Shepherd & the Professor

by Dan Klefstad

Most people take comfort knowing their family and friends will remember them after they die. For Susan Shepherd, "remembering" is bullshit. She wants an eternal shrine to her a book that never goes out of print.

Shepherd served her country in the Gulf War, got shot while serving her community as a cop, raised an ungrateful daughter by herself -- and for what? A diagnosis of terminal cancer and she isn't even fifty. If you were in her shoes, you might agree that nothing short of national perpetual acknowledgement will do.

She's glad you feel that way; she just wrote a memoir and sent a flurry of query letters, hoping a publisher will memorialize her with a best-seller. After hitting Send, she waits not-at-all patiently for an editor to decide if her story will sell enough copies -- that is, if her life really mattered.

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2016

About the author

My latest novel, Fiona’s Guardians, is about humans who work for a beautiful manipulative vampire. This book was adapted by Artists' Ensemble Theater for their Mysterious Journey podcast. It's available on Spotify or wherever you get podcasts. I'm now writing the sequel in Louisville, Kentucky.

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Shepherd is writing to a potential publisher with immortality in her mind, I suspect Klefstad is writing to a potential director or producer with the film rights in his foremost thoughts. There is a visual quality to this book which readers will either find compelling and appealing or deeply irritating. Cue Tarantino split screen; action, move on. It is quick. The novel reads with a level of fast-paced disjointedness that should be accompanied by a flashing images warning. It is short, sharp and straight to the point. The reader is expected to think, assemble the pieces and reach their own conclusions which is not necessarily a bad thing but does take a little getting used to.

The language is, I hesitate to use the word real but certainly, functional; it is correct for the time and place and seems so natural to the writer and characters that the reader can be easily swept along however unfamiliar it may be to them. The characters exist in a cynical and apathetic world which is, somewhat depressingly, not dissimilar to our own. This is a place I do not want to be but vaguely recognise; the benevolent and optimistic facets of my soul, still screaming, are running for cover I know not where. Fleeting references to politics, religion, banking, crime and modern malaise can be read as a latticework of implied cause and effect or interpreted as easy ammunition to hijack and drive the plot. Again, your interpretation will likely depend on your response to this scatter gun writing style.

At this point, I need to consider a star rating and will be honest I’m struggling. If you like your novels raw, disjointed and unconventional, you would probably baulk at anything less than five stars. If you find the style antagonistic and willfully complex, you would probably give one or two stars for a good idea let down in execution. Me? I would suggest you give the story a go and, in the keeping with the book’s philosophy, I will let you draw your own conclusions.
Thank you to Dan Klefstad for being on my blog today.

[Janel · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading and enjoying Klefstad’s short story, The Caretaker, I bumped Shepherd & the Professor way up my reading list but sadly, this is not a case of, if you like one, you’ll like the other.

It took a while for me to get into this novel but once I did I found it quite entertaining. Had it been a shorter story, I probably won’t have minded so much, but after a while the plot just became too bizare for my liking. I found it to be too unrealistic, Shepherd’s memoir read like the ‘ramblings of a crazy women’ and for a short amount of time, that’s fine but not for 267 pages! In the beginning it worked because it was a memoir but the bizare-factor wore off to the point where I skim read the last 30% of this novel.

If you like odd, unconventional novels, this may be the one for you, I don’t even know how to categorise this book, that’s the level of odd happenings that occurred. I guess its USP was the entertainment value but I just couldn’t get on board with it.

*My thanks to the author for providing me with a digital copy of this book*

[Caz C Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan Shepherd has seen and lived through all. Now she is dying of cancer and she is desperate to be remembered after she is gone – with her own book

Introduction

All the manuscripts you receive as an editor are “sweat-and-blood testimonies about life” according to Susan Shepherd, and hers is no different. She has lived through so much, has looked death in the eye multiple times and now she feels the time is right to set down her story (or record it, as a matter of fact); her motivation is her impending death. According to Susan she “survived sexual trauma, war, alcoholism, giving birth once and getting shot twice.” However, one encounter turned her world upside down and changed her life completely: when Susan met the Professor – a man she calls Daniel.

Storyline

The first time Susan meets Daniel, she kicks his arse. The same night their love affair starts and ends abruptly with Susan being pregnant and an Eastern beauty whisking Daniel away. Susan is not the type to acquiesce quietly – she smashes his belongings, cuts his clothes and damages whatever she can. An explosive love affair ending in pretty much the same way it started! Susan has lived all her life in Charters (do not attempt to call it ‘Chartres’ like the French town because she hates that!) and the people living there are divided between Townies (those living in the town) and Furbies (the students from the Charters’ University). After having served in the Army during the first Iraq War, thanks to the GI Bill, Susan was able to study Criminal Science and successfully finish it with an Associate’s Degree. Now Susan is a Police Officer who has no problem using violence, like when Jesus (the drug dealer, dating Susan’s daughter Emma) abuses Emma in Susan’s eyes. No wonder the mother-daughter relationship is stressful, to say the least.

