We’d like to introduce you to Armen Bekarian – with the help of ZoomText Magnifier/Reader, he has written a book called The Outcasts that is now for sale in many online bookstores, including Amazon, Zeus Publications, The Book Depository, and more.
At the age of 59, Armen lost most of his eyesight due to a vein occlusion in his eye. Within a matter of two months, the world was getting darker each day, leaving Armen a blind man. “As a result, unable to cope with it all, depression and trauma took over,” says Armen. “I was pushed to the brink of being a madman. That’s when retina specialist Dr. Paul Beaumont came in – he saved my life.”
With the help of Dr. Beaumont, Armen’s eyesight steadied and he retains about 20% of his original sight. A professional photographer by trade, Armen felt compelled to find a new medium in which to express himself after becoming blind. This is where writing came about. “All I needed was to learn the skills and craft of writing, that was all,” declared Armen. “The question was, HOW?”
Armen found exactly what he was looking for in the creative writing course he took from Northern Territory University Australia. With the help of VisionAustralia, all of his text books were converted to audio tapes. But, the introduction of ZoomText into his life was what really turned things around. Let’s let him tell you in his own words:
“Without ZoomText, which now I purchased the latest version 10, and the Large-Print Keyboard, I wouldn’t have had the courage to even sit in front of the computer, let alone write and complete a whole novel. What’s more, apart from writing novels and so on, I can go onto the Internet, which gives me a great advantage and freedom as well. For instance, novelists often need to do a lot of research for their subject. Having ZoomText gives me independence; I don’t have to rely on others, and that is a wonderful feeling.
Of course, there are other similar programs also, but the reason I use only ZoomText is because it has multiple different features that would suit every user – i.e. a wide range of magnification; choice of colors; choice of reading voices, speed, and most importantly, the AppReader, which is my favorite. When I revise a chapter, using AppReader allows me to pinpoint where the errors are as the highlighted word moves along and stops with the voice. It’s so helpful.”
The Outcasts, which was just recently published, is a social satire that can be seen as a criticism, or a vision of an alternative society. At the moment, Armen is already at work on his second book.
Armen’s wife Sonia contacted us, thinking that her husband’s achievements could be an inspiration for others. Join us in congratulating Armen on his success and wishing him luck in all his future endeavors!
