Aeddon Cayea celebrates release of debut novel, new job as grantwriter in Orleans
Photo by Ginny Kropf: Aeddon Cayea, a 2017 graduate of Medina High School, has landed a new job with United Way of Orleans County and is celebrating the launch of his first book.
MEDINA – Life is good for Aeddon Cayea.
Not only has the young man landed a prestigious job as grant writer/deputy director of United Way of Orleans County, but he is about to launch his first book with a celebration at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at Author’s Note Book Store, immediately following the Otherworlds Sci-Fi and Fantasy Book Club.
Cayea’s debut novel is “Struck Down on the Seventh: An Exorcism Performed by an Idiot.”
“We are so excited to celebrate him and to be the host and home for his first of undoubtedly many books to come,” said Author’s Note owner Julie Berry.
Cayea said his writing began as the result of an assignment in high school, when he had to write several chapters out of a novel.
“It kind of got away from me,” he said. “I was always interested in spirituality.”
The first part of his book really wrote itself, Cayea said. “It very quickly took on a life of its own.”
The first draft took him about a month, but then he tinkered with it for the next five years, on and off.
“I’d pick it up and put it down, then maybe two years later go back and work on it again,” he said.
The book was released Jan. 15, and he is already working on a sequel. He has completed about five-eighths of the first draft, he said.
“My first book was suitable for me to write when I was 18, but this book will be suitable for me when I am 25,” he said.
He describes his book as “an adult work of magical realism.”
“’Struck Down on the Seventh’ follows Phaethon, a moody college student, as a mysterious tome draws him into a world where the divine is not so far away as is often imagined,” Cayea explained. “Exploring similar spaces to works like Neil Galman’s ‘The Sandman’ and David Lynch’s ‘Twin Peaks’ television series, the novel navigates the travails of a clever but critically flawed individual as he strives to balance aethereal visions and brute facts. Balancing the indiscretions of youth with revelations of mystical theology, Phaethon forges ahead hoping to fare better than his namesake.”
The book is available at Author’s Note in Medina or from the publisher’s website at blackmoonpublishing.com.
Cayea graduated from Medina High School in 2017 and Emerson College in 2021 with a degree in religious studies and Asian studies. After returning home to Medina he joined the Americorps program for a year, working at Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension. During that time he wrote grants and worked at the fair. When the year ended, he went to work at Lowe’s in Brockport while pursuing other work.
He had become acquainted with Nyla Gaylord, executive director of United Way of Orleans County, who realized Cayea’s talent. At the she needed someone to do outreach for the Connect Orleans Initiative.
“After a month or two of that, she thought I could be of more help,” Cayea said. “They needed a grant writer, and here I am. I have a job I love in my home town. I appreciate the flexibility and novelty of the job. It’s a new challenge every day. I feel a strong connection to my community and I’m happy to come back to Medina to live and work.”
“This job enables me to help my community,” he added. “I got a taste for non-profits, and what I like about United Way is how we are constantly looking for ways to help the community. As an organization nationwide, United Ways are at a crossroads, but in Orleans County we are taking that as an opportunity more than a risk.”