MARIANO DUQUE’S “A DANCE OF BLACK AND WHITE” SPINS A TALE OF LOVE, SHADOWS, AND SECRETS - VORAKA.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN VORAKA

Article Published on 27 February 2025 by Gloria Poletti | www.vorakamag.com

A Dance of Black and White is a short novella that tells a fictional romance story. We follow one of the characters named Jenny. Jenny has a partner—her lover, Daemon. Though they appear to be two young adults, they are certainly more than what they seem, especially Daemon, who holds a past shrouded in the intricacy of shadows, constantly looming over and tormenting Jenny.

The story follows past and current events as Jenny begins to sink into a deep depression and possible hallucinations due to the trauma of losing Daemon in a monumental clash between him and a monstrous, seemingly primordial being who brings about rumors of the end of mankind. Through their friends, Rose and Wallace, Jenny navigates this veil between nightmares and reality, unsure of which is which—especially now that her only protector appears to have vanished without a trace, except for a small black book with golden pages she is unable to make sense of. Jenny must face her visions and episodes of loneliness as her friends believe she is slowly losing her mind and obsessing over someone who has long been dead. Yet, she still believes he is out there. All of this is confirmed when she must face one of the most gut-wrenching, horror-filled pasts that still haunts Daemon and stalks Jenny simply for being his partner. The 70-page chapter story, though short, takes the reader through a vivid world where gods and monsters are real—but worst of all, actual living, breathing demons. Sadly, there is no angel to break through the darkness and protect Jenny from harm. This story follows some religious and historical connotations, as well as a deeper meaning that must be perceived between the lines.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mariano Duque is a young man in his early 30s who, along with his family, migrated to the United States to find treatment for his younger brother’s rare illness, Fanconi Anemia. Unfortunately, it was recently discovered that Mariano himself also has the illness, though it had gone undetected for most of his childhood.

Mariano has been a devoted reader from an early age, often devouring book after book. He always did well in school and was recognized as a star student by his peers. Once high school rolled around, he began exploring writing by contributing poetry to the school’s literary magazine. He also published his poetry on various online blogs at the time and participated in theater. In high school, he was involved in events advocating for immigrant rights. In college, he continued his involvement in theater. Mariano was part of a show called Dreaming of Our Future, a piece led by young adults who had been brought to the United States as children and grew up there. The performance aimed to empower, give voice to their experiences and educate the audience about immigration policies.

 Mariano graduated from college shortly after the COVID-19 outbreak ended, earning a BA in Theater with an option in Performance. For a few years, he pursued a career as a professional actor, but despite numerous submissions to roles and agents, he was only able to secure background roles. Eventually, he decided to return to the workforce and took on various tutoring jobs for different companies. Though he was doing something he loved, he still had big ambitions.

One day, before heading to work, he stumbled upon an old writing assignment from his high school creative writing class. He polished it and decided to seek publication. Mariano found someone willing to publish his book, and using software, he designed an eye-catching cover that aligned with his vision. He published his book on July 24, 2024, a month after his 30th birthday.

Unfortunately, a few months later, he lost his emotional support animal, a pet rabbit he had raised for nearly 20 years, to an unknown cause. He and the vet concluded that it was likely due to old age. The rabbit had been a significant part of his life, providing comfort through both happy and difficult moments, including breakups and a long period of depression.

 Mariano was baptized as an Evangelical Christian at the age of 21, and his faith became a central part of his identity, especially when forming friendships with those who held different viewpoints. Sadly, shortly after losing Fluffy, Mariano was diagnosed with a brain tumor. If left untreated, it could have caused irreparable damage or even death. After undergoing a long and invasive surgery, he had to return to the operating table due to complications. He spent a few days in the hospital recovering before being sent home again. This time, his recovery proceeded smoothly, and he now hopes to return to normal life soon.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR MARIANO DUQUE

How did your family’s journey to the U.S. shape your perspective on life and storytelling?

The journey to the U.S. greatly impacted my perspective on life, especially moving here because we were and still are searching for a possible treatment or cure for the illness. Especially now that I, too, suffer from FA, and given my age, I could go into bone marrow failure soon in the future.

Who were your biggest literary influences growing up, and how have they impacted your writing?

To continue reading the full interview, click here to download our Literature special issue.