Stray
About this ebook
He’s human.
Theo Andino isn’t best known for his voice. He’s best known for having the world’s worst case of wanderlust, a fact the leader of his new symphonic metal band takes advantage of. He lays down a challenge: Theo has to stay within the confines of Port Kenneth for an entire year.
Theo takes him up on that. After all, he’s a lucky man and he’s going to prove that to his band. Being picked up on the street corner by not only Sima but her sister-in-law too is just his first lucky break. He’s sure of it.
As stuck in Port Kenneth as Theo, only for different reasons, Sima’s at first resistant to her stray’s plans to explore the city and conquer his wanderlust. But as Theo discovers the magic of Port Kenneth, Sima begins to see it too, and gains the courage to face the past that’s trapped her.
Strays never stay, she tells herself repeatedly. But then Theo makes a choice that alters not only his life, but Sima’s as well.
The follow-on to Populated and Saving Sima, Sima is still dealing with a past history of both physical and emotional abuse. Readers, if this will be upsetting to you, please be kind to yourselves.
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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.
