From the Publisher: “This fourth installment in the Tales from the Sheep Farm series continues the story of Delia Ford and Meter Shaikovsky. Sort of. You should probably read Populated before this one.
The six Shaikovsky kids made a pact when they were young: If any of them used the code words, the others would come to the rescue, no questions asked.
Vassily, the second eldest, has always felt invisible, the family jerk and foil to his responsible older brother Dimitry, his fiery sister Anna, and the adorable, mischievous triplets. But when Sima calls for a rescue, it’s Vassily who big brother Meter turns to for backup.
The two brothers make an all-night drive to rescue Sima and bring her home, but their problems are only beginning. Sima is a physical and emotional wreck and, inexplicably, chooses Vass, not Meter, as her safe person. And when Vassily loses his home, he and Sima move into Meter and Delia’s small condo as he tries to regroup and figure out what his next move is.
As the four of them navigate the tight quarters and the demands of their close-knit family, and as the housing situation begins to resolve itself, Vassily comes to realize that maybe there’s a better role for him in the family after all.
Sima’s traumas may be triggering to those who’ve been in situations of physical abuse. While most remains off the page, the emotional and mental wounds and scars remain. Readers, take care of yourself if this will be upsetting to you…”
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. 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. Visit her at WestofMars.com and TalesFromtheSheepFarm.com.
Previously…
Welcome back to Littsburgh! You have yet another book for us?
I do! Saving Sima is the fourth in the Tales from the Sheep Farm series, and it’s actually the story of Vassily Shaikovsky, who we met previously in Populated. We only met him for a moment, though—albeit a memorable one—and Vass told me he wanted more time on the page.
My early readers have told me it’s their favorite so far in the series, and I can’t decide if I am flattered by that or not because I love each book in the series so utterly, it’s not funny.
Tell us more about the book.
Saving Sima begins as a brothers’ road trip when their baby sister Sima uses the secret emergency code words the siblings cooked up as children. From there, it turns into a journey of Vassily struggling and starting to understand his role in the family—he’s the second of six—who he is, and how he fits into the world in which he lives.
It sounds like it should be heavy, but it’s not. Well, the situation Sima has gotten herself into is, and so I do include a trigger warning, but most of that is off the page. The trauma is too fresh for her to talk much about it, and she has other things stopping her as well.
For anyone who’s read Populated and my newsletter-subscriber-only short piece, Beach Week: Delia and Meter, there’s plenty of Delia and Meter in this book, too, since, as the oldest Shaikovsky, it’s Meter who Sima calls when she needs her rescue.
In fact, if you only read one book to get ready for Saving Sima, it should be Populated. You can circle back for Maybe the Bird Will Rise and Safe House later.
And, of course, join my newsletters for access to the secret short stuff. There’s going to be more of it. A lot more.
You’ve published a lot of books this past year. Is that going to continue?
*laughs* It has been a crazy ten months, with six books hitting bookstore shelves, and for the most part, I did it on purpose. The short story collections I put out last August, Permisson to Enter and Broken but Undaunted, came together quickly, so I just released them without much of a plan. Short stories require a special kind of reader and generally don’t sell as well as longer works, so the intent there was just to get ’em out and on the market and let them find their readers.
The Tales from the Sheep Farm series, which begins with Maybe the Bird Will Rise, was definitely planned. I’d been stockpiling these first four books for quite some time, waiting to be able to do what we call a quick release with them. Series readers like to be able to read as many books as possible—if not the whole series—at once, so I wanted to get at least these first four books out there, and then begin the bulk of the marketing work.
That said, I see a lot of places where this series can go, and I have readers clamoring for books about certain characters they meet, particularly characters in Saving Sima, so I don’t see it ending anytime soon.
If you’re a “I will wait until it’s done before I read it” person, don’t wait. It’ll be a long time coming.
Q&A: Susan Helene Gottfried (Maybe the Bird Will Rise and West of Mars)!
Tell us about the long-term plans of the Tales from the Sheep Farm series.
I’m revising Book Five, Legacy, right now, have a draft of Book Six, and have been playing with a first draft of Book Seven. All feature characters we’ve already met, with Sima the star of Book Six. The hero of Book Five is someone you may not expect to be redeemed, but his struggle to get there is great fun. If Maybe the Bird Will Rise had an alligator in the hole left behind by a water main break and Populated had its balcony scene, this one’s got a memorable dumpster and an orange kitty, too. (This is not to minimize the rattlesnake in Safe House.)
Looking ahead, I still intend to open this series to other writers. I’d love the stories of the Mackenzie Treasure to be told, and that requires a voice that’s not mine. More on that to come; right now, I’ve got to get word of this project out to an ever-expanding audience so I’ve got the infrastructure to invite other authors in.
4 Questions: Susan Helene Gottfried (Running Wild Anthology of Stories)
Switching gears a bit, I saw you were one of this year’s recipients of a Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Grant. What are you doing with those funds?
Having fun, of course!
I used a portion of the grant to pay for marketing the Tales from the Sheep Farm series, and I’m currently interviewing Personal Assistants to help in that arena, as well.
But the main focus of the grant went toward the purchase of a tent and most of the things I need to fill it, including a cute little cart to schlep all of it, that a rotating group of local authors and I will be bringing to farmers’ markets and craft shows and whatever else we can find who’s willing to host a group of writers who want to sell their books. Look for the West of Mars tent and stop in and say hi and see who else is accompanying me on any particular day.
Likewise, if you’re an event organizer and would love to sell us a spot in your row of vendors, drop me a line.
And before anyone asks, yes, I do have room for more authors who are willing to follow my rules. We’re one book community and I’m always proud to stand with other authors who don’t fit prescribed molds.
At any rate, I am grateful to the GPAC for the grant. I truly hadn’t thought I’d be awarded one, but I think they like my vision, to use the tent to build community, both between authors and with the greater Pittsburgh reading and book-loving community. Like with the books, I can’t wait to see how this initiative grows and changes, and it’s so much fun to get out there and talk to readers.
Speaking of talking to readers, beyond the tent, are there other ways you’ll be doing that?
You betcha! I’ll be at the Murrysville Public Library with over 40 other authors for their local author fair on June 29, so stop in and get an autographed copy of the books. My books. The books of the other authors. All the books!
Bring lots of cash and a credit card with a high limit. I’m telling you now…
I’ve got a full autumn ahead. I’ll be at book shows in Lancaster, here in Pittsburgh, and in Huntington, WVA. I’m giving a workshop about freelance editors at the Pennwriters Writer’s Road Trip in Erie in October 5, and my circle of tent authors has asked me to moderate panels and lead discussions with them. Most of those are still in the planning stage, so stay tuned, particularly to my social media, for details.
It’s going to be a hectic autumn, especially as I’ve got a full slate of editing clients to take care of, as well. But no complaints from me; this is the life I’ve long dreamed of, and so far, it’s meeting expectations.
The goal now, of course, is to exceed expectations!
Sounds like you’re busy. Thanks for stopping in.
Thanks for hosting me today! And remember, literary friends, people are treasures too. I can’t wait to write that in the front of one of the Tales from the Sheep Farm paperbacks and put it in your hands—and then direct you to my various friends, so you can get their books too.
People truly are treasures, and the Pittsburgh book community is at the top of the heap.
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