Hossein Mortezaeian's first novel, A Scorpion on the Steps of Andimeshk Train Station, or Sir, Blood is Dripping From This Train, was published in 2006 and received the Golshiri Award, the Mehregan Award for the best novel of the year, and the Vaav Award for the year's most unique novel. Since 2014, he has been a fellow at the Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute at UNLV. Abkenar's books are banned from sale and publication in Iran.