Safely Gathered In

Sarah Schofield's debut collection Safely Gathered In explores the spaces that words often fail to reach and examines how objects can reflect the darkest manifestations of grief and disconnection. The stories feature characters who create taxidermy pets, wind-up birds, and children who process family secrets through their dolls house or imitate Margaret Thatcher after the death of their father. Schofield also pushes the boundaries of literary fiction into science-fiction, with an architect preserving her bactogarden in a time of extreme climate crisis and one man mistakenly creating an app to fix people's problems while they dream.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 04 November 2021
Publisher: Comma Press

A woman's frustration with her husband's incessant emails, offering advice and reminders even after his passing, reaches a boiling point. The taxidermist, haunted by the memory of a client who took him out for coffee, finds solace in preserving her memory through his art. A grieving nurse grapples with her daughter's fascination with The Iron Lady, a haunting reminder of the loss she has endured.

In Safely Gathered In, Sarah Schofield delves into the depths of human nature, exploring the spaces where words often fall short. Through a collection of captivating stories, she examines how objects, both man-made and natural, can mirror the darkest depths of grief and disconnection.

From a child who acts out a family betrayal in the safety of her dolls house to a sister who creates wind-up toys from the dead birds she finds on her doorstep, Schofield's debut collection ventures into the surreal and leaves us questioning the motivations behind our gathering habits.

The narrators in these stories venture into uncharted territories, encountering characters who resort to unconventional methods to cope with loneliness or loss. The taxidermist creates taxidermy pets to fill the void left by absence, while the sister uses wind-up birds to process the pain of loss. Children also find solace in their dolls house, using it as a platform to process family secrets or imitate figures like Margaret Thatcher after the loss of their father.

Schofield pushes the boundaries of literary fiction into science-fiction territory, with an architect preserving her bactogarden in a time of extreme climate crisis and a man mistakenly creating an app to fix people's problems while they dream. These imaginative narratives add depth and complexity to the collection, showcasing Schofield's unique voice and vision.

In Safely Gathered In, Sarah Schofield introduces a fresh and exciting voice to the realm of women's literary fiction. Her stories are powerful, touching, and thought-provoking, leaving a lasting impact on the reader. This debut collection is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the power of storytelling and the complexities of human emotions.

Weight: 224g
Dimension: 128 x 197 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912697335