Comment/review = As I read the book I could hardly believe that this "world" was located in my friend's mind. Being a fan of the genre I felt
"qualified" to give my opinion whenever. I have to say that they were mostly positive. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As I am getting ready for
an "extended vacation", I can only hope that Janet has another book ready for me.
–Michele
Comment/review = I give Janet props for writing a book with such a theme behind it. Most post apocalyptic world stories sometimes aren't as
good as you'd expect them to be. Maybe it's because of the way that the world as we know it came to an end, or not. I loved the virus that she
created, and the way it affected those who managed to survive through it. The characters she created were wonderful, and I felt connected to
them. I felt their pain, their fear, and their suffering. It was wonderfully written, and I can't wait for a sequel to come out, because she left it
open for one.
–Mousey "Mouse" (Port St John, Fl. USA)
Comment/review = As an avid reader, I enjoy watching a story play in my minds eye while I read. While reading After, I not only felt the emotions
of the characters come through in a truly palpable sense, I also felt my emotions mingling with them, making the story a more personal
experience. At the end of After, I not only felt satisfied but I also wanted more so I could continue my relationship with the characters. I look
forward to seeing where Janet will take me next.
–Rick Byrd, Titusville, Florida
Comment/review = I love the book. I just couldn't put it down. I hope to read ur new one when ur done with it and I'll be the first one to buy it
too.
–Chris
Comment/review = This was actually a very cool read!!!
–Mike M.
Comment/review = A look into the future of a world gone wrong. A dangerous part of our history that could become a reality. Explore this world
with a brother and sister that have everything and nothing in common.But in all the darkness of the events that led to this new world, some
things are desirable, "Humecat"
–Gordon
"qualified" to give my opinion whenever. I have to say that they were mostly positive. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As I am getting ready for
an "extended vacation", I can only hope that Janet has another book ready for me.
–Michele
Comment/review = I give Janet props for writing a book with such a theme behind it. Most post apocalyptic world stories sometimes aren't as
good as you'd expect them to be. Maybe it's because of the way that the world as we know it came to an end, or not. I loved the virus that she
created, and the way it affected those who managed to survive through it. The characters she created were wonderful, and I felt connected to
them. I felt their pain, their fear, and their suffering. It was wonderfully written, and I can't wait for a sequel to come out, because she left it
open for one.
–Mousey "Mouse" (Port St John, Fl. USA)
Comment/review = As an avid reader, I enjoy watching a story play in my minds eye while I read. While reading After, I not only felt the emotions
of the characters come through in a truly palpable sense, I also felt my emotions mingling with them, making the story a more personal
experience. At the end of After, I not only felt satisfied but I also wanted more so I could continue my relationship with the characters. I look
forward to seeing where Janet will take me next.
–Rick Byrd, Titusville, Florida
Comment/review = I love the book. I just couldn't put it down. I hope to read ur new one when ur done with it and I'll be the first one to buy it
too.
–Chris
Comment/review = This was actually a very cool read!!!
–Mike M.
Comment/review = A look into the future of a world gone wrong. A dangerous part of our history that could become a reality. Explore this world
with a brother and sister that have everything and nothing in common.But in all the darkness of the events that led to this new world, some
things are desirable, "Humecat"
–Gordon
“Drayco, I want to go in. I can be of more help there. I can handle my sword better than most men.”
“I know, Shyanne. That’s why I want you there to cover our backs once we’re outside running. Joseph will be weak, and who knows how
Drizzle will do. He’s been tied up for several days now.”
Shyanne’s shoulders dropped. She did not look very happy. Finally, she said, “I understand. I’ll be there for you,” and trotted toward the
main building.
Drayco sighed and took off after her. They had gone only a couple of paces when the clouds decided to dump their precious cargo, hitting
them with a torrential down-pour. They were soaked in seconds.
Suddenly, Drayco was grabbed by the front of his shirt and pulled behind a section of half crumbled wall. Shyanne put a finger to her lips
when he started to protest. She pointed to the front porch. He glanced at it and watched as a man and a woman walked out of the building.
“Come on, Lela, why can’t we disappear someplace away from the others? The rhythm of the rain reminds me of how badly I want ya.”
