Josh Flaccavento, a 20-something native of Abingdon, Va., is editor-in-chief of a recently released book, "The Lake of the Dead Sessions." It is a themed anthology of short fiction, poetry, photographs and illustrations by young artists from across the United States.
The anthology deals with loss, anger, and stagnation. The title was inspired by performances and lyrics on an improvised recording session by the Asheville-based progressive rock band Lecivius.
Flaccavento says, "I'm a big fan of John Gardner's Grendel which I read in AP English my senior year of high school. Gardner's language is compelling enough on its own merits, but what really grabbed me were the moments of pure disgust and fear that showed through. His portrait of Beowulf as a raving psychotic appealed to me particularly, as did the dragon's line to Grendel: 'My advice to you, my violent friend, is to seek out gold and sit on it.' That such bleak material has always snagged on my psyche has been causing my parents distress since middle school, but works of horror, whether visceral or existential, have a power that's hard to deny. That's what this book is about."
If you are interested in owning a copy of "The Lake of the Dead Sessions," we encourage you to pre-order by calling 828-423-2354 or emailing pierre.devarcombe@gmail.com (put "Lake of the Dead" in the subject line). For more information, go online: www.lakeofthedead.com.
