A Little About Me... Charlie d'Estries
Hi, my name is Charlie d'Estries and I'm the author behind Late Whistle. In 1998, while sipping on a glass of wine, I pondered how much I loved basketball; from that day-dreaming session Late Whistle was born.
As a little boy I loved the game and remember my father putting up a hoop on an old oak tree. I can still see myself shooting 500 foul shots most days and pretending I was Walt Frazier or Bob Cousy. At one point I won an incredible 600 games in a row! I was that good. So at age 13, after my father passed away, basketball became my very close friend, and I created my own little world. In high school, during my junior year, I tried out for the team but didn't make the first cut; I didn't even try out my senior year. So when I went to a college in Buffalo, NY (Rosary Hill College; that's another story) and was one of forty guys (it was the first year this all-girls college admitted guys) on campus I decided to try out for the team. I was cut once again. But persistence and luck is everything, so upon my return from the Christmas break, the coach asked if I'd be interested in playing ball... because the starting five flunked out. Hmmm. So, I said yes. Officially, I can now say I played college ball, and one of these days I'll tell that story too (like when we lost by 102 points). A few years went by, and when my daughter Noelle started playing at high levels of basketball in high school and college, my romance with the game returned. I was suddenly immersed in AAU basketball games in Hartford, CT, Washington, DC, Erie, PA and State College, PA and New York State championship games in New York City, Long Island and Binghamton. The journey continued with my second daughter, Brielle, playing high school ball. My son, Michael, played volleyball; he is currently in therapy:) And, wow, the drama of those experiences. I remember coaches crying and screaming; players fainting and crying; parents crying and fainting and screaming and threatening legal action. When you're in the midst of these experiences you are in a different world, and I enjoyed most all of it. I wish, in fact, I could relive it. I wanted to go back and experience it all over again; but what's a person to do? I created my own world just like I did when I was 13 and I wrote my own story. And the characters -- Coach G, JJ, C, Perfume, Bull, Kong, Sauce and Tractor -- are as real to me as you are; I can't wait for you to meet them. It's now 2013, and after working on this book for 14 years, it was time to put it out there. Some years I left it alone, thinking maybe I couldn't write (when friends tell you that; especially if you are a new writer, ignore them!). Other times I wondered if anyone could be interested in a book where players cry and show their weak sides. Not much machismo in Late Whistle. I guess we'll see :) I am so thankful that you are thinking about reading Late Whistle and welcome your correspondence and criticism (but please be nice about it, or you'll make me cry). I have recently published to Amazon Kindle's publishing site and invite you to read Late Whistle. So I continue in my quest, with your help, to perfect the words and structure of the story, although I think we're ninety percent there. I am also working on several fiction and non-fiction books... I'll let you know when they hatch. To get started, just visit my Amazon Kindle site; if you have an Amazon account just log in. Please feel free to write a review, send me your impressions, errata, and ideas; it is very much appreciated. I hope you enjoy Late Whistle and look forward to your comments! All the best... Charlie d'Estries charlie.destries@gmail.com |
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