Have you ever wondered, What Happens Next?
For sixteen-year-old Winnie Coleman, dying is the least of her worries. Between coming to terms with her mother’s death, trying to think up new and inventive ways to break up her father and Girlfriend #3, and keeping her brother from chewing off his fingers, she has her hands full. Courtesy of a thin patch of ice and failed swimming lessons, all of that changes in the blink of an eye.
In death Winnie will find the answers that eluded her in life, and a whole slew of other questions she never thought to ask. Like why is she stuck with Sam for a guide? Sure, he’s funny and cute in a geeky sort of way, but he wears sweater vests and loafers. For a girl who has tattoos on her face and glue in her hair, it’s not exactly the best match up.
But when Sam is taken and his very existence threatened, Winnie must make the ultimate choice between cowardice and courage.
Family... and love.
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Jillian grew up in Maine. Blessed with loving parents and an annoying little sister (who is no longer annoying but will always be thought of as little), she spent her days riding horses, writing stories, and building fairy houses in the woods behind her house.
Currently, besides finishing the Wedded Women Quartet and releasing her first full length young adult novel After Ever, Jillian is very busy planning her September wedding.
Jillian loves staying up late finishing a really good book, getting e-mails from readers, bubblegum ice cream, baby ducks, and writing endings.
~INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR~
Q: Tell us something unusual about you.
A: I manage a horse farm.
Q: What gave you your start as a writer?
A: I've always loved to tell stories. The fiancee says I tend to exaggerate everything, I say I'm just telling my version of how things happened. To me, storytelling is the same as writing, except you get to make up whatever you want, which is basically the best thing ever.
Q: If you could pick a favorite character(book,movie,TV) from your childhood, who/what would it be?
A: Oh man... So tough. It's a tie between Harry Potter and Corey Matthews.
Q: Why have you chosen to write YA?
A: People say write what you know, and since I was once a geeky dorky girl trying to find her place in life super awesome popular cool young adult my protagonists often turn out to be geeky dorky trying to find their place in life super awesome popular cool young adults.
Q: Where did the concept for After Ever come from? What was your greatest inspiration?
A: Totally cliche, but it came from a dream. At least, the idea for the After (the place Winnie goes after her untimely death) did. The rest just sort of... fell into place, I guess.
Q: Was Winnie's character based off of anyone in particular?
A: She is the person I wish I had been when I was sixteen, minus a few character traits that she is working REALLY hard on.
Q: Who has been your biggest supporter in your writing career?
A: I know people are supposed to say their boyfriends/mothers/fathers/loved ones, but honestly while they have shouted encouragement from the rooftops, not a single one of those suckers has read one of my books (although, in their defense, none of them like to read... unfortunately)! So my biggest supporters have really been the book bloggers who have taken the time to read and review my work.
Q: What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
A: Never think that your stories aren't good enough.
Q: Where is your favorite place to write and what do you snack on?
A: At my desk which overlooks the horse farm I manage. And my #1 favorite snack is popcorn, hands down.
Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a writer?
A: Staying committed to one project before jumping on to the next.
Q: Currently, what is your favorite book or author?
A: I just flew through the entire Immortal After Dark series by Kresley Cole and I LOVED it.
Q: What can you tell us about your upcoming titles?
A: Well... After Ever will definitely have a follow up, so stay tuned for title and cover reveals. Black, the sequel to Pitch, my novella about blood thirsty vampires (the mean kind, not the sparkly kind) who take over the world will be released mid-October and I am super excited about that. I have a few other ideas floating around, but I am trying my best to concentrate on the After trilogy and the Death Day series before I move on to anything else major.
~MY REVIEW OF AFTER EVER~
"Just because you're dead doesn't mean you can't die again in a thousand different ways."
I really loved After Ever! This book was just all around a great read.
Jillian Eaton has produced an original story full of suspense, action and a fresh take on what one experiences in "the After."
Winnie is a different kind of a female lead. She has had a tough time since her mother's death and it has made her defensive, brash and a little rude. Yet, you come to see she is also brave, loyal and simply human. You are taken on her roller coaster ride of emotion and you realize that she is just trying cope with her grief.
The author did a wonderful job of making Winnie a believable character. Her turmoil and frustration were all so real to the reader.
Then in comes Sam. (Girl meets boy, or rather girl meets her afterlife guide?) I loved Sam's character. He is the opposite of Winnie, yet they seem to fit together perfectly. (I am a sucker for sweater vests as well...) Their budding relationship is kept strictly as a friendship, all though I liked how there are subtle hints that it might be something more in future books.
The lack of romance fit great with this story. You were able to focus solely on what was important; the unfolding of an intriguing new world, The After.
The layers of this world are so unique, from the doors one uses to transport from points in time, to the threatening presence of the Unknown. I was impressed by these aspects of the story.
There are a couple twists towards the end of the book that raise some great questions about the plot. Really gets you geared up for the sequel, which I look forward to reading!
The only reservation I have about this book is the length. I didn't notice the slightly shorter length until the end came around. I would have liked a little more detail about Winnie's family and even a little more development of her character. Both of those felt a bit rushed to me.
However, this did not take away from my enjoyment of the story at all! Thinking about "the After" has got my head reeling, in a good way! I can't wait to read more from Jillian Eaton!
If you would like to know more about the author and her works;
Visit her @ Jillian Eaton.com
If you would like to purchase your own copy of AFTER EVER;
It is available for Kindle on AMAZON
This sounds like a good book, Jill! Also, LOVING the fact that her two favorite childhood characters are Harry Potter and Cory Matthews. Boy Meets World remains one of my all time favorite shows :)
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