The man pressed himself against the woman’s back and wrapped his arms around her, grabbing her breasts. Lela flung his arms off and
spun around in one fluid motion, a dagger in her hand as she faced him. She grabbed a fistful of shirt to prevent him from backing away. The tip
of the blade was so close to his skin blood flowed from the nick it caused. The trickle ran down his neck.
“I told you before, you stench of a rizbak, I’m not interested. If I were, you’d know it already. Now leave me alone—or you may not wake
up one morning.”
“Aww, Lela, ya don’t have to be like that…mak’n me bleed and all.” The man wiped the blood running down his throat with his fingers.
“Give me a kiss to show you’re sorry.” He grabbed the arm holding his shirt and received another slice across the top of his forearm.
“Why’d ya have to do that? All I wanted was to have a bit o’ fun with ya.” He shrugged her hold off, causing blood to splatter across her
shirt, and stormed back inside, nursing his bleeding parts.
Lela put her dagger away and went in after him. “I warned you before. This is what you…” The rain covered the rest of the statement as
they disappeared inside.
The twins grinned broadly at each other. Shyanne gestured toward her neck, pretending to slice it as she stuck her tongue off to the side.
Drayco shook his head at her warped humor and twirled his finger close to his temple, indicating she was nuts. She nodded her head in
agreement.
The smile disappeared as he motioned that they needed to move closer to the building. They ran up to one of the long windows and hugged
the wall on either side. Drayco leaned forward slightly and peered inside the room.
A small, crackling fire burned in a dirt pit near the back wall. Men and women relaxed about the room, some sleeping, others carrying on
conversations. A few of the surviving benches were being used as beds. The rest be-came firewood. Holes were visible here and there in the
ceiling; none leaked rainwater. The foul odor noticed earlier still hung in the air. The smell of the burning wood masked it for the most part.
Ruben leaned against a wall a short distance from the rest with one foot propped up. Joseph and Drizzle lay close to him, their restraints
still in use to prevent any escape.
Drizzle was upset. He kept looking up at the ceiling, ears raised, then flattened alternately. The big man watched the cat with interest. The
rest of the group ignored them. They were no doubt thinking about other things, like their families, or the local bars that were waiting for them.
“Has Drizzle become the nervous type?” Drayco asked.
“No. He’s the most rock steady creature I’ve ever met.”
“Well, something sure has him jumpy. I don’t ever remember seeing him this edgy before.”
Shyanne looked inside toward the big cat. “You’re right, something sure has him uptight. I wonde…”
A strange noise started coming from the area near the entrance of the building, a sort of rustling sound. The mercenaries missed it, at first.
Finally, one of the men close to the front heard it. He walked over and looked around, attempting to locate the source of the sound. It seemed
to be coming from overhead, in the ceiling.
“What’s that?” he asked, trying to see into the dark holes above.
Ruben straightened up. He was looking at Drizzle, not the man speaking. The cat was going wild, struggling against his bonds with all his
might. His mouth was tied shut, leaving him unable to bite at the restraints that held him. He yowled in frustration. Joseph watched the
struggling cat, as well.
A bad feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. The odor had reminded him of something from the past. Unfortunately, he still could not put
a finger on what it was.
The rustling sound grew louder, as if many, many things were brushing against each other. Men and women around the room stopped
what they were doing to look first at the cat, then at the man near the front.
The man standing under the holes shouted, “Someone bring a light over here. I want to see what’s up there.” He had his arm extended
toward the fire.
Drayco glanced at his sister. He could tell from the look on her face that she was uneasy. He understood; he knew he was wearing the same
look. He turned his attention back to what was happening inside just as someone got up with a torch. It was the same woman who had argued
on the porch earlier. The blood still dotted her clothes.
Lela was by the reaching man’s side when Ruben finally remembered what caused the disturbing smell. “No! Wait! Get away from there.
NOW!” He started to move toward the pair. It was too late.
“I know, Shyanne. That’s why I want you there to cover our backs once we’re outside running. Joseph will be weak, and who knows how
Drizzle will do. He’s been tied up for several days now.”
Shyanne’s shoulders dropped. She did not look very happy. Finally, she said, “I understand. I’ll be there for you,” and trotted toward the
main building.
Drayco sighed and took off after her. They had gone only a couple of paces when the clouds decided to dump their precious cargo, hitting
them with a torrential down-pour. They were soaked in seconds.
