From the Publisher: “The Mackenzies and the Flahertys, two of the founding families of Port Kenneth, TN, have been feuding for generations. Which means Emerson Mackenzie’s decision to move PharmaSci back to its historic roots didn’t sit well with the Flaherty family. They have been attempting to renew the hostilities, but so far, Mack has refused to rise to their bait. Instead, he remains on the trail of the old Mackenzie records and the secrets they contain.
Compounding the Flahertys’ issues, William Flaherty isn’t terribly thrilled with his only son, Chad. First the boy lost William’s favorite condo to street photographer Delia Ford. Then Chad decided he didn’t want to be a Flaherty. Unfortunately, the rule is simple: Once a Flaherty, always a Flaherty. His sister understands this. Why doesn’t he?
When his father crosses a line, Chad’s had enough. For real this time. If only he can figure out exactly how, and who he can turn to for help in his escape. Delia Ford certainly isn’t lining up to be Chad’s ally, but maybe there’s hope-and help-right across the street from Chad’s new house.
But first, Mack has to find what William wants the most: The reason the feud began in the first place.
Except, it’s not what anyone expected it to be.”
More info About the Author: Susan Helene Gottfried is the heavy-metal-loving, not-disabled enough divorced Jewish mother of two. A freelance line editor to authors of fiction by day, her select roster of clients tend to hit bestseller lists, and more than a few have quit their day jobs. It’s not entirely her doing, but like does attract like. As an author, she focuses on contemporary fiction, loving the challenge of creating great characters who find themselves in situations that force them to grow and change. Susan holds a BA (University of Pittsburgh) and MFA (Bowling Green State University) in English Writing and Fiction, respectively. She lives with a couple cats in the Pittsburgh suburbs, just West of Mars. She’s a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and Pennwriters and is the recipient of a 2024 Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator grant. Visit her at westofmars.com.
Previously…
Hey, Susan! Welcome back! What’s new?
Hey, Littsburgh. I’m here today to talk about my newest release, Legacy.
Yes, tell us about that.
Legacy is the fifth book in the Tales from the Sheep Farm series, so it’s probably not the best place to start reading. It was originally intended to be the final chapter in Mack and Tess’ quest for his hidden family records, and it certainly does that. But the real fun lies in the fact that it features a character I never thought I’d give significant page time to, Chad Flaherty.
What’s so special about Chad Flaherty?
Well, Chad entered the Sheep Farm books as Delia Ford’s ex, the one whose condo she found a way to make hers—this event colored Populated, and almost every book’s that’s followed. Then he spent a couple of books trying to battle Mack for dominance in the city, but Mack largely ignored him, although when he played along, he found ways to play Chad for the fool.
So maybe it’s Mack’s fault. I became very interested in Chad. Who is this entitled idiot who thinks the world owes him, and who insists he’s better than the man I’d originally designed to be the series hero?
And then it became a question of what sort of idiot continues to set himself up to be such a perfect patsy for Mack—a man who very clearly does not want to engage.
In short, poor Chad, if we can call him poor, is a train wreck in ways that Vassily (Saving Sima) isn’t and never can be. Even Chad’s father is frustrated with him, and his sister is busy trying to lock in his loyalty. That made Chad a lot of fun to write. Letting Chad seek redemption—and so constantly come up short, in such amusing ways—stole the book. And, if I’m being honest, a piece of my heart.
We’ll see Chad some more, going forward, I’m sure. Then again, I’m not entirely certain any of my main characters ever go entirely away.
You say this was intended to be the final chapter in Mack and Tess’s quest for his hidden family records. Is it?
Yes, it is—to an extent. After all, Mack and Tess have now found all the records boxes that Mack’s forefather, Henry, hid around the two main Mackenzie properties—the farm, and the property Mack is originally living on, up in New York state, when the series opens.
But are Mack and Tess done learning about Henry and what he was up to, and how those actions resonate through the next almost two centuries? That, we’ll have to wait and see about.
The idea of the Mackenzie Treasure is still something I intend to do more with, however. It’s proving harder than I’d expected, but my goal is still to open this series and this world up to other authors, who can tell stories that have historically been squashed. And when that happens, we’ll get more stories inside those records, told by authentic voices. Hopefully the stories will be both beautiful and heartbreaking, energizing and angering. Hopefully they’ll help us achieve part of the aim of the series: To celebrate our diversity at last and celebrate each others as the treasures we are.
Tell us that orange cat on the cover. He’s an eye-catcher.
He is!
Isn’t he the greatest cat ever? You’re not going to mess with that scruffy boy.
He plays a role, absolutely, in Chad’s story arc. Like all the best cats, he has things to teach Chad—and the lessons are more than how expensive cats are when you first open your home to one.
Poor Chad has a lot of learning to do, I’m afraid.
The series is called Tales from the Sheep Farm. Are the sheep there yet?
Ha. No. Not yet.
So they are coming?
Yes, in Book Six and just you wait for your introduction to them…
Book Six, being an even numbered book, will feature Delia Ford and the Shaikovskys. It’s a sort of continuation of the story that rolls out during Saving Sima, which is itself a continuation of the story that begins in Populated.
Where do you see the series heading?
I hate to say that Legacy marks the end of Mack and Tess, because it doesn’t. It just ends their quest for their family history. They’ll continue to be around, but in less primary roles.
Because readers seem to respond more enthusiastically to Delia Ford and the Shaikovsky siblings, expect to see maybe more of an emphasis on them in future books.
Delia’s job, both as a street photographer and later as a features photographer for the City Central, allows her to meet and encounter a variety of others. She’ll weave in and out of what’s yet to come in ways that Mack, stuck in a corporate CEO’s suite, can’t. Tess possibly could, but her life’s also about to change quite a bit and head in new directions, as well.
My intention—and we’ll see how successful I am—is to provide other entry points to this world. I know a lot of readers like to start at the very beginning, but when you write about a city, there are hundreds and thousands of tales to tell. They don’t have to fit in a linear fashion into a series, and frankly, I want to have fun and play with the characters that have piqued my curiosity, even if that means approaching the idea of a series differently.
Plus, once I’m able to expand to invite other authors in, the precedent will already be there, so the precedent will already been set.
What’s the rest of 2025 hold? You’ve been releasing books pretty quickly.
Yeah, but this is when I slow down. I have two more books that are almost but not quite ready, so I’ve decided to hold them both into 2026. I figure it gives everyone more time to catch up on the series, and for me to spend the summer getting out with the tent and my author friends and meeting readers that way.
I also just released a second small guide. The first was a guide to being a beta reader, for both authors and beta readers. The second is a six-page document I made in conjunction with the program director at my local library, talking about ways authors can engage with their libraries. They’re both at my Ko-Fi (http://ko-fi.com/westofmars/shop) and readers can pay what they’d like, even if FREE is your price point. It’s about educating authors and our supporters.
You’re a big proponent of working with other authors…
I am! Between my day job as a freelance editor to authors of fiction; to my tent group, who goes out and sells books direct to readers; and these guides, I have learned how much richer the publishing journey is when we can help each other, work together, and raise our craft. All of us, myself included!
That, in turn, brings better books and reading experiences to readers.
Really, there’s no downside to this approach, I don’t think. Readers win. Authors win. And it’s so wonderful to cheer on the success of my friends and colleagues.
It gets back to that series tagline: People are treasures too.
Thanks, Susan. Hope to see the tent out and about this summer!
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