An Award-Winning Middle-Grade Dystopian Book Series
The After by J. Taylor
Exciting and nerve-wracking (in the best way).
The After features a realistic premise, relatable characters, and an ending that makes the book impossible to put down.
Charlotte is a fourteen-year-old living on a remote farm in Nova Scotia in the aftermath of a deadly viral outbreak. She doesn’t see anyone outside of her immediate family. So when a mysterious figure shows up one day, Charlotte must choose between safety and curiosity.
Book Blurb:
Despite the deadly virus that caused borders to close and governments to fall ten years earlier, fourteen-year-old Charlotte and her family have lived a challenging yet relatively peaceful life, isolated on their acreage in rural Nova Scotia. However, when Charlotte discovers that an interloper has infiltrated their property, she must decide between keeping the potential threat a secret or embracing the potential for companionship that the intrusion represents. As the chaotic world that lurks outside the fence surrounding her farm disrupts Charlotte’s life even further, she must reach deep within herself and find the courage to become the mature young woman she claims to be—or risk losing everything that she and her family have worked so hard to build.
Please welcome J. Taylor, author of The After series.
1. Tell us a little about your background. What inspired you to write middle grade fiction?
I am a mom of five and a middle school/high school English teacher. I grew up in Nova Scotia but spent the last thirty-five years in British Columbia and Alberta teaching and raising my children. Alongside teaching, I coached high school & middle school basketball, Debate & Speech and a variety of Special Olympics sports.
I love reading to children and watching their excitement as they become immersed in a good story. Writing was always something I wanted to pursue, but between raising a family (my youngest with a disability which requires 1:1 support), working full time, supporting my children’s extracurricular activities, and spending countless hours at their sporting events, I never seemed to find the time. When COVID happened, I found myself home for nine months; sports were suspended, people were isolating, and I finally found that time.
2. The After is set in a post-viral-collapse world in rural Nova Scotia—a very specific setting. What drew you to that location, and how much of it comes from personal experience with the area?
I grew up in Nova Scotia. It is my happy place. From the Atlantic Ocean coastline to its stunning natural landscapes and warm, welcoming people, Nova Scotia is a special and unique place. I just knew if I ever wrote a novel, the setting would have to be in Nova Scotia.
In the first three novels of The After Series (The After, Survival, & The Invasion), every place the protagonist visits is somewhere I have been. I found that drawing on familiar locations made the novels easier to write. Because I could clearly visualize each setting, it was easier to bring those places to life and describe them in detail. The fourth and last book in the series, The Journey, takes the protagonist beyond Canada’s borders. As a result, The Journey was far more challenging to write and took nearly twice as long to complete. I had to research road and topographical maps, watch videos to gain a visual sense of the area, and learn about the people and wildlife that inhabited each region.
3. Middle grade dystopian is a tricky balance—the world has to feel real and dangerous, but readers tend to be young. How do you balance that tension?
In my novel, the protagonist has lived in a post-dystopian world since she was two years old. Having had very little contact with anyone beyond her immediate family, she often appears socially younger than her “almost” fourteen years. When writing about the challenges and dangers she encounters, I try to place myself in the mindset of a young teenager and consider how she would realistically respond rather than how an adult might react. I wanted the protagonist’s choices to reflect the uncertainty, growth, and resilience that come with navigating a complex world at such a young age.
Throughout The After, I worked to steadily build tension without resorting to graphic content or pushing the story into young adult territory. As a teacher, I know it can be challenging to find high-interest books that tackle mature themes without relying on violence, sexual content, or disturbing imagery.
4. The After is the first in a series. Did you always know this was a four-book story, or did it outgrow the initial concept?
It wasn’t until I was nearing the end of writing The After that I realized there would be another book to follow. At the time, I wasn’t sure whether the story would conclude after two books or three. As it turned out, it took four books to fully tell the story, with the final installment, The Journey, bringing the series to its conclusion.
5. What dystopian books or authors influenced you most? What do you think the genre does that no other genre can?
Ever since I first picked up a Nancy Drew novel in grade three, I have been an avid reader. There isn’t one particular author I would credit with influencing my writing. I have always loved books, and as a high school teacher, some of my favourite discussions with my students centered around an author’s voice, the impact of their writing style, and the way a compelling story can completely draw readers into its world and leave a lasting impression.
Although historical fiction has always been my favourite genre, it was the uncertainty surrounding COVID that led me to write dystopian fiction. At the time, the world seemed to be changing by the day. There was no vaccine, many questions remained unanswered, and nobody knew what the future might hold. My imagination took hold of those uncertainties and began asking, “What if?” The result was The After.
6. What piece of advice would you give to new or aspiring authors just starting?
We all have a story to tell.
You are never too young or too old to write and publish. I have had students publish their work, and the other day I listened to a podcast where a 99-year-old published his first book.
You don’t need perfect grammar or flawless spelling to tell a great story. What matters most is imagination, creativity, and a compelling narrative. Grammar and spelling can be polished later—that’s what copy editors are for. 🙂
Setting Expectations:
This is a middle-grade dystopian book. As such, it walks the tightrope between the gravity of the subject and the audience. I found it appropriate for middle and high schoolers, while still being enjoyable as an adult.
If you like the emotional gravity of Stone Fox and the survival element of Hatchet, The After is a good fit. (Side note: I’m not sure why Stone Fox is marketed as “heartwarming.” I think “tragic” is the word they’re looking for. That book was devastating to me in the fifth grade.)
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You can find The After on Amazon and other online bookstores, as well as the other books in the series.
Visit the author’s website or follow J. Taylor on Instagram.
Leaving reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, or social media is incredibly helpful—especially for indie authors.
About the Author
J. Taylor leads a fulfilling life balancing her roles as a mother, teacher and author. She delights in creating memorable experiences for her family and loved ones. Large family dinners filled with lively conversation and great food are a cherished tradition. These aspects of her life contribute to her personal fulfillment as well as inspire her writing and the themes of connection and family in her stories.
Taylor’s upbringing in Nova Scotia notably influences her storytelling, as she incorporates elements of the region’s culture and environment into her narratives. This background enriches her characters and the overall themes of her stories, making them relatable and inspiring.
Dovan the book dragon’s quote of the week:
Her dad told her he knew the exact second her mom had passed. He said he could feel it in his heart because she took a little piece of it with her.
—J. Taylor, The After
Thanks for reading—stay inspired!
Janine Eaby is the author of Beyond the Water’s Edge—a Young adult fantasy book series influenced by her faith, love of nature, and desire for adventure. for fans of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
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