Literary Lights Features Naira Kuzmich's Posthumous Novel
Literary Lights to feature Naira Kuzmich’s “Fearcatcher”
The University of New Orleans Press will host the fourth installment of Literary Lights 2026, showcasing Naira Kuzmich's posthumous debut novel "Fearcatcher" on June 14, 2026. The virtual event will feature author Vedran Husić, Kuzmich's former partner, alongside writers and editors Aram Mrjoian and Chelsey Kimberly Shannon.
"Fearcatcher" follows Ruzan, a young woman raised by a village fearcatcher in Soviet Armenia who seeks independence by moving to Yerevan before revolution. The novel weaves folklore and coming-of-age narrative to explore themes of family, identity, and destiny.
Kuzmich, born in Armenia and raised in Los Angeles, published fiction in numerous literary journals before her death from lung cancer in 2017. Her earlier work includes the short story collection "In Everything I See Your Hand." The event runs at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern, and 9 p.m. Armenia time.
