Author Interview – Joseph Estevez – Isaac Abrams

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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, author Joseph Estevez shares the story of his new book, Isaac Abrams, and what inspired him to write about the friends of the Orthodox Jewish protagonist, Isaac.

Written by JJ Barnes

www.jjbarnes.co.uk

I interviewed Joseph Estevez about his life and career, what inspired him to write his new book, Isaac Abrams, and his creative writing process.

Tell me a bit about who you are.

I’ve been writing fiction ever since I was five years old. Isaac Abrams is the first novel I’ve ever published. I’ve got other books out as well. They’re books of poetry, short stories, and a novella.

When did you first WANT to write a book?

I wanted to write a book since I was probably five as well. I made my own booklet out of printer paper.

When did you take a step to start writing?

The first story I wrote was about my grandparents’ pet canaries. I just had the idea, and then I proceeded to write a story about them. If I remember correctly, I illustrated it too.

How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?

Not very long. I started writing Poems, my first poetry collection, back in January 2021 during Covid. It took me about a month or two to come up with poems and then I released it in March 2021.

I started brainstorming for Isaac Abrams in December 2022. I published it last November, so about a year.

What made you want to write Isaac Abrams?

I just wanted to write a novel. I had written a novella which I thought would turn out to be a novel, but it was too short and novellas aren’t really marketable. I came up with ideas of characters and their relationships with each other and the idea of the eponymous protagonist being the spiritual influence on his group of friends really moved me, so I took it from there.

What were your biggest challenges with writing Isaac Abrams?

I would say line-by-line proofreading. It’s really tedious, but it’s necessary. The brainstorming, writing and editing of the first drafts were quite fun.

Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?

I’m an Orthodox Jew, so I prefer to write stories with a religiously Jewish theme. As previously mentioned, Isaac was to be the spiritual influence on his friends, and that really excited me. Looking back though, he turned out to be quite burdensome and hard on his friends, but he was heartbroken by the way their lives were going. That said, no one or nothing in particular inspired me in coming up with him. I’m happy to say I created him based on how I pictured him to be and in reaction to the conflicts of the novel.

Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?

I think it’s tough to say who the real antagonist is. In a way, it’s his friends and how he wants them to change. Without spoiling the plot, one could say that Isaac himself is his own antagonist because he must decide how – or whether – he will accept the situation regarding his friends. I came up with his friends’ stories based on their characters and how they would stray from Judaism.

What is the inciting incident of Isaac Abrams?

The inciting incident happens quite early on in the book. It’s quite subtle at first, when Isaac is catching up with his friends after not having seen them for years. When they leave his house after visiting and take off their kippot (yarmulkes, or head coverings), he realises that they have become less religious, and that shocks him.

What is the main conflict of Isaac Abrams?

As hinted to before, the main conflict of the book is Isaac trying to bring his friends back to living a religious Jewish life.

Did you plot The Isaac Abrams in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?

I plotted my book in advance. I tried writing spontaneously before. It was exciting in a way, because I didn’t know what would happen exactly until I wrote the next chapter the next day, but the novel lacked a certain structure, and I was sure there were some parts that perhaps weren’t necessary. I like knowing where I’m going to a certain extent, though I’ve just finished writing a second novel, and I’m a little more flexible with change from the original plan when it comes to writing, and I enjoy it a lot more. I think it’s a better balance.

Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did Isaac Abrams need?

I had support with proofreading and some copy-editing. It needed quite a lot. I think there was at least one remark for each page on average. I’m glad I worked with a professional editor.

What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?

This is a very difficult question because everyone has different writing styles, processes, and work habits that would work for them, and I can’t pretend to have a universal piece of advice for everyone. I would say go for it. Write something that speaks to you, something that’s authentic, a story you would love to write because you find it interesting, and don’t be afraid of mistakes or of how your first draft would sound. You could always work on it later with a more objective pair of eyes after letting it sit for a while, or having someone else look at it, whether a friend or professional editor. If you’re having trouble with what to write, you might need to brainstorm it first.

Can you give me a hint about any books you’re planning to write?

As mentioned before, I’ve recently finished a second novel. I’m currently seeking a literary agent for it. It’s about a young man named Simon who loses his job and tries to figure out what he wants to do in life. It’s a story about resilience, mental health, and perseverance. It’s called Simon Jacobs and I’m very excited about it.

And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?

Self-publishing is notoriously difficult, especially in a competitive industry and with no audience to start with. That said, I’ve sold over 100 copies ever since its release. I’m quite happy about that.

Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3UqGoHX

Paperback: https://amzn.to/4aHu2Rc

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/4d0QVkd

Website: josephestevez.info

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JosephEstevez2

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephestevez1/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JosephEstevez16

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