Wellington setting for new spy novel
After successfully publishing and coauthoring his first trilogy of fiction, Darin Dance has spent the last 18 months researching and writing his first solo novel Whiskey Lima Golf
(WLG/Wellington), a thrilling spy novel set in Wellington. Whiskey Lima Golf
includes multigeneration al and multicultural characters, looking out for each other and learning from one another. “One of themain characters, Koro, was inspired by my grandparents,” says Dance. “All the characters have certain traits of myself but also of other friends and acquaintances that I have met along mylife’s journey. They all learn that by working together they are stronger and more resilient as a team.” Dance answers some questions:
Tellus about your background: I’ve had a varied career after growing up in Tauranga, working in various offices, factories, orchards and the army, before settling into managing warehouse sand factories in South Auckland then taking a break to coach and mentor horticulture trainees and apprentices in Wellington, the Wairarapa and Kāpiti coast. Along the way, I’ve met and helped authors get published before deciding to take the plunge and write my own tales.
Canyou tell us a little about your new book, Whiskey Lima Golf? At its core this is a story of a young man who suffers a physical andm ental injury while serving his country and his path of discovery and recovery with the help of his friends and wha¯nau.
What inspired you to write Whiskey Lima Golf? I’ve read some great spy novels set overseas and wanted to base a believable story in Aotearoa/ NewZealand. Once I conceived Tom’s character, the story took on a life of its own.
You have te reo spoken throughout the novel, whyw ere you interested in weaving
in te reo? Iwas brought up in an extended wha¯nau where only a few words of te reo were ever used and itwas discouraged at school. However today, spoken te reo is becoming more prevalent and I believe it is an essential part of whatmakes us uniquely Kiwis. Let’s embrace it.
You also mention a lot of traditional Māori medicine, where did you learn about
Rongoā Māori? As part ofmy own whakapapa hīkoi, I learnt about Rongoā Māori and have met and studied with many practitioners as well as Te Wananga o Raukawa and Te Wananga o Aotearoa. Rongoā Māori is an incredible science and has a lot to offer.
PTSD is a recurring theme in your book, what is your
interest in this topic? It’s incredible just how manypeople you comeacross that have mental health injuries and how mental health is perceived in society. Toomany people, myself included for quite some time, are in complete denial that they have health issues and this stifles their creativity and any real meaning in life. PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and its companions anxiety and depression are aspects of mental health that I have struggled with most of my life, but once you start to address them, your bleak grey world changes to a colourful world of wonder. Whiskey Lima Golf is set in Wellington, what inspired you to write a novel set in NZ?
Pōneke/Wellington is a fabulous cosmopolitan city to base a story in, with its changeable weather, groovy cafes and bars, international airport and sea port, innovative businesses and a creative artistic vibe, not tomention the seat of government, SIS headquarters and most foreign embassies. A writer can have a ball with the variety.