How Whalers Navigates the Complex Idea of Being a Man

It’s an intriguing time in history to be a man. Masculinity as a construct is evolving rapidly, yet society still holds an image of what a man “should” be and contrasts it with what a man actually is.

In Whalers, the narrator, Ethan Callahan, shares an alarming statistic: men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women. I often wonder why that is, what drives such a statistic, and it’s a question I wanted to explore in the novel.

Society expects men to be strong, to endure, to remain the solid rock in hard times. This belief is deeply ingrained, and it often leads men to resist seeking help when they need it. Many men internalize feelings of despair, reluctant to burden others with their struggles. Instead, they turn to other coping mechanisms, which is why men statistically face higher rates of alcoholism and substance abuse.

Ethan Callahan wrestles with self-doubt. He’s disillusioned with his job, feeling the weight of his students’ lives and futures, yet he shares his struggles only with the reader. In Whalers, the reader becomes Ethan’s confidant, privy to his innermost battles. While we see his relationships with his girlfriend and brother, Ethan doesn’t want to weigh them down with his troubles. He repeatedly tells the reader he simply doesn’t want to share. When a former student goes missing, and he finds himself accused, all his self-worth issues and doubts bubble to the surface. Still, he’s unwilling to reach out for help, convinced he must handle it alone.

I believe male readers will resonate with Ethan, understanding the pressures that lead him to wear a mask of being “okay.” Whalers explores this theme of masks—the versions of ourselves we show in public versus what we keep hidden. Ethan quickly points out others’ pretenses, but he fails to see his own. He feels he should be a hero yet lacks the qualities he believes heroism requires.

At its core, Whalers is a story about a missing girl. But more deeply, it’s a novel about facing trauma and grappling with self-doubt—struggles we all, male or female, confront daily. It’s a story about humanity, flaws and all, and how, to be heroic, we must first admit our vulnerability.

This is a lesson Ethan learns throughout the novel. The lesson that in order to be there for others, you need to first be there for yourself. It creates a reading experience that sometimes feels dark, but that darkness is illuminated by a small light at the end of the tunnel. A light that Ethan just needs to hold onto.

Whalers debuts in early 2025. If you’re struggling or know someone who is, reach out. I’m here to talk about the challenges we all face, and I hope Whalers will open a conversation on these themes.