Whoop and Drive ’er – Growing Up in Aroostook County [AUDIO]

A former County resident has written a book about us, and it's amazing.

On October 23 and 24, the Fort Fairfield and Presque Isle libraries, respectively, hosted talks and book signings by Belfast artist David Estey, formerly of Fort Fairfield, featuring his humorous, illustrated memoir called “Whoop and Drive ’er” – Growing up in Aroostook County, Maine. He describes it as a labor of love, a personal piece of Americana about colorful family members, friends, characters and situations he experienced while growing up in Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle, Belfast and during 42 years away. We spoke to him this week about his new book.

The unique memoir begins in Aroostook County, with many people who still live there, but he also includes moving to Belfast in high school, going to Rhode Island School of Design, studying art in Italy for a year, illustrating four years in the army during the Vietnam war, managing public affairs for IRS, dealing with the news media, living in the South, and enjoying a second career as an award-winning artist.

The book is endorsed on the back cover by Carl Little, distinguished poet and author of several books on Maine painting, and Kathryn Olmstead, editor of Echoes magazine and a columnist for Bangor Daily News. Carl wrote, in part, “In this entertaining and often moving memoir … vintage photographs and Estey’s portraits and paintings are the perfect accompaniment to a storyline that will leave you laughing and inspire a tear or two.” Kathryn wrote, in part, “David’s memoir is laced with humor and filled with anecdotes that make it a tribute to small-town America.

The 144-page memoir is an attractive art book, seven inches by ten, with 41 photos or related drawings and paintings he did over the years. It will be available for $19.95 plus sales tax at One-of-a-Kind Flowers and Gifts on Main Street in Fort Fairfield and possibly at Country Collectibles on Main Street in Presque isle, or on line at www.maineauthorspublishing.com.

We spoke to David Estey today on air about his new book, and going through life knowing that Aroostook County would always be home: