ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN DE MODE JAN V1 2024 VOL VII. ISSUE XXXIX | LITERATURE
Article Published on: 04TH FEB 2024 | www.demodemagazine.com
"ESTEBAN: LOVE'S ORDEAL" - BY AUTHOR FISH NEALMAN
Embark on an extraordinary journey of resilience and transformation in Esteban where seemingly insignificant moments lead to profound change. Born into a tumultuous family, Esteban yearns for his father's affection but faces countless obstacles. A fateful teenage date alters the course of his life, triggering events that challenge him to the core and lead him to become a priest.
Within a demanding seminary, Esteban grapples with inner turmoil and a relentless mental illness. The specter of graduation looms overhead, until twists of fate unexpectedly grant him success.
As a newly ordained priest, Esteban's first assignment reveals profound lessons through human interactions. Amid trials and stern admonishments, he discovers the indomitable spirit that conquers life's ordeals, forever changing him. Esteban delves into the complexities of the human experience, portraying love, resilience, and the pursuit of growth. This poignant tale will inspire readers with hope, courage, and the strength of the human heart.
BOOK REVIEW
Esteban is an exploration into the life of a young seminarian, delving into the intricate balance between faith, self-discovery, and the challenges of the modern world. The author, Fish Nealman, skillfully weaves a tale that effortlessly captures the reader's attention from the first page to the last. The narrative unfolds through the eyes of the protagonist, Esteban, a young man who embarks on a journey of spiritual enlightenment within the hallowed halls of a seminary, after being forced into it by his mother. The author masterfully portrays the internal conflicts that Esteban faces as he navigates through those 4 years of his seminary life. Throughout the book, Fish Nealman beautifully captures the spiritual contemplation, and the unique camaraderie that defines life within the seminary. Fish Nealman has crafted a narrative that lingers in the minds and hearts of readers, setting the stage for an eagerly awaited sequel.
DIRECT LINK TO BUY 'ESTEBAN: LOVE'S ORDEAL' IN INDIA - CLICK HERE
DIRECT LINK TO BUY 'ESTEBAN: LOVE'S ORDEAL' IN ALL COUNTRIES - CLICK HERE
JOURNEY OF THE AUTHOR FISH NEALMAN
Fish Nealman embarked on his literary journey within the non-fiction realm, where his inaugural work resulted in the collaboration of a groundbreaking book establishing a syntax and semantic modeling language tailored to the intricate demands of modern-day computer systems.
In his subsequent works, his authorial narrative, beginning with his follow-up treatise on Enterprise Architecture, Nealman skillfully transitioned to a storytelling approach. No longer confined to technical jargon, his narrative evolved to convey complex ideas through the artful interplay of storytelling and metaphorical expressions, facilitating a more engaging and accessible discourse. As Nealman’s literary repertoire expanded into data, artificial intelligence, and ecosystems, so did his penchant for storytelling, where he has transitioned into the enchanting realm of literary fiction.
Drawing inspiration from his non-fictional endeavors, his fictional tales bear the indelible imprint of his technical expertise. An illustrative instance can be found in ‘Esteban: Love’s Irony,’ the second installment of the Esteban trilogy, where he eloquently pens, “The nuns recognized her smartness, so they taught her the what, how, where, who, and when of things. But they never taught her the because—the why.” This deliberate use of interrogatives and their sequential arrangement can be traced directly back to his work on Enterprise Architecture.
Fish Nealman, with a global career spanning fifty countries and six continents, intimately observed the characteristics of diverse cultures and religions. His firsthand experiences fuel a mission to infuse narratives with the richness of multicultural backgrounds. Nealman strives to bring characters to life, endowing them with profound charisma that mirrors the diverse viewpoints he has encountered during his extensive global work, creating stories that resonate with authenticity and cultural depth.
FOLLOW THE AUTHOR - facebook.com/fishnealman
FOLLOW THE AUTHOR ON INSTAGRAM
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW OF AUTHOR FISH NEALMAN WITH DE MODE
Q: Esteban’s quest for his father’s affection is a central theme. How does this familial struggle shape his character’s evolution throughout the narrative?
A. Many opposing forces come at us in life. We’re often faced with having to make a choice or pick a side. Esteban is smothered and loved by his mother; this is the exact opposite of what he experiences from his father. Desperately seeking something that appears out of reach can reframe your point of view in life.
Q: The teenage date marks a turning point in Esteban’s life. Could you share insights into crafting pivotal moments that steer a character’s destiny?
A. Esteban isn’t embarking on the prototypical hero’s journey. Instead of having to overcome or conquer a specific problem that comes his way, he just moves further into his own shell. While he’s hard-working and empathetic, the situation leads him to adopt a very passive role in life. It’s just that life has some very different ideas for him.
Q: Mental illness is a significant challenge Esteban faces. How did you approach depicting this struggle realistically while honoring the character’s growth?
A. In my mind, I had initially set out for Esteban to be Jewish. But I quickly found that if I made him Catholic, I could better honor his character traits without the story becoming too contrived or farcical. Meaningfully hiding his illness from others was critical for the story to work.
Q: The seminary serves as a demanding backdrop for Esteban’s journey. How did you navigate writing about his inner turmoil within this setting?
A. The simple answer is science. But to put this into a clearer context, it’s the difference between the natural sciences and man-made sciences such as civics. The natural sciences are immutable, while man-made sciences are highly mutable. The seminary followed the path of showcasing the mutable aspects of man-made rules. One day, you’re out; the next, you’re in!
Q: Twists of fate unexpectedly grant Esteban success. How do these moments of fortune impact his character and the overarching themes of the narrative?
A. Esteban is extraordinarily humble. Based on his upbringing and schooling, he’s not driven by ego. Whenever something good happens, he honestly wonders, “Why me?” When fortune is bestowed on him, he just seeks to understand what is required and then goes about accomplishing what has been asked. In that regard, he’s pretty selfless.
Q: Beyond ‘Esteban: Love’s Ordeal,’ are there upcoming projects or themes you’re eager to explore in your future writings?
A. Esteban will return in ‘Love’s Irony’ and then again in ‘Love’s Triumph.’ These books will be published in the coming months. Later this year, a side-quel to Esteban will be published. That book is called ‘The Flat Tire.’
Q: As Esteban becomes a priest, he faces various human interactions. How do these relationships shape his understanding of love, resilience, and growth?
A. Through his mental illness, he learns that he can best address resilience by blending in and becoming an anonymous part of his surroundings. The growth is circumstantial by the situations he finds himself in. But regarding love, for Esteban, it’s the difference between being content and happy and just plodding along.
Q: Trials and stern admonishments feature in Esteban’s journey. How do these challenges contribute to his personal and spiritual development?
A. Esteban can be quite naïve, so sometimes he can find the admonishments confusing and doesn’t quite understand the full gravity of what is happening. In this way, he can find himself insulated from having to grapple with what is really happening. It’s a defence that works for him.
Q: Love, resilience, and the pursuit of growth are key themes in ‘Esteban.’ How did you weave these elements into the narrative’s fabric?
A. Love, resilience, and growth were critical elements to consider in shaping the story so that it wasn’t just retelling a story already told. For Esteban’s story, these elements provide independent layers and themes through which the story could move and oscillate. These aspects provided texture to the story.
Q: What message or emotion do you hope readers take away from Esteban’s story?
A. In the literary expedition I've crafted, readers are invited onto a welcoming rollercoaster, journeying through a spectrum of emotions—from the heights of happiness to the depths of sadness, the peaks of joy to the unexpected shocks. The narrative unfolds deliberately, not just for entertainment but to leave an enduring impact. Beyond the emotional whirlwind, the story reveals a tapestry of interwoven themes, encouraging readers to discern subtle connections and hidden meanings. My aspiration is that, well after the final pages are turned, readers carry with them not just a story but a rich mosaic of emotions and contemplative themes, forever etched in their hearts.
Q: Crafting a tale that inspires hope and courage requires intricate storytelling. Could you share your approach to portraying the strength of the human heart amidst life’s trials?
A. With everything that’s been going on in the world, from the pandemic to the senseless wars, to all of those who, despite living in a modern world, go hungry and without a bed to sleep in at night, I wanted to craft a story to where many of these ills and wrongdoings could be put to rest.