Rob Nunn's Blog: Interesting Though Elementary, page 4

Interesting Interview: PJ Sullivan

So many of these Interesting Interviews are with people I've gotten to know over the years.  This one is a little different, as I know PJ Sullivan but not nearly as well as many of my other interview subjects.  But once you meet her, PJ sticks in your memory because she is so enthusiastic about this hobby of ours as well as being exceedingly outgoing and nice.

PJ has been to a few Sherlockian events over the past few years and is a regular part Zoom meetings.  She's the type of person who people naturally gravitate to; she just radiates positivity and friendliness.  I'm glad I reached out to her to be a part of the Interesting Interview series because she has so much to say!  And I'm blown away by the pictures of her 221B room!  So if you have or have not met PJ Sullivan yet, get ready to spend some time with someone who I predict will be around and have a positive impact on Sherlockian for years to come in this week's Interesting Interview!

How do you define the word “Sherlockian”?  

Sherlockian as a noun: anyone with an affection for The Canon and all that it has given rise to through the years, the studies and scholarship, the pastiche and homage; radio, film, television, and the ever-growing online realm; art and poetry; an affinity for the world so perfectly captured by Vincent Starrett where “it is always eighteen ninety-five.” As an adjective, though, Sherlockian, for me, is an intangible – a feeling, rather than a thing; a vibe (to mis-use current slang).  I look for that feeling when adding items to my own Baker Street: does it feel Sherlockian? An extra-canonical mystery novel, your hounds-tooth coat, a late-Victorian period film, any of these might strike me as having a Sherlockian feel, as evoking a memory – a note of familiarity harkening back to the Canonical Origin.

How did you become a Sherlockian?  

Unlike most Sherlockians I’ve met, I cannot – for the life of me – recall when I first started reading Sherlock Holmes. It’s just someone I’ve always known, like Mary Poppins or Robin Hood or George Washington, who could be visited again at any time.  Sometime in the early 2000’s, though, I re-read the entire Canon and it hit differently.  The sense of familiarity, of home-coming, enveloped me: that was the moment I began to immerse myself.  It began with a more focused acquisition of books, and then bits of décor, a deerstalker, and such.  In 2018, I decided to convert a room in my house to a small 221B Baker Street, and in researching that project online, I discovered – by way of Denny Dobry, Chuck Kovacic, and the museum at Meiringen – a vast community of like-minded folk that I had never imagined.  I found a notice for the Empire Conference at Bear Mountain (open to non-members!) and decided to give it a try.  That’s how it all began. And now I am a Cornish Horror, and I can’t tell you how much I enjoy telling people that.

What is your profession and does that affect how you enjoy being a Sherlockian?

“Commissionaire, sir. Uniform away for repairs.” Well, no: I work as an executive assistant, and have done for about 30 years, spending time in healthcare technology and a few other industries before making my home ten years ago in communications infrastructure with a company called American Tower.  We own and operate cell towers and data centers enabling connectivity and communication around the world.  I am assistant to the president of our U.S. operations.  I don’t meet many Sherlockians through work, but I’m surrounded by intelligent and curious people, many of whom are happy to listen to my Sherlockian stories and are entirely supportive of my forays into my new community.  It’s a treat to have my boss asking how I enjoyed my latest conference or scion meeting.

What is your favorite canonical story?  

Oooof.  "Black Peter," "The Devil’s Foot," and the first two chapters of A Study in Scarlet.  I’ll re-read those first two chapters time and again, just to absorb that first meeting and the earliest stage of acquaintanceship.  I love everything about those chapters, they always seem fresh to me, and I have yet to tire of them. They are my most frequent bedtime story, and something to occupy me during lunch on a Sunday afternoon. I have a cross-stitch sampler hanging in my Baker Street that reads, “You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive.” I may have the first few paragraphs engraved on my tombstone.

Who is a specific Sherlockian that you think others would find interesting? 

What has impressed me about the Sherlockians I’ve met, even more than their collective knowledge, is their willingness to share their stories. Hearing the tales they have to tell, the memories they are keeping alive, has been an incredible joy to me.  To chose one?  Impossible. May I give you three?  

