selfried and the secrets: a novel

The screen is black, but only for a moment. As it comes to life, a beautiful woman of indeterminate age is staring back at you. She's ready for you to bear witness to her story. 



Unfreeze the image and follow the tale of Selfried and the many secrets that swirl around her and the cast of characters who have been pulled into her orbit:



The Influencer. The Guard. The Spouse. The Housekeeper. The Trainer. Everyone has a secret.



What will you learn from their stories, you ask? Everyone has a secret. Whether or not they reveal it is not always their call. What happens when others discover your secret? Will they keep it to themselves, or will they use it against you?

Once they know your secret, is it too late? As Benjamin Franklin said, "Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead." Would you prefer to get in front of the shitstorm by revealing secrets-yours or theirs-or keep it all hidden as long as possible?



And what about the broader implications of our secrets being exposed: Will our secrets be our undoing as a society? Are we being evaluated based on what we do, what we know, and how we respond?

Secrets built upon lies, built upon questions. What will Selfried do when her secrets are revealed? Will her seemingly innocent betrayal have farther-reaching repercussions that even she could foresee?



Let's meet Selfried: "My name is Linda Schlumpsky and I'm a social media influencer, but you've probably never heard of me. Well, at least as Linda Schlumpsky, you've never heard of me. That's because I buried that identity deeper than Jimmy Hoffa. I'm a small-town girl who was destined for a mid-level career in a third-rate city. Until I decided I wanted more in life... Now I'm Selfried. It's pronounced 'Self-reed,' or you can call me Selfi-tee-em-as I prefer to be called. And yes, I did trademark my nickname. It helps with marketing my brand-me. Companies clamber to work with me."

With each character introduced in their own short story, the reader is able to dive into the circumstances that brought these people together. Multiple twists at the end are guaranteed to shake up your perception of social media and its effect on the world and society as a whole.