Book Review & Interview with HEREAFTER author Tara Hudson

By Tara Hudson

Published by Harper Teen

Released on June 7th, 2011 TODAY

Source- ARC/Book from publisher for review

5 stars- I Love This Debut

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

A beautiful, haunting love story that will leave you wanting more. HEREAFTER is a captivating and intriguing debut that will take you into the world between life and death and leave you feeling hopeful till the very end.

Hereafter is a stand out YA paranormal book. Tara's writing is beautiful in it's prose and the way it flows. Not only was I able to really understand Amelia, but I felt like I became part of her world and I couldn't put the book down. It's vivid and engaging, and every little details from the world she's created to her characters brought her story to life. I couldn't get enough of it.

From the moment the books starts, readers are immersed into Amelia's world. She's been wandering alone, along the banks of a river that claimed her life years before. Not able to remember much of her old life, she's forced to relive her nightmare over and over again until the day she saves Joshua from sharing her fate. From the moment these two meet, an undeniable bond is formed and something begins to change within Amelia. Though she's died, Joshua makes her feel alive again. Being a seer, Joshua is one of only a few who can see her. Amelia and Joshua are well developed, indepth characters who's romance I couldn't get enough of. They're accepting and drawn to each other and it's their unwavering determination to make their relationship work, even in the midst of the forces both in life and the afterlife that try to tear them apart, that was so enduring.

HEREAFTER is a an amazing ghost story unlike any one I've read before. It's unique, and with it's fascinating paranormal romance, it's one that stands out as one of my favorite reads for this year. Tara does such a great job at making her story believable. Though she wraps up a lot of the plot, she leaves a few things open giving me hope that this is the first book in what I think is going to be a must have series.

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Tara is one of 7 authors who will be going on tour as part of the Dark Days of Supernatural Tour. Be sure to go here to find out all the tour information. Today I'm honored to share with you our recent interview with Tara.

Congratulations on your upcoming release of Hereafter! How would you describe Hereafter in 5 words or less?

Ghostly mystery and impossible love

I'm a sucker for a good ghost story, especially when it has a love story at it's core, which Hereafter has. What inspired you to write Amelia's story?

My initial inspiration came from two bored, pushy girl friends! They both knew that I majored in English Writing in college, and that I had a few story ideas percolating. So one rainy morning, they both demanded that I entertain them on their lunch break with something fresh to read. I whipped up a story about a ghostly encounter – drawing on early memories of my family’s overgrown cemetery – and delivered it to them via email. When they demanded more, I just kept going!

You have a wonderful link on your site that shows readers a little bit of the setting for Hereafter. Did these pictures inspire your setting or did you already have a vivid picture of what your setting looked like when you sat down to write your story?

I actually took those pictures on one of my research trips for HEREAFTER. The pictures showcase my family cemetery, as well as Robber’s Cave State Park in Wilburton, Oklahoma. When I was a child, my grandparents owned a ranch in Wilburton. I’ve always been intrigued by that region of Oklahoma – how beautiful and mysterious it is. So when I started to write HEREAFTER, I thought Wilburton was the perfect setting for creepy events.

What is one thing you and Amelia have in common? What do you admire most about her?

Amelia and I both have a tendency to over-think things – to analyze so much that we drive ourselves crazy. One of our differences, however, is her ability to stop analyzing and act. I definitely admire that about her character.

Many of us Mundie Moms are wives and mothers like yourself, and we struggle to find the time to write. What's your secret on being able to find the time to write?

It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do: carve out time between a day job and a family for my passion. I honestly couldn’t make it work without my support network, which includes my husband, parents, mother-in-law, and a cadre of amazing girlfriends. Everyone single one of them has stepped up when I needed one hour on a Tuesday night or three hours on a Sunday afternoon to type! Also, I keep a notebook in my purse so that I never lose those crazy ideas that strike during inconvenient moments.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Don’t give up! Nothing worthwhile comes easy, and that includes your writing. Whether you are struggling to finish your first draft, find an agent, or adhere to your publishing house’s deadline, you can do this. You know why? Because you love it.

Is there one YA book you've read as an adult you wish you had read as a teen?

BEFORE I FALL, by Lauren Oliver. By reliving the same bizarre day over and over, the main character discovers so much about herself and what’s really important – a process that I wished I’d have experienced even earlier!

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To learn more about HEREAFTER, you can go here to learn about the story, the world, and listen to the play list. To keep up with Tara's latest news you can visit her on her website and follow her on twitter.