Katie Estill

Katie Estill is a graduate of Kenyon College and has an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. She is the author of two novels, Evening Would Find Me and Dahlia's Gone.

In 2002, Dan Wickett interviewed her for the Emerging Writers Forum.

One exchange from the interview:

Dan: There is a love triangle within [Evening Would Find Me]. Do you believe it is easier, or even a better way, to write of a relationship of love with the utilization of a triangle, as opposed to a "simple" boy-girl relationship?

Katie: Better, easier? I don't know. There was no other woman in "Romeo and Juliet," one of the world's most renowned love stories, although perhaps the lovers' families acted as that third constituent. The triangle is an ancient, archetypal geometric form, and it's energy is that of the flame. Clearly, most stories and novels are propelled by conflict. So in that sense, yes, a story based on a love triangle is organically fueled by conflict. Such a love story also forces us to acknowledge both the power and limitations of love. It compels us to face our own shadows and complexities. It disallows the false stupor of romance, which promises everything will turn out nicely in the end. In a triangle, you cannot love without knowing you're causing someone else pain. In the end you're making ruthless choices. Artists develop this ability to be ruthless, either with others or, more productively, with their own work. But that's the basic truth of our existence and all life. When we eat a pork chop or break off a stalk of celery - we're destroying life in order to live. To pretend this isn't so is an illusion, but we need to honor the life we take.

Read the full interview.

Learn more about the author and her work at Katie Estill's website.

Dahlia's Gone has been nominated for the Hammett Prize by the North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers.

The Page 99 Test: Dahlia's Gone.

--Marshal Zeringue