Who else is there in this strange tale with all sorts of storylines and seemingly unconnected characters, who, upon a closer look, somehow are all part of Susan’s extraordinary story? There is Judy, applying for the job of President of Charters’ University with her unconventional approach and her hidden past. There is radio broadcaster and journalist Guy with his breakfast program in which he interviews anyone in the news in Charters. Guy is a recovering alcoholic and hates the way the radio station is now operating – he is friends with Susan but also has a line into the top of the University, convenient as we will find out because something weird is going on there. Does it have anything to do with the political games, involving Walter Washington, Chief of the Campus Police who would have loved to become the University’s new president, if only to claim the huge expenses for his Las Vegas dinner party? Somehow, in between, Professor Daniel or Akram Khan as he calls himself now, has complicated altercations with his student Chris Leifheit …

My Thoughts

What is this? A novel, a plea to validate and give value to a life, about to end? A fast-paced biography with intermittent other people’s views or stories? To be read or rather visualised? Is Guy the radio journalist somehow connected to or loosely based on the author Dan Klefstad? Why is it sometimes so difficult to relate to what Susan and Judy are going through? They are both fascinating characters, strong and (slightly) crazy women fixed on their respective goal and determined to get from life what they feel entitled to regardless of the law or society’s rules. I am in doubt what to think of the somewhat bizarre context and would love hearing more about their story without being interrupted by the ‘address the editor’ and the ‘Susan asked me to fill in’ parts. Susan Shepherd, with the life she led surely deserves it!
It is disturbing and sometimes incomprehensible but at the same time enjoyable and entertaining.

Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/shephe...

[Ishita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating (3.5/5)

The writing – Unconventional and refreshing. Slightly acerbic at times, Klefstad isn’t afraid to let his characters indulge in highly-charged conversations at the risk of not sounding PC. The format of the book does lend itself to being categorized as an epistolary (but it is one long query letter, and not a series of short ones) and it did take some time for me to get used to the changing narrators (as different people take over at from Susan at different times) and the initial time-leaps in the reminiscences. But once the book hit its stride – I got more comfortable reading it after 35-40% - I appreciated the atmospheric detailing that made the small university town of Charters come alive.

The characters – This is Susan’s story and I found it interesting that Klefstad completely skips addressing the details about the big cancer-related chapter of her life – and I think it is a gutsy decision! I mean, kudos to the author for not making this entire book and Susan’s life about cancer. Instead, we are given brief glimpses of a couple of early incidents in her life, including her only significant but brief relationship with a guy (who is the father of her child). All these experiences left indelible marks but I would like to think they only made her stronger and more equipped to deal with everything that came with single-parenting. But from what we see of Susan’s twenty-something daughter Emma, and by Susan’s own admission, she has a lot of regrets with how things have turned out for her daughter. Although as a reader, Emma is absolutely infuriating to read about, an ungrateful brat who is hell-bent on throwing away whatever her mom is working very hard to provide.
Though this is Susan’s story on the query letter, the plot itself doesn’t move by the precipitating actions of any one single character. It is an ensemble plot in the truest sense as every character’s actions have a ripple effect though each one thinks they are doing what is required for them to survive and move up in Charters. So, there is a student, who is at loggerheads with his devout lecturer by arguing the under-representation of atheism in literature. Then there is a campus law enforcement chief vying for the position of the new President of the University. There is a also a radio jockey fighting to keep the seven-minute interview hosting slots amid reports of falling ratings. Finally, there is a woman identifying herself as Judy Peterson who is a bit of an enigma, a loose cannon willing to do what it takes to become the president.
Through all this radio station, university and law enforcement politics, there is a shady drug dealing business that Susan keeps trying to shoo away from Emma and herself, but her efforts prove futile as Emma is bullish about sticking to her drug-peddling boyfriend.

The plotting – I felt that the book could have used one single high-stakes plot point centering all the characters instead of many – such as the president nomination, funds misappropriation, drugs consumption, investigative journalism and so on. The only thing holding these characters together in one book is the university and I just found the whole plot surrounding the president post a bit weak and unconvincing. Maybe it is because I could never get a sense of how “evil” Judy is. I mean, she is described as someone who has gotten away with scheming for years and yet, she makes so many mistakes – so many basic ones – that I just couldn’t believe she has never got caught. She came across as too vulnerable.
Then there was this drug peddling business that the Sheriff’s department has been looking for an opportunity to bust. I was a bit confused about how the entire thing went down. The department apparently was “successful” by the end of it, but the result of the entire operation seemed to be a heap of mess, so I am not sure what happened there.

