Urban Fantasy / Horror
To Be Published: 12-12-2022
Publisher: Shadow Spark Publishing
Armand Tarkanian is trapped in the ultimate dead-end job: embalming decedents under his abusive uncle’s watchful eye. Every day he goes through the motions, making death look beautiful while his life is anything but.
A car accident leaves him indebted to Berj, a mysterious man with rune-carved gold teeth and a penchant for worshipping old gods. Blackmailed and desperate, Armand feels more trapped than he was under his uncle’s thumb. But the embalmer harbors his own dark secret, a bloodline curse that allows him to communicate with the dead.
When the spirits show him how they were murdered, Armand must choose between fealty to the sadistic and manipulative Berj, or joining the Legion of the Lamb, a monster-hunting biker gang with their own agenda. What began as a dangerous game between secret societies has led Armand on a frightening quest to save the only family he’s ever known and a chance to get closer to the rebellious misfits who saved him.
Heartfelt and provocative, Accursed Son is a story featuring generational clashes, found families, and the rewards of tempting fate.
What is the hardest part of writing
your books?
Beginnings
are always hard. In the first few pages you’re introducing readers to the
protagonist, the setting, and the conflict. You’re writing those first scenes
so your reader will continue turning pages and invest themselves in the story.
I must’ve rewritten the first chapter of Accursed
Son over fifty times because those earlier drafts didn’t work. Capturing a
distinct voice is also a challenge. Make your protagonist relatable and give
readers a reason to root for them. Why should readers stick with your story if
they can’t relate to the protagonist? Nailing the finer details requires
research, and that’s time-consuming but worth it.
What songs are most played on your iPod?
It all
depends on my mood and what I’m doing. Usually it’s classic rock: the Beatles,
Rolling Stones, Warren Zevon, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Frank Zappa, Supertramp,
Rush. If I’m nostalgic it’s 1980s rock and pop. Contemplative? Then I play Catherine
Wheel, the 1990’s most underrated band. I demand total silence when I write,
but need music when I edit. Nothing gets those neurons firing faster than
hearing your favorite song while word-murdering the manuscript in red ink.
Do you have critique partners or beta
readers?
I use beta
readers and critique partners on different projects. For longer works, I might
ask for a deeper critique and developmental edits in addition to beta reader
input. For short stories, one or two beta readers provides valuable feedback.
Writers shouldn’t work in isolation; there’s a need for inviting others into
your creative process. Beta readers bring fresh eyes to your stories and see
glaring errors you might have missed.
What book are you reading now?
Tune In Tomorrow by Randee Dawn.
How did you start your writing career?
My first
fiction writing break came from role-playing games. I wrote and designed Ravaged Earth, a tabletop RPG that
combined my love for classic science fiction and 1930s pulp adventure. A small
gaming company eventually published the game in 2008. I then began writing
short stories and novels that ultimately went nowhere. It’s disheartening when
you start. You face nothing but rejection, you doubt yourself, you watch your
dreams die in real time. But then you realize that every author you’ve ever
loved was at one time completely unknown, scribbling notes in a café or
spending hours at night typing terrible first drafts. Then you put in the time
and continue writing. You improve, you gain confidence, and you get published.
For me this moment came after I trunked my third novel. I realized I needed to
learn how to actually write fiction, so I enrolled in a Writing Arts program
and earned my Master’s degree. During grad school I had a few acceptances from
fiction magazines and anthologies. An indie press published my novella Gargoyles & Absinthe, and I was
accepted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA). Even
though I still toil in obscurity, I understand more about the publishing
business and how important contacts are. Writing communities offer support,
feedback, and camaraderie that lifts you up.
Tell us about your next release.
My next
release is a prequel to Accursed Son,
in a way. It explores the origin story of one of the book’s minor characters,
following them as they learn about and eventually join the Legion of the Lamb,
the monster-hunting biker gang in Accursed
Son. Look for that one in June. After that, Book 2 of The Martyr’s Vow
series is planned for publication in December.
About the Author
Eric Avedissian is an adjunct professor and speculative fiction author. He
lives in New Jersey with his wife and a ridiculous number of books. When not
chained to his writing desk, he hikes the Pinelands and wastes too much time
on social media. Accursed Son is his first novel. Visit him online at
www.ericavedissian.com and on Twitter: @angryreporter.
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