“A time for the wicked. Yet another day to punish the innocent for their sins.”
In late-nineteenth century Ottoman Turkey, two Armenian boys are fighting—for purpose and acceptance, for a way out of the harsh poverty they both live in, and for their lives—as violence erupts against Armenians within the empire. Both Ari and Vartan bear witness to the horrific massacre of their town at the hands of Ottoman forces, but Ari continues to struggle and care for his sick mother while Vartan works and builds a life. However, as each of their worlds are ripped apart by the violence around them, their lives end up intertwining in ways they never could have predicted.
As God Played His Fiddle is a powerful tale of struggle, survival, and salvation. Through the complex lives of Ari and Vartan, readers will find strength to sacrifice and hope to endure.
Boban Jovanovski is a Detroit-based writer and business professional. A graduate of Wayne State University’s school of Journalism, Boban has experience writing in a variety of styles and fields, including news reporting, corporate communications, advertising copy, and public relations. A father and husband, Boban loves to learn and explore new cultures and enjoys sports, reading, traveling with his family, and sharing new adventures with his wife, Val.
Boban’s lifelong love of history led him to discover and understand the tragic events of the Armenian Genocide. He was struck by how the trauma from an event that unfolded over a century ago was still prevalent in the Armenian community today. It inspired him to tell a story of struggle, sacrifice, and salvation within this historical setting. Boban hopes Ari’s story not only commemorates the Armenian tragedy but also celebrates the moral models that guide each of us on our own journeys. They are our teachers, our judges, and our protectors. In the end, it’s their example that we strive to live up to.