Overall impressions – Would definitely recommend the book if you want to read something that just – well – reads differently! It tested my patience at times (especially the first half), but I began enjoying the leisurely vibe later on.

I received a digital copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Also posted on bookmyopia/wordpress

[Susan Hampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I believe that this is one of the most bizarre and entertaining books that I have read in a while. Think of it as the equivalent of Quentin Tarantino films but in books. Very random scenes that strangely belongs together. Susan Shepherd is dying of cancer and she has written a book about her life so that when she dies there is going to be something permanent of her left behind. Something solid that means she existed because there doesn't seem a lot of people that know her that would really give a damn. So it is strange, there is Susan Shepherd as author introducing different chapters in the book, trying to sell the concept of it to publishers and also getting different people that the book is about to tell their part in it. Once you can get your head around this it is a pretty good read. Though in my opinion how Susan Shepherd came to be in charge of a gun, either in the Army or as a Police Officer is beyond me because she is volatile to say the least.
Why are  gullible people drawn to con artists? Oh yes, greed, but you have to feel sorry for one young man in this story, because although the lady in question didn't quite get her pound of flesh, she certainly managed a couple of ounce! shudder, shudder, shudder! With the young man, I would think, in need of a shrink for the rest of his, can't trust anyone ever again, life. It was obvious that this was simply an appetizer, if it came off, because boy was she wicked in the main event.
There is just about every story line that you could imagine told by Susan Shepherd that goes on behind closed doors in a lot of cities. You just don't normally get the condensed version. You will either love or hate this very unconventional book. I loved the unpredictability of it all. I like different. I like a book that in a few months time I can still tell people about it clearly. So give it a go and make your own mind up.

[Katie Andraski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shepherd and the Professor is a fast read, offering insight into how people relate to each other in the tense world of university politics. It is set in Chartres, home of Otto Kerner University, named for the first of four Illinois governors to go to prison. Author Dan Klefstad, as morning host to NIU’s WNIJ, has a front row seat into how things operate behind the scenes at a major state university. While this novel is entirely imaginary, it offers a sneak peak into the machinations of picking a university president and what it takes to police a university and the town around it.

Framed as a query letter to a publisher, this novel also gently pokes fun at the desperation behind many writers’ attempts to make their stories heard during the difficult process of querying publishers. Susan Shepherd writes that letter, demanding her story last forever by getting it published. I found myself rooting for her happiness despite the difficulties of her terminal illness and the challenges of raising her teenaged daughter while being a local police officer. Shepherd and The Professor is about Susan Shepherd's spirited fight to make a life even while it's ending. Dylan Thomas's line, "The force that through the green fuse drives the flower/drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees/Is my destroyer" comes to mind. This novel is well worth your reading time.

[R.G. Ziemer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the happy experience of hearing author Dan Klefstad when he read an excerpt from “Shepherd and The Professor.” I think even Dan has some trouble describing the book to would-be readers. But knowing him and his situation lends the book credibility. Dan lives in DeKalb, Illinois, home of Northern Illinois University, where he received his Master’s Degree and has been host of the radio station’s Morning Edition since 1997.

It’s no coincidence that “Shepherd and the Professor” takes place at fictional Otto Kerner University in Northern Illinois. Nor is it any surprise that one of the main characters is a radio personality at the college station. But there are still plenty of surprises in store for readers.

Clever and funny – I guess one could say it’s tragicomic -- the book is presented as the manuscript of Susan Shepherd, gulf war veteran and community cop, a single mom forced into desperate circumstances. She’s been shot on the job, taken advantage of by her peers, and faces suspension or worse; her daughter has taken up with a drug dealer; campus police are dealing with a school shooting controversy and scandal in the university administration. Her former lover, the “Professor”, a convert to Islam, becomes entangled with her in the middle of the mess.

And that’s not the half of it. To make matters more interesting, parts of Shepherd’s story are narrated at times by the Professor, the reporter, and a possibly deranged student. Fast-paced, with short episodes and quick shifts of scene, it’s a quick read without sacrificing depth of characterization and a plot of complex situations. There’s a lot going on but it’s not hard to follow.

There are plenty of surprises along the way, in spite of the comfortable feeling as you get to know these stressed-out characters in a small Midwestern college town. For local readers, the setting will seem familiar. For any readers, the story will seem new and fresh.

[Craig Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

What struck me first about Klefstad's book was the writing style. Elegant and sophisticated were the words that kept coming to mind. He writes the way people think--not an easy trick--and the technique makes his characters, particularly the main character, believable. A lot of writers make the mistake of thinking they should write how people really speak, think, behave, when in reality, it often serves the art better to write how people THINK they speak, think, or behave. It is a balancing act. Too much reality puts the reader to sleep, as most of life is rather mundane. Too much liberty and it doesn't seem real. Klefstad deftly bridges this gap and strikes the correct balance. Recommended read!

