#Audible Review of Void Fate Interview with author Suren Hakobyan narrated by Matthew Raymond

 Once in a while an author reaches out and you take a chance and suddenly you can't get enough. That's exactly what happened with Void Fate, an eerie and wonderful tale. I got to pick the author's brain and I'm sharing my review.
Enjoy!

ASIN:B08F5J35LF
Publisher: Suren Hakobyan
Release Date: 8-04-2020
Length: 8 hrs-57mins
Source: Author for review
Buy It: Audible

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview:

Empty streets are littered with stalled-out cars, buses, and motorcycles. A sunless and moonless sky is covered with an enormous barrier that prevents any view of the heavens.

Nothing stirs. The air is oppressive and there is no wind, not even the softest breeze.

It was supposed to be a typical day for the five friends, but they wake up to discover that they are left alone on earth. The world that they knew is gone. All that is left is silence, pervasive, absolute silence.

What happened while they slept? Are they the only ones left? As the theories start to fly, and their imaginations run wild, they wonder if they are still on Earth at all, possibly abducted by aliens, trapped in a simulation, or claimed by the afterlife.

Aram is the only one who can see deep into the silent world. That’s why, from the very beginning, he starts to look for a way out of this new reality. If he can convince his friends to stay focused, as the whispers begin, and fight against the evil of the silent world, the fog-shaped beings that wander the empty streets, they may stand a chance.

If not, the only thing that lies ahead is the fate of the void.

My Interview with Suren

 

Suren, welcome to The Reading Frenzy.

First, thank you for reaching out to me about reviewing your novel, I am a huge hard fantasy fan, and I loved your book. It had such a unique plot, you drew me into the story, and you held my attention from start to finish.

I learned from your Goodreads page that this book’s idea came after playing cards with your friends. Tell my readers how long before that idea was born until your final edits were complete? From that first idea, was this always going to be a fantasy/horror novel?

To begin with, I want to thank you for this interview. It’s every writer’s desire that his words are heard, especially when the readers like your story. You feel you’ve created something, and you did it pretty well.

Yes, it was meant to be a fantasy/horror story from the start. As I mentioned on Goodreads, the idea came to me after my friends and I had played some cards at my friend’s apartment. While driving home, an idea popped into my mind - what if I come out of the apartment and found an empty world.

As an avid reader, after a few days, I sat down and started writing Void Fate.

 

When you began writing the novel, did you already have all the details worked out in your head, or did it progress as you wrote?

I had most of the details in my head, but also it continually progressed. If I reread it again, I might add something 😊. During the past five years, I have read it innumerable times. I added and removed until I finally found the feel that I was going for. A lot was cut from the first manuscript.

 

Now I want to talk about the characters. Aram is definitely the lead character, even though several others are featured throughout the novel. What about Aram made you give him the main character role?

I might disagree about Aram being the lead character. While writing, there were three interchangeable people as the main character – Aram, Arthur, and Michael. Arthur is equal to Aram. Michael isn’t as clever as the other two, but he’s courageous, and he knows what he wants. You know what Michael did for Aram over the course of the story, especially at the end of the novel, how strong he became, and how loyal a friend he was.

Speaking of Aram, you should understand that if I didn’t create such a character, they wouldn’t have had a chance against the silent world and the wondering fog-shaped demons. Someone should be the group leader, but that doesn’t mean he or she is the main character. That’s why, in my opinion, the three of them are good enough to be the main characters. Good point and I can definitely see that now that you made it more clear for me.

 

There are no true heroes or villains in this book, but there are those who lean toward good or evil. Did you know right away who would be on each side, or did that change during the creative process?

I knew it from the start. I knew what I wanted to create from Aram and Arthur, and I knew the exact moment when Erik should walk in. If you read it carefully, try to dive into their mental state, you’ll see none of them totally leans toward good or evil. Everybody struggles in himself; it’s not easy to make the right decisions in the situation they find themselves in after waking up in an empty world, after hearing Erik’s story.

 

Now I have to ask, will any of your friends recognize themselves in any of your characters? 😊

Thank you for this question. Yes, I’m pretty sure a few of my friends, at least three of them, will recognize themselves in my book. Especially Michael. I shared a story from my friend’s life in Void Fate. Remember when Michael tells Aram about the lake and fishing with his classmate in the second grand? It is my belief that episodes based on real stories make it better in a book.

 

I really liked the narrator, Matthew Raymond. Were you involved in picking him?

We met on the website ACX. I was surprised by the long list of narrators who wanted to narrate my book. Matthew was at the top of the list from the start. I liked his voice, the emotion he put into the story, and it was easy to work with. He is a good man, a father of two kids. I hope to meet him one day but can’t afford to at the moment because of the pandemic.

 

Do you write full time, or do you have a day job?

No, I have run a logistics company in Armenia since 2016. However, the book was written before that. I think that there is security in having a day job, though I can dream of something bigger. As I wrote on Goodreads, I think that’s the key to creating really good stories. If you write the voice that comes from your soul, it will undoubtedly be successful; otherwise, writing for money, you’re doomed to collapse eventually.

 

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I started writing at the age of 16, so yes, I have always wanted to be an author. I have many manuscripts, mostly short stories, and not all of them are fantasy or horror. There are real stories, memorials, too. Hopefully, I’ll publish a collection.

 

Suren, thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, and good luck with Void Fate. Any new books in the works?

Yes. The new book is written. But it won’t be published this year. Writing a story and publishing are worlds apart. There is a lot of work still to do. I read and rewrite my books and short stories many, many times until I know them by heart. Also, I have to work with my editorial team. But the readers can expect something exciting in 2021.

My Audible Review

Void Fate
Suren Hakobyan
Narrated by Matthew Raymond

Part Twilight Zone part Stephen King novel this multi-layered novel set in the lee of Mount Ararat in Armenia, a mix of thriller, hard fantasy just a touch of sci-fi and horror is amazing. The storyline is unique and intriguing keeping the audience wondering what the heck is happening all the time and if you’re a reader who likes a story tied in a nice bow at the end this is not for you. Each chapter is told in alternating point of views of each of the characters which reveals what’s going on in each of their heads and as the story unfolds and more of this complex confounding plot is revealed readers will learn who’s friend and who’s foe, who leads, who follows and who just might escape this nightmare. But pay attention because this brilliant author will keep readers on their toes until The End. Fans of hard fantasy, horror and thrillers and the novels of Stephen King and Dean Koontz will love this story.

Narration:
The Narration by Matthew Raymond is very good giving each character their own personality and he does a great job of communication their emotions.

 

Aram, Harris, Daniel, Arthur and Michael, five friends getting together for a regular weekend of cards and guy talk only tonight the talk isn’t about the mundane but about the mysterious disappearances and murders and whether there is a serial killer in the city of Yerevan. When the game ends for the night and the friends crash they wake up to an altered reality where the silence is all consuming, the empty streets are full of non-operational cars, the only electricity and heat is in the apartment they’re occupying and where instead of endless sky the city is encased in a dome. Afraid but needing answers they venture out into the cold silent city and what they find makes them run back to the safety of their apartment, because what they see isn’t human.

About the author:
Suren G. Hakobyan is an engineer and author. He has been interested in mystery and fantasy stories and movies from an early age.
He is, first and foremost, a devoted husband and a proud father. He also enjoys travel and playing football. He spent eight year working as a mechanical engineer before publishing his first book.