THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE WRITERS' QUESTIONNAIRE . . . Tui De Roy

 |   |  3 min read

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE WRITERS' QUESTIONNAIRE . . . Tui De Roy

When we recently wrote about photographer Tui De Roy's large format hardback A Lifetime in Galapagos, we mentioned that she – who arrived on remote Galapagos with her parents when she was two – divided her time between there and New Zealand.

But right now she is there, and for the foreseeable future as she tells us.

“I returned to Galapagos in December, planning to stay five months preparing to write my autobiography (the most daunting project of my life), but now it looks like I might be here for years, with no flights in or out, except for vital goods and the return of a few islanders stranded outside.

“We’re in total lockdown, house arrest save for one shopping trip per week.

“ At 2pm each day police cars cruise the streets with loudhailers announcing a daily 15-hour curfew. They sound like mujahideen calling the faithful to prayer.

“After that, it’s just the occasional siren sending the stragglers home.

“There’s no end in sight, with Ecuador ranking 17th among 187 countries reporting Covid cases. I feel like I’m living in prison because there are bandits (viruses) on the streets, so it’s safer in jail.

“Frankly, I’d rather face the bandits, live or die, and get on with it, whatever the consequence, rather than whittle away life waiting for a miracle.

“At 66 I am supposedly ‘high risk’, but there is only one certainty in my life: someday I’ll die. Meanwhile, it’s been one helluva ride, no complaints, and I want to keep going!”

De Roy will doubtless write quite a remarkable autobiography given how much time she now has, but to draw attention to her current book we thought she could answer some questions for us . . .


The first book which really affected you was . . .

Peter Matthiessen: Blue Water, White Death. I had no idea that, in time, he would write the introduction to my first book!


Your first (possibly embarrassing) unpublished literary effort was . . .

Mine were always photo-driven; text came as ‘supporting evidence’


Do you have any rituals or habits when you are in the throes of writing?

Like Calvin and Hobs, Last minute panic!


If writing was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .

I’m a naturalist first and foremost


copyright2013__roving_tortoise_photosgalapagossealion_tdr_05jun11_0932_crop_u17956Three books (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to read are . . .

Beyond Words, Carl Safina; Albatross: Their World Their Ways, De Roy, Jones, Fitter; Arctic Dreams, Barry Lopez


Hardback, paperback or e-book on a long distance flight?

None, I curl up like a cat and sleep!


If you could ask a long-gone writer just one question, who would that be? And what would you ask?

Do you enjoy writing?


The three films you think were good adaptations of literary works were . . .

Out of Africa; in my view, good film adaptions are very rare


The last book you bought was . . . (And why that one?)

Touching the void, Joe Simpson; because I love adventure in the wilderness, and it doesn’t get much more adventurous than that!


Can you, or do you, listen to music when you are at work? If so, who do you listen to?

No, I need all the mindspace I can get


18954_batemanbooksYou are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .

A frigate bird soaring high in the sky


David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where, doing . . .?

I would take a sailboat from one uninhabited island to the next, exploring, but thanks to Covid-19, it looks like I’m going to be spending them in perpetual lockdown in Galapagos!


And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why your last book is your best work ever?”

Because, of all the books published about Galapagos, none represents a half a century of experiences and photos, and because it contains my heart and soul, my lifetime.

A LIFETIME IN GALAPAGOS by TUI DE ROY Bateman Books $60

Share It

Your Comments

post a comment

More from this section   The Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire articles index

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Neill Fraser of Villainy

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Neill Fraser of Villainy

Auckland alt.rock band Villainy scored a major coup for the cover of their debut album Mode Set Clear -- see below -- they had the famous Storm Thorgerson (renown for his Pink Floyd album artwork)... > Read more

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE SONGWRITER QUESTIONNAIRE: Sally Stockwell

THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE SONGWRITER QUESTIONNAIRE: Sally Stockwell

While it's easy  to be dismissive of actors moving into the world of music (does anyone yearn for the return of Keanu Reeves in Dogstar?), there have been some creditable and credible results... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

PAUL SIMON INTERVIEWED (2000) The Attraction of Opposites

PAUL SIMON INTERVIEWED (2000) The Attraction of Opposites

Paul Simon calls from New York 15 minutes early, polite and apologetic. He needs to put the kids to bed -- his three children aged 7, 5 and 2 with his third wife, 34-year-old singer-songwriter Edie... > Read more

THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF  . . . (2014): Kiss pokes tongue at honour? No!

THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF . . . (2014): Kiss pokes tongue at honour? No!

Trust Gene Simmons of Kiss to inject some controversy into the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame today (April 10, US time). While so many others are happy to take the accolade,... > Read more