Book 3 of The Martyr's Vow series
Horror/Paranormal
Date Published: 12-15-2024
Publisher: Shadow Spark Publishing
A bloodline curse haunts monster hunter Armand Tarkanian, granting him the
ability to summon the dead. But the more spirits he channels, the more
supernatural energy threatens to tear him apart.
An unexpected invitation from distant relatives gives him a chance to learn
more about his curse. What Armand finds in their moldering mansion is an odd
assortment of Armenian traditions, dark secrets, and personal grudges.
Besides a history of genocide and tragedy plaguing his kindred, things
aren’t what they seem: paintings shift and change, bones hang from
trees, and the family’s elusive patriarch is a dakhanavar – a
vampire from Armenian folklore.
When his undead host hungers for vengeance, Armand finds himself trapped
between worlds.
He must choose: either take the Martyr’s Vow and pledge to sacrifice
himself, or succumb to the dark impulses that claimed his ancestors.
Blood Family is a harrowing tale of generational trauma, folk magic, and
ripping free from the past.
INTERVIEW
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Blood Family is about families, the estranged ones, the found ones, the distant ones. What is a family? Are they people you’re related to or people who want to be with you out of devotion or friendship? Armand, the protagonist of the Martyr’s Vow series, learns that his weird family in Massachusetts has their secrets and eccentricities but are genuinely loving and care about preserving tradition and their culture. Armand sees past their strangeness and accepts them for who they are.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
I’ve said this in interviews before, but finishing the work is a challenge. Getting those words down on the page is the main goal. Editing is my favorite step in the process, but manifesting the story from my mind to the page is the real horror.
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
Blood Family is my sixth book. I’ll have to say my debut novel Accursed Son is my favorite. It’s the first book in the Martyr’s Vow series and captures Armand at his most vulnerable.
If you had the chance to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick and why?
If Accursed Son ever became a movie or series, I’d like to see Joe Manganiello as Armand Tarkanian, and Gabrielle Dennis as Vonnie Hudgens.
When did you begin writing?
My high school had a literary magazine called Demogorgon. I contributed my work. A few poems and short stories. That was my first introduction to publication.
How long did it take to complete your first book?
Accursed Son took me about three years to complete. It started as a grad school project and evolved to a published novel.
Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?
Kurt Vonnegut was an early influence. He did things with stories that I never knew a writer could do. Before I read Vonnegut in high school, I only read the literary classics, and Vonnegut was pleasantly different from Dickens or Shakespeare. I started branching out and reading other authors: Douglas Adams, Harlan Ellison, Stephen King.
What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Finishing anything is my favorite part. Dedicating time and energy into creating a fictional world and populating it with characters is wild. When you wrap up a project after months or years it’s satisfying typing the words “The End.” Then, if you’re lucky to get published, picking up a copy and reading your name on the cover.
Describe your latest book in four words.
Armenian vampire controls family.
Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the future for your writing?
I’m currently working on the fourth and final book of the Martyr’s Vow series. It’s probably the toughest novel I’ve ever written because it requires them to research, but I want to wrap up Armand’s story perfectly.
About the Author
ERIC AVEDISSIAN is an adjunct professor and speculative fiction author. His
published work includes the novels Accursed Son, Mr. Penny-Farthing,
Midnight at Bat Hollow, and the role-playing game Ravaged Earth. His short
stories appear in various anthologies, including Across the Universe, Great
Wars, and Rituals & Grimoires. Avedissian received a 2024 Fellowship in
Prose from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. He lives in New Jersey
with his wife and a ridiculous number of books. Find him online at
www.ericavedissian.com if you dare.
Contact Links
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Twitter: @angryreporter
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