Alison: Surprisingly, readers on Wattpad had a lot of fantastic input, but I think pretty early on in the story I had the general idea of where I wanted it to go.
Editors: Some of the locations in the book seem to be based on places you actually frequented, such as the church where Archer’s funeral was held. How much of your own experiences show up as elements in the novel?
Alison: I actually have never been to New York City! It’s a place I’ve always been fascinated by, with so many different cultures and such a rich history. I was, however, raised in a Catholic family, so going to church every Sunday and attending parish events were a regular occurrence—a lot like what Archer’s family is involved with.
Editors: Whenever Hadley is at the coffeehouse or attending an Incitti/Morales gathering, the food sounds amazing! If Archer or one of his relatives invited you over, what culinary delight would you absolutely need to have on your plate? And is there one food in general you just can’t go without?
Alison: I’m a big fan of anything pasta related, but I also adore chicken parmesan. I’d like to think that’s a dish Archer’s family would make frequently. In my own family, though, we have this Hungarian dish called chicken paprikash that we always make on holidays and birthdays, and that is for sure something I cannot live without!
Editors: And finally, there are a lot of fans of In 27 Days out there. What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever been told by a fan?
Alison: I can’t narrow it down to one specific experience because there’s been so many over the years, and every fan is absolutely fantastic, but I’ve been told that reading In 27 Days helped them during rough times in their lives, that the story made them reconsider suicide, or helped them understand that suicide isn’t the answer. That’s one of the greatest things I think I could ever be told, not only as an author but as a person. Knowing my writing has positively affected someone is one of the best feelings in the world.
In 27 Days Discussion Questions
If you were Hadley, would you be willing to do whatever it took to save the life of a boy you barely knew? Why or why not?
Why do you think Death chose Hadley to save Archer? What strengths does Hadley have that would equip her for the task?
Hadley doesn’t instantly fall in love with Archer, but she does fall in love with his family. What is it about Archer’s family that draws Hadley in so quickly?
Hadley quickly learns Archer prefers to be alone. Why do you think Archer is afraid to get close to others?
Archer is often rude or dismissive of Hadley. If you were Hadley, how would you react? In what ways would it be hard to help someone who didn’t want to be helped?
Even though Death sometimes gives Hadley advice, he doesn’t provide many answers to her questions. Why do you think Death keeps his distance?
Havoc does not make an appearance until well into the story. What event do you think made him introduce himself to Hadley? Do you think he felt threatened by her as she got closer to Archer? Why?
What are some of the similarities between Havoc and Death? What are some of the differences?
Hadley’s relationships with her friends and family undergo a lot of stress during those twenty-seven days. How would you feel if you were Taylor? Or if you were Hadley’s parents? Do you think these relationships change for the better by the end of the book?
Who do you believe changed the most at the end of the story, Archer or Hadley?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kaleena English
Watty Award-winning author Alison Gervais has been writing for as long as she can remember. In 2011, she began posting her work on Wattpad.com, and has been active on the site ever since. If she’s not writing, she can be found rereading Harry Potter books, watching Supernatural, or trying to win the affection of her two cats, Kovu and Rocket.
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