[Andrea Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dan Klefstad delivers a story for grown-ups, told with delightfully fresh touches. Klefstad has, in fact, created a whole new genre: the query-letter novella. Those of us struggling to exist in the world of publishing can relate. Everyone else can sit back, relax, and enjoy this originally-told tale, funny and frighteningly truthful.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this book I was ready to give up! Being completely honest I found it exceptionally difficult to get into. After about 30% I ended up getting into the story and it drew me in.

Shepherd and the Professor is about Susan Shepherd who is a police officer suffering from cancer. She is trying to get her memoir published and have it never going out of print.

It is a really well written story done in an epistolary style. I loved how the stories are all separate but as they take place in the same town they are actually all related and, in turn, Susan has had these people help to write their perspective in her memoir.

This is a very raw, gritty story and if you are not someone who is into reading something that shows everything in its truly naked form then this won’t be for you. However, it is a book I would recommend. I had to keep reminding myself it was a work of fiction due to how raw it was. I love the dynamic between the characters. There is no ‘romanticizing’ the characters and their relationships at all. There were times I found myself rereading paragraphs because I had to really think about what was written. One example is ‘If you’re married, and I truly hope it’s a happy union, you’ll know most marriages have an arc that begins with love, rises to disappointment and descends to a point of mutual acceptance.’ This statement had me laughing because it is so true. Klefstad has really grasped writing, how people speak/think and it is amazingly refreshing.

We have the twisted, manipulative character, the bratty daughter who defies her mother at any turn as she is ‘in love’, the single mother who has been through the mill, the ex who left her and is now living in a loveless marriage, the drug dealing boyfriend of the defiant brat, the recovering alcoholic reporter and the ever so infuriating student. There are more characters in this memoir but these are the main players.

I give this book 4* and recommend you pick it up!

Rating… 4 Stars

Review By Lisa of www.readsandreels.com

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me begin by saying that this novel was fantastic! However, it has a TON of things going on so if you need your stories a little more simple and relaxed, this may not be the read for you. I absolutely loved this debut novel from Dan Klefstad and found myself thoroughly engrossed in this roller-coaster ride of a novel.

It begins with a query letter written by Susan Shepherd to a publisher, trying to get her memoir published. Susan has cancer and wants to be remembered for the things she has done and endured in her life. So the “audience” or “listener” of this crazy tale is implied to be a publisher or an intern in charge of sorting through queries and manuscripts.

Anyway, this novel is set in Charters, Illinois and the fictional campus of OKU. Susan is a Gulf War Veteran turned police officer and meets a new OKU professor, Daniel (later Akram) as he arrives in Charters. Daniel also quickly meets Guy who is Susan’s friend and DJ at the campus radio station. Other main players are Emma (Daniel and Susan’s daughter), her drug dealer boyfriend Jesus, Judy Peterson (arrives to interview for the open position of University President), Chief Washington (campus security and also wants the University President position), and a student named Chris who is obviously troubled and quite frustrating. The overall plot centers around the search for an appointment of the new OKU President, but along with this, Susan tells her life stories and shares her experiences in a hilarious, sometimes offensive, but very interesting way. Each character’s individual stories are intertwined in surprising ways, reminding me of the movie, Pulp Fiction. The plot isn’t like Pulp Fiction, but the way things keep coming full circle and how everyone is associated with everyone in some way.

I cannot imagine how I could discuss much more about the plot and the characters without ruining the excitement of you reading this yourself. There is non-stop action from page 1 and I do not want to include any spoilers in this review. However, Dan Klefstad’s character and plot development are amazing. He shares his characters with us more through actions and experiences, rather than description, and every character has multiple strengths and flaws. As I said before, there is a lot going on throughout this novel, but every sub-plot, side story, and so on perfectly fit and complete this novel. Susan is just constant trouble, always getting into something, Judy is the most masterful manipulator I’ve read about in my life and all of the other characters all have some personal, professional, or political agenda going on driving them to the things that they do.

Dan Klefstad’s style of writing results in a brilliant read, but one that you get wrapped up in and follow along with easily. The complex characters and genius plot made this an incredible read for me and I loved it from the beginning to end. I must say, however, although the premise of the novel is Susan writing and seeking publication of her memoirs, I’m not sure that part was even necessary regarding the overall novel. But I do see how it allows the frequent shifts between POV and time periods.

I know I haven’t alluded much to the summary of the plot, but again I don’t want to spoil anything for future readers. Just get your hands on this novel and get ready for a wonderful, crazy read!

*Thanks to Dan Klefstad for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!