Walter Colby, BSI: On every occasion I have encountered Walter, he has had an interesting story or amusing anecdote, and he is always willing to share.  

Burt Wolder, BSI, who knows something (and likely a lot of something) about everything (really, everything), is a treat to talk with. 

2-for-1 special: Linda Hein and Beth Barnard: the conversation we had in January about Baker Street West was one of the best of my time at the 2024 Birthday Weekend.

What subset of Sherlockiana really interests you?

I do have a particular interest in the relationship between Holmes and Watson.  I enjoy watching their friendship evolve through the years. Sometimes, I’ll go through the Canon reading only the openings and closings of each story, the parts where we find our heroes at home, just being in each other’s company. Absent the actual adventures, this gives a simple streamlined view of their progress through life together that I find endlessly interesting and entertaining.  

But I think for my own microcosm of Sherlockiana, the primary feature of interest is the 221B room that I have made in my house. I refer to it as my Baker Street, and though small, it’s a project I enjoy tremendously.  I’ll sit in the basket chair for hours leafing through books or have a glass of wine in Sherlock’s chair by the fireplace.  I’m always looking for new things to add. I recently acquired a copy of the secret naval treaty (originally scribed by Paul Churchill, BSI), which thrills me to no end. I have a lovely harpoon resting in one corner.  It’s a project – or hobby, rather – that will carry me for years to come, with no timeline, deadline, or endpoint; I can wander in and out as I like. There will always be something new to add and something to rearrange, and it will always have that Sherlockian atmosphere just waiting to blanket me.

What is Sherlockian life like in the upper part of New England?  

It’s quiet.  I join society virtual meetings when I can – which is not nearly as often as I’d like, and I travel to New York each January (I’ve done two Birthday weekends now).  I visit Rhode Island annually for the Cornish Horrors, and Connecticut for The Men on the Tor when I can. The Speckled Band very kindly invited me to their dinner this year (the presentations were excellent!). I am looking forward to expanding my adventures to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and other cities as time goes on. 

Last year, I made the pilgrimage to Pennsylvania to spend a blissful day in Denny Dobry’s incredible recreation of the large airy sitting-room.  Denny was the most patient and accommodating of hosts, and I remain in equal parts awe-struck by the space and grateful for the chance to experience it.

How did you become the Editor of Scionical and Societal Reports for The Baker Street Almanac and what have you learned since you've taken on that role?

I’m actually a little vague on the details of how this came about.  I had been emailing Ross Davies to acquire a few extra copies of the BSA, and he asked if I might be interested in “pitching in” (I was).  A few months later, we were on a video call, and he asked if I’d like to assume the role that Monica Schmidt had decided to resign, shepherding reports for Canada and the United States.  I leapt at the opportunity, and it’s been terrific.  

I’ve become much better acquainted with a broader group of Sherlockians.  I’ve enjoyed seeing how various societies are similar, and how they differ, and I love seeing the places they overlap and interconnect; it’s like a vast web spinning out from the Canonical center.  If anyone is not currently reading the annual scionical and societal reports in the BSA, I urge you to do so: the world is in there.  

The most important thing I’ve discovered through working on the Almanac is how incredibly rewarding it feels to have a way to contribute to the Sherlockian world, to be “doing my part.” Working on the Almanac gives me a small way to give back to the community that has been so welcoming and generous to me, and I am indescribably grateful for that.

What book would you recommend to other Sherlockians? 

Oh, golly; where to begin? Do you want to know more about Sherlock? William S. Baring-Gould’s The Annotated Sherlock Holmes, and Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street.  Looking for pastiche? The Seven Per-Cent Solution by Nicholas Meyer, naturally, but also Lyndsay Faye’s The Whole Art of Detection. A short story you might have missed? “The Doctor’s Case” by Stephen King.  

Looking to expand beyond Watson and Holmes?  Pick up any one of the Golden Age anthologies edited by Otto Penzler. Want to try the Canon as an audio book?  Stephen Fry’s recording is by far my favorite version, and I can’t think of a better way to spend a long drive, or an afternoon of chores, or long winter nights.

Where do you see Sherlockiana in 5 or 10 years from now?

