Susan Helene Gottfried has managed to create a fictional band (Shapeshifter) with characters to love. If you happen to come across the Pittsburgh author at a book event or signing, you’ll immediately realize that Gottfried not only knows her characters well, she lives them. After reading The Demo Tapes, you will too.It all started with the band and a blog. Gottfried began to share stories of her fictional rockstars on her website and readers loved it. After receiving numerous requests to put the band on paper, Gottfried obliged and The Demo Tapes (Year 1, Year 2) were born.
Each short story reveals a different aspect of Shapeshifter’s dynamic. The author introduces each story with its inspiration. Hands made its debut on Gottfried’s site in November of 2007. The story shares a personal moment between guitar playing Mitchell Voss and his future wife Kerri, the painter.
It was stupid, she knew, but when Mitchell reached for her hands, she pulled away and tried to stuff them somewhere they’d be forever out of view. Unfortunately, other than in her pockets and behind her back, any place her hands went, the rest of her had to follow.“C’mon,” he said and tried again. “They’re supposed to be paint-covered, Ker. It’s what you do.”Reluctantly, she let him take her hands, both of them, in his. Palm up, he started to raise the left to his mouth.“I know,” Kerri sighed. “Turpentine, paint… It’s not the world’s biggest turn-on.”Mitchell stroked her palm with his nose.“A woman’s hands are supposed to be soft,” she said. “Pampered. Or else calloused from all the hard, honest work she does to keep her family afloat. Not…”“Not?” he asked, his lips barely touching that same palm.She turned her face up toward the ceiling and let herself drown in the sensation. Clearly, paint and turpentine were two of his many turn-ons.He didn’t linger long. “You know,” he said, slowly easing her hand, still in his, back to her side. Every bit as slowly, he pulled away, severing their contact.She shivered.“Mine aren’t much better.”
I immediately pegged myself as a Mitchell girl. Find your favorite by visiting West of Mars and checking out The Demo Tapes Year 1 and Year 2.
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