New Release! Immortal Descent, by Author Carolyn M. Walker. ***Excerpt - Giveaway***



Immortal Descent
Carolyn M. Walker
Book Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 4/3/2018
Publisher: Clean Reads / Astrea Press


Deep in the caves of rural Western Germany, the truth about immortality has remained a secret for centuries, but now that secret is about to break free...


Ethan West knows what it means to be different. With a haunted past and a strange sixth sense he sometimes can’t control, Ethan’s in search of a better future. Instead, he’s brutally attacked. Narrowly saved by the beautiful and mysterious Rue, Ethan quickly learns the world is darker and more bizarre than he had ever imagined. And sparing his life comes with a price: being reborn immortal. Now, a dark faction of ancient, cursed immortal beings known as Lorns are after him. And they want his rare, newly awakened soul.

Descended from the mythological Nephilim, Lorns are bound by either the divine force of order or the mortal force of chaos. Ethan is a rarity, bound by neither, yet he is ruled by both. Now, wielding an ancient and volatile power, Rue and her Alliance work to keep Ethan from spiraling out of control. At the heart of a terrifying underground war between Lorns, Ethan becomes the target of one side and a savior to the other. Amid everything, Ethan struggles to understand his own purpose and power—an ordeal that tests his loyalties, beliefs, and sanity in ways unimaginable. And the greatest danger is yet to come.


An Interview with Carolyn M. Walker


Welcome to JB’s Bookworms with Brandy Mulder

Tell us about your newest book.

Immortal Descent is a dark fantasy thriller. It follows the story of Ethan West, a young man who is suddenly thrust into a dark world of secrets, an ancient war, and the supernatural. On top of that, he learns that he plays a major part in the mayhem, with his fate is directly tied to it.


Writing isn’t easy. What was the most difficult thing you dealt with when writing your newest book?My book pulls from some pretty long and complex bits of history, mythology, and the unknown. I had to do an enormous amount of research into many of the different topics I cover in the novel. The book also covers a lot of ground in terms of the character’s pasts, and the “world” that Ethan discovers, which exists right beneath everyone’s noses. I think trying to organize all these moving pieces and epic themes into one cohesive work was challenging and definitely the hardest part of the process for me. Once I had that all in place, it was easy to write the story out!


Tell us a little bit about your writing career.
Writing has been an integral part of my life since early childhood. I distinctly remember being about four or five years old and sitting at the kitchen table with several pieces of scrap paper and a fat red crayon in my hand. I must have written my name over and over again a hundred times in one sitting. I loved the way it felt to write words on a page. It was then I knew I wanted to be a writer.

I went on to write my first short (super short) story at age six, won my first young writer’s competition at age 12, and published my first short story at age 19. In college, I studied English Literature and Psychology and began working as a freelance technical writer. After I graduated, I started my own business as a corporate copywriter and copy editor, where I learned a lot about marketing. Though I wrote on the business side, I always continued to write creatively, drafting terrible poetry, short stories, and novel ideas.

Finally, in 2014 I decided to complete one of the many novels I’d started but never finished. In 2016, I finally finished Immortal Descent. From there, I began pitching it to agents and publishers. By summer 2017, I landed a publisher and signed the contract for publication. It’s been a journey but it’s one I’m so proud of and I feel it has helped me to be a well-rounded writer.


They say Hind-sight is 20/20. If you could give advice to the writer you were the first time you sat down to write, what would it be?
Don’t let doubt stop you. So many times, I delayed myself because I didn’t know if I could do it. Now that I realize I CAN do it and so much more, I’m kicking myself about it! Save yourself the trouble and just do it. Period!


What was your most difficult scene to write?
There was a torture scene that was difficult to write but I have another scene just after it that is really more psychologically taxing than anything else. I studied Psychology in college as well, so I’ve always been fascinated by how the mind works. Exploring the good, the bad, and the ugly of the psyche had its fair share of challenges!


Are themes a big part of your stories, or not so much?
Absolutely! Some big themes in my stories are love and loss, power, family, overcoming, and inner strength.


What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m working on the second installment in the Immortal Series!


Is there a release date planned?Not yet! I’m still in the drafting stage.


Who is your favorite character from your own stories, and why?
I adore the main female protagonist Rue. She is a strong-willed woman who serves as Ethan’s mentor and confidante. Rue has a much deeper story and I look forward to exploring this further in the series.


Most writers were readers as children. What was your favorite book in grade school?
I loved reading as a child! I was a huge fan of the Boxcar Children mysteries and Goosebumps! I read them all!


What are your plans for future projects?
I have a few projects in the works, outside of the Immortal Series. One is an adult mystery and the other is a young adult conspiracy thriller.


Is there anything you would like to add before we finish?
I would like to thank you for your time interviewing me today! Please be sure to check out Immortal Descent! 😊

You're welcome. Good luck with the Immortal Series, and thank you for being with us today.

Keep reading for an excerpt from Immortal Descent.


Excerpt

The memory tore through him and had him shuddering on the couch. Ethan didn’t realize he was screaming until he felt Rue shaking him. His eyes flew open and he stared up at her face and into those bright silver eyes. For the briefest instant, all his fear melted away when he looked up at her. He remembered the shadowed eyes of the woman from the alleyway. These eyes were so different. Never had he seen eyes as hers before, so intense—so bright, so capturing. He held her gaze, almost afraid to look away. If he looked away, what would he see?

“Ethan, are you alright?” Rue asked in a quieter voice. It was soothing, so calming he couldn’t believe he hadn’t noticed it before. “Can you speak?” she asked. He shook his head and he felt the anxiety wheedle its way back into his mind. The attack.

How could he have forgotten all of that?

“The woman—no, that thing…she tried to kill me,” he whispered at last. He felt his heart continuing to speed up.

“It’s just the memory now,” Rue assured. “It’s not happening to you anymore.”

Despite her words, Ethan glanced around the room, still paranoid. He tried to quiet the quickened breaths, afraid the memory might become real again if he made a sound any louder than a sigh.

“Just a memory,” he repeated and took a deep breath. Rue nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder. He reached up and took hers in his, squeezing it. “So that’s what happened to me—what I couldn’t remember.”

As much as he wanted to deny it, he couldn’t refute what he’d just seen. He couldn’t explain it; he couldn’t justify it. All he could think of in that moment was it was all real. What he’d just seen in those memories had been real.

“The woman—what was she?” Ethan asked, still speaking just above a whisper.

“It was a Lorn.”

About the Author

Carolyn M. Walker is a California native and lover of all things literary. As an avid reader, she always enjoying new and exciting reads. Now as an avid storyteller, it is her mission to bring that same joy to her beloved readers. After earning her Bachelors in English Literature and Psychology, Carolyn went on to pen the draft for her first fiction novel and hasn’t looked back since. Aside from writing, she is also passionate about art, food, travel, history, and music. Carolyn has a soft spot for holiday cooking and loves experimenting with new recipes and treats. She also loves the beach, snorkeling and diving. Carolyn now lives in sunny Florida with her husband and daughter. 



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Comments

  1. I really enjoyed reading your amazing interview, thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nikolina! I hope you get a chance to check Immortal Descent out! Right now it's FREE on Kindle Unlimited!! I'd love to know what you think!
      Write Wise, Carolyn

      Delete
  2. Hi Jena! Thank you sou much for taking the time to spotlight me on your site! I appreciate your sharing the excerpt with your followers as well! If you have a chance, please check it out on KU for free right now! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
    Write Wise, Carolyn

    ReplyDelete

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