Suddenly, Drayco was grabbed by the front of his shirt and pulled behind a section of half crumbled wall. Shyanne put a finger to her lips
when he started to protest. She pointed to the front porch. He glanced at it and watched as a man and a woman walked out of the building.
“Come on, Lela, why can’t we disappear someplace away from the others? The rhythm of the rain reminds me of how badly I want ya.”
The man pressed himself against the woman’s back and wrapped his arms around her, grabbing her breasts. Lela flung his arms off and
spun around in one fluid motion, a dagger in her hand as she faced him. She grabbed a fistful of shirt to prevent him from backing away. The tip
of the blade was so close to his skin blood flowed from the nick it caused. The trickle ran down his neck.
“I told you before, you stench of a rizbak, I’m not interested. If I were, you’d know it already. Now leave me alone—or you may not wake
up one morning.”
“Aww, Lela, ya don’t have to be like that…mak’n me bleed and all.” The man wiped the blood running down his throat with his fingers.
“Give me a kiss to show you’re sorry.” He grabbed the arm holding his shirt and received another slice across the top of his forearm.
“Why’d ya have to do that? All I wanted was to have a bit o’ fun with ya.” He shrugged her hold off, causing blood to splatter across her
shirt, and stormed back inside, nursing his bleeding parts.
Lela put her dagger away and went in after him. “I warned you before. This is what you…” The rain covered the rest of the statement as
they disappeared inside.
The twins grinned broadly at each other. Shyanne gestured toward her neck, pretending to slice it as she stuck her tongue off to the side.
Drayco shook his head at her warped humor and twirled his finger close to his temple, indicating she was nuts. She nodded her head in
agreement.
The smile disappeared as he motioned that they needed to move closer to the building. They ran up to one of the long windows and hugged
the wall on either side. Drayco leaned forward slightly and peered inside the room.
A small, crackling fire burned in a dirt pit near the back wall. Men and women relaxed about the room, some sleeping, others carrying on
conversations. A few of the surviving benches were being used as beds. The rest be-came firewood. Holes were visible here and there in the
ceiling; none leaked rainwater. The foul odor noticed earlier still hung in the air. The smell of the burning wood masked it for the most part.
Ruben leaned against a wall a short distance from the rest with one foot propped up. Joseph and Drizzle lay close to him, their restraints
still in use to prevent any escape.
Drizzle was upset. He kept looking up at the ceiling, ears raised, then flattened alternately. The big man watched the cat with interest. The
rest of the group ignored them. They were no doubt thinking about other things, like their families, or the local bars that were waiting for them.
“Has Drizzle become the nervous type?” Drayco asked.
“No. He’s the most rock steady creature I’ve ever met.”
“Well, something sure has him jumpy. I don’t ever remember seeing him this edgy before.”
Shyanne looked inside toward the big cat. “You’re right, something sure has him uptight. I wonde…”
A strange noise started coming from the area near the entrance of the building, a sort of rustling sound. The mercenaries missed it, at first.
Finally, one of the men close to the front heard it. He walked over and looked around, attempting to locate the source of the sound. It seemed
to be coming from overhead, in the ceiling.
“What’s that?” he asked, trying to see into the dark holes above.
Ruben straightened up. He was looking at Drizzle, not the man speaking. The cat was going wild, struggling against his bonds with all his
might. His mouth was tied shut, leaving him unable to bite at the restraints that held him. He yowled in frustration. Joseph watched the
struggling cat, as well.
A bad feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. The odor had reminded him of something from the past. Unfortunately, he still could not put
a finger on what it was.
The rustling sound grew louder, as if many, many things were brushing against each other. Men and women around the room stopped
what they were doing to look first at the cat, then at the man near the front.
The man standing under the holes shouted, “Someone bring a light over here. I want to see what’s up there.” He had his arm extended
toward the fire.
Drayco glanced at his sister. He could tell from the look on her face that she was uneasy. He understood; he knew he was wearing the same
look. He turned his attention back to what was happening inside just as someone got up with a torch. It was the same woman who had argued
on the porch earlier. The blood still dotted her clothes.
Lela was by the reaching man’s side when Ruben finally remembered what caused the disturbing smell. “No! Wait! Get away from there.
NOW!” He started to move toward the pair. It was too late.
| A Drizzle Wannabe |
Excerpt from the book:
After
After
| Comments/Reviews |