these funny articles a month. They started to get published in the regional newspaper, The Daily Gleaner.
Do you have any writing rituals?
My writing rituals slide around and some disappear over the years. The bulk of my manuscripts are done long hand with a BIC black ink pen. I usually write in the morning. I use binders and write on alternate lines on both sides of the page. I do now write thriller/adventure books on the computer, for I find that medium enhances the speed of such stories.
How do you come up with the names for your characters?
When stuck for a character’s name, I go to a Gazetteer. Most of the time the character appears with name intact. I have three novel manuscripts where the central character has no name but just initials.
Did you learn anything from writing and publishing this book? What?
Every dayI write I learn something about writing. The Elephant showed me I can sustain humour.
If you were doing it all over again, what would you do differently?
I know what I should have done differently, but I doubt I would do it. I would have concentrated more on the career aspect, promotion and name recognition. But that might mean I would have written one less novel. Not worth the trade-off.
What types of books do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?
I prefer reading books where all the elements (character, plot, description, philosophy) blend seamlessly. Writers whom I enjoy who accomplish this are John le Carré, Thomas Mann, Thomas Hardy, Mavis Gallant, Alan Bennett, Robert Hass, Alice Munro, Saul Bellow.
Are you working on your next book? What can you tell us about it?
I am working on a thriller centred around NATO. Internet chicanery is at the core of the intricate plot. One central character is a guard/attack dog named Louie. His name came from a real dog I heard being called to in a dog park. Louie is a Cane Corso.
What is the best advice you could give other writers about writing or publishing?
*BEST* advice for a writer – write regularly. Work time into a schedule to make it possible to write a number of times a week – same time/same place if possible. Publishing venues are so broad these days that it is best to take a long time and study them all. Then chose an avenue that is comfortable (and understandable).
Who is the perfect reader for your book?
Perfection is over-rated. Enter my books and you won’t be disappointed.
Where can readers learn more about you and your book?
http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Elephant_Talks_to_God.html?id=Cj5sAAAACAAJ
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000411133160
http://twitter.com/#!/DaleEstey
