I’m just a person who likes to write. Someone who loves telling stories, who loves feeling emotions, who loves being drawn in and inspired, and someone who wants others to experience the stories I write and hopefully take something away from them. Whether that something is joy, a different outlook on ideals, being entertained, or, perhaps, the notion that they’re not alone.
Nicholas Lawrence Carter – 18 July 2020
The Back Flap
A disease turns those infected into violent creatures and destroys society, now the virus has adapted–the infected can speak and deceive. Trust is a risk, but to protect her child Rosaline must join some unique survivors, or continue to risk death.
The world is normal, then it’s not. Markus, his wife Kylie, and their toddler son Patrick flee their home in an attempt to escape the reach of the disease. Young Rosaline and her adopted son Mickey encounter a unique group of survivors that have managed a quiet life amid a world of murderous infected. Jack, his husband Norman, and their friend Daisy rescue a sick and deeply troubled teenage boy. Karo, the wanderer, banished from the last known safe city, encounters people who restore his faith in humanity. As the disease surges, trust disappears. Can humanity be saved after a fall?
About the book
What is the book about?
The book is titled A World Fallen. It is a bit of a mash up, genre-wise. It’s a thriller meets mild horror meets quasi coming-of-age tale set in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world. A virus outbreak, that turns those infected into murderous drones, cripples society and nearly wipes out humanity. The story follows three different groups of survivors as they try to live in this new world and attempt to rebuild society.
When did you start writing the book?
I put pen to paper, or finger to keyboard, as it were, in the beginning of 2019. The three different main groups that the book follows are actually three completely different story concepts that I had. Through the main character of the book, Rosaline, I realized I could tie all these separate stories I had together and form this new overall story.
How long did it take you to write it?
From start to publishing it took about a year and a half.
Where did you get the idea from?
The book is essentially set in the zombie sub-genre, and it’s not a genre I ever intended to write in. I had what I felt was a unique approach to the concept of zombies and viruses, so in a way I’ve been inspired by all different types of zombie related media from The Walking Dead to the works of George A. Romero to World War Z. In the thriller aspect I attempted to draw upon inspiration from Michael Marshall, author of The Straw Men trilogy. He creates such interesting yet foreboding atmospheres and I tried as best I could to convey that mood. I’ve always been a huge fan of coming-of-age stories that are a bit darker. I took inspiration from things like Stand By Me, The Hunger Games, and the ever popular Stranger Things.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
I lost my mother a few years ago so writing about death was a particular struggle for me. I’ve been told by my beta readers that the moments that involve death in this book come off as quite striking and emotional. It was impossible not to write those bits from the heart. They convey anguish and pain and confusion. I think we all have difficulties accepting that death is another part of life. I really wanted to hit on that in those moments.
What came easily?
Surprisingly the action scenes were probably the easiest bits to write. I knew I wanted them to be sharp, quick, and brutal. Once I knew that was the goal, they flowed from me.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
Aspects of the characters are influenced by people I know, but no character is an outright imitation or completely inspired by anyone I know.
Do you have a target reader?
Fans of thrillers, post-apocalyptic stories, and darker tales. If you like The Walking Dead, the comics or the show, I think you’ll find something to enjoy in this book. If you like The Hunger Games, I think you will enjoy this as well. While my book, A World Fallen, isn’t YA it does deal with some younger characters and their parts do have a bit of that YA flare to them.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
When I am in the actual writing phase for a project I write Monday-Friday. I do not have a set time that I write, or a set duration that I write for. My only goal is to write at least one thousand words a day, five days a week. Generally, I write 1,500-2,500 words a day. When I’m in any other phase of writing such as conceptualizing, planning, outlining, or editing I make progress in those areas five days a week just as I do when I’m writing. I take the weekends off to reset and recharge.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
For novels, I create a pretty detailed outline for every chapter and I completely map out the ending and all the major turning points and/or twists. For short stories/novellas/novelettes I go in only knowing the overall plot and the ending.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I do both. I edit as I go because I find it difficult to move forward while knowing that something is off. I do 3-5 major editing rounds after the book is finished.
Did you hire a professional editor?
For this project I did not. I think it’s probably the safest route to take, hiring a professional editor, but I’m also confidant in my abilities to edit. Time will tell if that confidence is well placed!
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Sometimes I do, but usually I do not. For this book I did not listen to any music while writing it. My next novel that I will release will be a science fiction epic, and for that story I listened to scores from Star Wars films quite frequently while writing it.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Yes, I did. As we are all aware finding an agent, or a publisher, to accept your work is a task. Ultimately, I decided to self-publish so that I can be the sole voice of how my work turns out.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
It was certainly gradual. I wanted to have my works published by a major publishing house, and I still do, but that’s just not realistic for everyone or for every book. I like the idea of controlling every creative aspect of my work. That played a large part in deciding to go indie.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
Professional.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
A bit of both. I have a very, very minimal marketing plan.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
If you want to write, then write. Worry about the rest after you’ve completed a manuscript. Get it to a place you’re happy with, then set out to let the world discover it. If you want to go indie it would be massively beneficial to hire an editor and a cover artist.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Florida and lived there until I moved to Tennessee right before high school.
Where do you live now?
Tennessee.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I’m just a person who likes to write. Someone who loves telling stories, who loves feeling emotions, who loves being drawn in and inspired, and someone who wants others to experience the stories I write and hopefully take something away from them. Whether that something is joy, a different outlook on ideals, being entertained, or, perhaps, the notion that they’re not alone. I don’t need to be rich or famous. My only real goal is to produce stories that I find interesting, and I hope that others will enjoy them as well.
What are you working on now?
I have a manuscript for a full on science fiction novel completed. I’m doing a bit of restructuring on it, then it will be time to move on to doing everything that is involved in releasing it. I’ve completed a novelette as well that I plan to publish later this year. I’m also working on the first book of a high fantasy series, as well as nailing down the finer details of the sequel to A World Fallen.
End of Interview:
For more from Nicholas visit his website and follow him on Twitter.
Get your copy of A World Fallen from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
