Afterwords

by Stephen Bias

Sometimes all it takes is a push in the right direction...

What is it really that comes after death?
No one has gotten the answer to that question all the way right. Sure, some have gotten bits of it, but not all of the important details.
Clayton Shaw was a good man, and by all accounts that should have earned him a one way ticket to the Brilliance - save for one final, fatal mistake.
Now, stuck in the After, Clayton, with some guidance, must come to grips with what comes after life.

Afterwords is author, Stephen Bias's debut novel, and our fourth book here at The Henlo Press!

372 pages, Hardcover

Published January 27, 2024

Reviews

[Joe Crowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was surprisingly interesting and creative! The description does it no justice. The story moves along nicely and the characters are great. This wasn’t my typical read, but I enjoyed it and would recommend!

[Gwen Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever story arc. Good read for a debut novel. I look forward to reading more of the author’s work as his career develops.

[Lisa McCombs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Bias sets the bar high with this dystopian-type story of Clayton Shaw's journey to the afterlife. Clayton was a good man, devoted to his mother and younger sister, a hard worker, and a man of God. His only friend was Amber Ward. One night he found Amber wandering around after dark, weak and sickly. He helped her home and the next day she was dead. Clayton realizes the depth of his feelings for Amber. He knew she was troubled and blamed himself for not being more assertive in discovering the cause. Was hers a natural passing or was there foul play involved? Following an unintentional yet successful suicide attempt, Clayton ends up in the After, waiting to reunite with Amber. Hundreds of years pass, a mixture of strange joys and disturbing truths before Clayton comes to the end of his persecution. "Afterwords" is a phenomenal debut novel.

[Stephany Withrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting to call Stephan family is a pleasure, getting to read what comes from his inner mind and imagination is even better! He won me over with 304 Monsters (now a top favorite of mine), when I started this book it had a slow burn for me wondering how in the world it would all play out and be able to consume me like his prior book I’d just finished reading. To say I was surprised is an understatement, it was definitely worth the slow burn and the lost sleep for two nights to finish it in a hurry. From hating Feme to absolutely loving her, rooting for Clayton and Amber to rooting for Clayton and Charon, and well Nix can just go straight to hell.

Just read it, take my word for it you will not be disappointed in the least and you’ll be left wondering if he knows something we don’t know about what happens after this life!

[Damien Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equal parts Beetlejuice, The Frighteners, and… Bill and Ted? Stephen Bias has a great mind for world building. This novel covers a time range of close to two hundred years, both on Earth and in the… well… you’ll have to read it. The level of mythos building here was hugely impressive to me, I can visualize so many other stories happening in this world. Afterwords doesn’t just pull a Lovecraft and rely on world and mythos building thought. The characters here are solid, each has a well thought out past, personality, and goal. You’ll be happy to follow each along as the plot gets heavier and heavier. Bias is also damn funny; some of the dialogue actually made me “LOL.” I was alone. My cat judged me. K thx.

[Megan Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought Afterwords at a comic book convention where Stephen Bias was promoting his books. He was a nice guy and gave a great "elevator pitch" so I thought it would be a good read to review for my SubStack.
I had no idea that I would like it as much as I did.
It's an easy read that really drew me into the story from the first page. The characters are likeable (and some are "hateable") and the premise is unique.
I can't wait to read his other book 304 Monsters, now.