My guest for Twenty Questions is Carolyn M. Walker, whose debut novel Immortal Descent will be released April 3 by Clean Reads Publishing. The brief blurb about the book: "Twenty-year-old Ethan unknowingly inherits a rare and ancient power, instantly making him a target and a savior all at once."
So let's hear from Carolyn about her upcoming release.
1. How did you get interested in writing?
I have been interested in writing since I can remember, to
be honest. Writing has always been like an art to me. From an early age, I
began writing short stories. I love creating worlds and characters and then
breathing live into them. My mother’s deep love for books became my own,
growing up among hundreds of books in the home.
2. What inspired you to come up with this story?
I have long been fascinated with the supernatural. A few
years back, during the angels and demons craze, I began research into the story
of the fallen angels and their cursed offspring, the Nephilim. I wanted to
explore the ‘what if’ when it came to these beings possibly having “children”
of their own. From there the Lorns of Immortal
Descent were quite literally born!
3. Tell me about the main character, Ethan West, and what
inspired you to create him.
Ethan West’s character was inspired by a couple different
things. He’s a lot like me in his love for history, art, and being a seeker of
answers. Ethan also struggled with anxiety, something I dealt with at his age.
His anxiety particularly comes from his dark past and broken family. When he
was young, his mother died of cancer and his father was an alcoholic. Not only
is he haunted by his past, he faces an uncertain and terrifying future. It was
important for me to show how Ethan must face both his past and his future in
order to survive the present.
4. What characters, other than Ethan, did you find enjoyable
to write as you progressed with the book?
I enjoyed writing all of the characters but I particularly
enjoyed writing about the characters of Rue and Tristan. Ruenna Dawe is a strong
and complex female character. She is a very old and powerful Lorn with the
capability to hear the thoughts of others. Rue forms a special bond with Ethan
early on, as his protector. She represents a conflict for Ethan because he was
attacked by a Lorn at the start of the story, yet he must entrust his life to
one. Tristan Lowell was probably my favorite character to craft. He is the
ultimate Machiavellian character as a cold, calculating, and ruthless tyrant. Yet
despite his cruel and sadistic nature, Tristan is refined, with impeccable
manners and an alluring disposition. As a Lorn with the ability of mind control,
he is very manipulative and enjoys exploiting others. I really enjoyed creating
a character you can’t help but love to hate, yet hate to love.
5. What are some of the themes you explored in writing the
novel?
I explored the theme of loss, heavily throughout the book.
So many of my characters have lost something significant, be it loved ones,
their innocence, even their lives. For example, one of my characters named
Victoria, is one of Tristan’s minions and she has the power of Banishment—the
ability to erase another’s memories. Tristan forces her to use her own ability
on herself, erasing her own past. Victoria constantly struggles with the fact
that Tristan knows who she really is but because he controls her, she is
powerless to do anything about it. That loss repeatedly defines the angry
character she has become. Another theme I explore is “good vs. evil.” I expand
the idea to encompass “order vs. chaos” on a universal level and the idea that
both forces exist in every being. I tie this closely with the recurring theme
of immortality and the quest for discovering its origin.
6. What things did you learn along the way as you wrote and
edited the book?
I have learned that reading makes you a sharper writer. I
have also learned that over-editing can be deadly! I continue to read, even as
I write. I have found that some of the best inspiration can be found in reading
other works of fiction and non-fiction. When it comes to editing your work, I
have learned to be careful! As a professional writer and editor, it’s easy to edit
something to death, taking away some of the magic it once had! When I edit, I
have to remain constantly aware of this!
7. Tell me more about your short story: Swing High, Miami!
It was a short story I wrote when I was in my early twenties,
about a weekend vacation down to Miami for my now-husband’s birthday. The
entire trip was a whirlwind of disasters, one after another, making it more of
a nightmare than a vacation. Looking back, I realized that the trip was such a
series of unfortunate events that it was unbelievably comical. When I saw the
call to submission for a “Best or Worst Vacation Story,” I knew I had to share
this with the rest of the world.
8. What do you find is the right environment for you to
write?
When writing, I like to be in a secluded or private place.
Sometimes I like to have complete quiet to concentrate. Other times I like to
tune in to instrumental music to “get into the zone” for a particular scene.
9. Are there specific programs or tools you find useful to
help you with the writing process?
