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Pueblo Spotlight: Alison Gervais, author of In 27 Days

Alison Gervais lives in a quaint apartment on Pueblo's southside with her cat and says "Hello" to several neighbors that are either rainbow-haired or four-legged daily. Her apartment, which is fittingly chock full of books and writing materials, suits her well. "It's old and classy and just awesome to live in!" she exclaimed. I've known Alison since our freshman year of high school, and have always admired her quirky personality and dazzling smile. Today, she is especially excited because the very first copy of her first published book arrived in the mail, fresh off the press. 

For a piece of writing that she had no intentions to do anything with, Alison's breakout novel In 27 Days has certainly been an unexpected success. Alison began writing the book on a flight home from Indianapolis while enrolled as a junior at Pueblo West High School. She shared her work on Wattpad, a popular online literary community, and readers immediately resonated with the story. In 27 Days tells the saga of classmate Archer Morales' unexpected suicide and Hadley Jamison's paranormal opportunity to go back in time and prevent him from going through with it. It's a tale of love, consequence, stepping out of your comfort zone, and perhaps most importantly, mental health. 

If Alison's readers didn't come for the dynamic storytelling and enviable writing, they came for the discussion about a taboo topic that is likely very near and dear to their hearts: suicide. In 27 Days alludes to the idea that anyone's life can be changed, or even saved, when kindness is involved. "I think so many people have experience with someone they know or a classmate for example that's committed suicide, and the whole idea of 'What if I could have done something to stop them?' might have interested a lot of people." 

The book hasn't merely inspired readers to support their classmates, however, it has also prompted suicidal individuals to think twice about their actions. Alison receives a lot of fan mail, but the best responses describe the powerful results on her readers' lives. "Anytime I receive a message saying how the story touched them in some way or made them reconsider suicide, I just feel very honored that what I wrote meant something to them!" she mused. Alison herself has struggled with hopelessness before, so the impact of In 27 Days is not lost on her. Her desired intention for her novel is to remind readers that help is out there, and it's okay to ask for it. 

Alison is constantly delving into new projects, "always" writing and staying active within the literary world by attending publication conferences. To support Alison's continued success, preorder In 27 Days on Amazon today. 



After a two-year publishing process, Alison's novel has transformed from a internet sensation into a tangible book that's available for purchase on Amazon.



Alison's affinity for everything literary is expressed in almost every aspect of her life. Her cat, Jane, owes her namesake to Jane Eyre, the famous protagonist of Charlotte Bronte's aptly-titled novel.


Although Alison's book will be published by Blink on July 25th, 2017, an earlier draft remains accessible on Wattpad. Like any involved author, Gervais regularly responds to fan mail that she receives on the website.


Alison's 352-page book tells the story of Hadley Jamison's quest to prevent a classmate from committing suicide, and has riveted readers from around the globe.



Gervais lives in a neighborhood that boasts a community library for residents to peruse, which has been made complete with a resident's own work.


Alison's book is available for preorder on Amazon.


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