I used to write out all my stories long hand in a spiral
notebook. These days, I use Microsoft Word. I often use Notepad for note
keeping. While I type up all new works, I still like to use the old-fashioned
pen and paper method for new ideas, character bios, and even outlines. I keep
notebooks everywhere—by my bed, in the kitchen, at work, in the car…just in
case an idea hits me. And they often do! I have a whole filing case of spiral
notebooks, filled front to back with just “ideas” for future stories.
10. What have you found to be useful methods for promoting
your writing?
I have a long background in digital marketing, so I find a
comfort zone there. I do think that word of mouth has been extremely valuable,
if not sometimes the most valuable method to promote my work.
11. Tell me more about the home library your mother had and
how that inspired your interest in writing and reading.
My mother’s home library was like no other! She had
everything, from fiction, to non-fiction, to poetry, to reference, to picture
books! A lot of the books she had were rare books, collectors sets, limited
editions, banned volumes, and those no longer in print. In our den, she had
custom bookshelves made from hand painted pine wood, to house her books. The
shelves covered entire walls and ran from the floor to the ceiling. She even
got an old-fashioned library ladder chair for reaching the topmost shelves. I
was fortunate to grow up among so many great books, which inspired my love for reading
and writing.
12. What would you say is your favorite genre or genres to
read?
I absolutely love psychological thrillers. I love how
nothing is as it seems! I’m also a sucker for a good mystery! History is a
wonderful way to blend mystery and suspense, so I love historical tales too.
13. What are some of the famous books or authors you have
enjoyed or inspired you?
Richard Matheson and Neil Gaiman are among my favorites. I
also love Nora Roberts, Anne Rice, and John Grisham. Classics I adore are by
Edgar Allen Poe and CS Lewis.
14. Any aspiring or independent authors whose books you’ve
read that you liked and want to mention to others to check out?
My sister Lynn Veevers just published her debut novel
“Pinnacle” with Clean Reads as well.
15. What advice would you give to those who want to write a
novel before they actually get started?
Keep writing! Starting can be exciting but it’s the keeping
on that’s the real challenge. There will probably be a point that you might
begin to wonder what you are doing, or if your story will really go anywhere.
You might even wonder why you are trying to write a book at all! Whatever the
questions, don’t let them lead to doubts that have you pausing. Even if you
only write 100 words in a day, don’t doubt and don’t stop. So many great books
never get finished because the author doubted themselves and then stopped.
16. What can you tell me about your work for The Southeast
Review and what you learned from that experience?
I worked at the Southeast Review as an intern during my
junior year at Florida State University. I wanted to learn more about the inner
workings of a literary journal, so I served as a contributing writer and editor
for a semester. It was a wonderful experience, and I got to meet with and
interview some amazing writers, authors, and talented literary connections that
helped me to better understand the industry.
17. I see you enjoy traveling – are there certain places
you’ve visited that you particularly enjoyed or were an amazing experience?
Years ago, I was a travel agent and I loved booking people
on vacations around the world. Learning so much about travel inspired me to do
as much of it myself. Though I’m originally from California, I also spent some
time in Washington State where I enjoyed some of the most beautiful snow days
ever up there! The mountains are simply breathtaking! My family enjoys diving
and snorkeling so we have visited every beach in the state, plus many springs.
I’ve also visited Mexico and the Cayman Islands, but my biggest goal is to go
abroad to Asia and visit Japan! That’s next on my bucket list.
18. Any particular scores and soundtracks you listen to that
inspire your writing the most?
Some of my favorite composers and artists are Hans Zimmer,
Philip Glass, Nathan Barr, and E.S. Posthumus.
19. What would you say is the biggest difference between
living in southern California and living in Florida?
The humidity, hands down! I have been in heat so dry it was
like trying to inhale blow dryer air on the highest setting. But the moisture
in the air that is humidity that gets me every time!
20. Who would win a battle of superhero skills: Superman,
Batman or Wonder Woman?
Wonder Woman, of course! 😉
Starting with The Watchmen, who would have guessed that the characters Moore and company created would have become such a critical success that Time magazine would recognize the single volume edition as one of its 100 best novels published in the English language since 1923.
Watchmen works in large part because it's never clear as to who is really right or wrong as events unfold. It utilizes an interesting technique, with a "story within a story" that features a youth in New York City reading the fictional comic "Tales of the Black Freighter." The fictional comic serves as a parallel to the story of Adrian Veidt, aka Ozymandias, and his plans for saving the world from the threat of nuclear war.