Remember that vast web of societies I mentioned?  I imagine that network ever-expanding, spinning out to join new Sherlockians into societies, new societies into the larger community.  And if you’ll forgive my mixing of metaphors: imagine a kaleidoscope with every colored bit of Sherlockiana tumbling always into the others, creating endless new pretty pictures of scholarship, imagination, and comradery. 

Interesting Interview: Rusty Mason

I have to apologize right up front.  I thought I had interviewed Rusty Mason before now.  A good Sherlockian friend of mine, I was horrified when I realized I never had him be a part of this interview series!  

Many people know Rusty as Steve Mason's son.  To paraphrase The West Wing, he's "the guy the guy counts on."  Overhauling and upkeeping massive websites for The Crew of the Barque Lone Star and The Beacon Society as well as drawing over 500 episodes of Baker Street Elementary should put him on anyone's radar.  But Rusty is a guy that's definitely worth getting to know on his own as well.  Beer connoisseur, fan of every sports team in the Lone Star state, 221B Con supporter, my Broadway show companion, and a dude that knows a lot about Sherlock Holmes to boot, here is this week's Interesting Interview: Rusty Mason!

How do you define the word “Sherlockian”?

I don't think there is a benchmark for a Sherlockian, so for me it is hard to define. I think it is up to the individual person to determine if they are a Sherlockian or not. That being said, I do believe there are two types of Sherlockians: those who have discovered other Sherlockians and those that have not. 

How did you become a Sherlockian?

Like most people, I read a story or two when I was in school, but I was not hooked then. I started to get serious through my dad, Steve Mason, over a decade ago. He asked me to revise our local society website and help with the art for a little webcomic. From there it just took off.

What is your profession and does that affect how you enjoy being a Sherlockian?

I do information management work as a contractor for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. We work on Superfund record management and FOIA. My work does not affect me being a Sherlockian, other that giving me enough time off to travel across the country to Sherlockian events held throughout the year.

What is your favorite canonical story?

I would have to go with the “Five Orange Pips." The fact that our local society, The Barque Lone Star, gets it's name from the story give it a little personal touch. 

Who is a specific Sherlockian that you think others would find interesting?

That is a hard question to answer since I find most Sherlockians interesting. Peter Blau, Brad Keefauver, and Burt Wolder are few that I could spend hours just listening to. If I had to pick one though, I would pick Don Hobbs. I am always amazed at his knowledge and ability to command any room full of Sherlockians. 

What subset of Sherlockiana really interests you?

I have always loved the adaptations of Sherlock Holmes. From the TV shows, movies, comics, and art, I just can't get enough of it. Growing up in the 80s and 90s, it seemed every cartoon that I watched as a kid had an episode related to the great detective. I am intrigued to see how established shows portray Holmes in the series, either the main characters dressing as him or have Sherlock show up in the episode.

How is your experience in Sherlockiana affected by being the son of another Sherlockian?

It's an adventure. He is the one that fully brought me into the world of Sherlock Holmes and a lot of things I have done have been because of him. From reworking our society's and the Beacon Society's websites to illustrating a webcomic for almost a decade, most everything I have done started as an idea from him. 

One of the things that I enjoy being the spawn of a Sherlockian is going to event across the country with him. For those that might not know, my dad hates to fly, so we drive to every Sherlockian event from Texas. Yes, that includes all the way to New York every year. We do make an event of most of the drive we take; going to sporting events or visiting other Sherlockians along the route.

At the Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY
What are some Sherlockian anime that people should know about?

The first Sherlockian anime that I will always recommend is Sherlock Hound (1984-1985). It is a wonderful show that is based in a steampunk technology society with anthropomorphic dogs as the characters. The show is geared towards children, but I still find it quite enjoyable as an adult. The episodes are available on YouTube.

The second one I would recommend is Moriarty the Patriot (2020-2021), which is a different twist on a Sherlockian show since it follows the rise of Moriarty. Moriarty encounters Holmes in the series and a battle of wits between the two is an underlying plot point throughout the show. I enjoy the development of Moriarty's crew (Sebastian Moran/Fred Porlock) that one does not get there other media sources.

The final anime I would recommend is Sherlock Holmes and the Great Escape (2019). This is an animated film based off a children's book series from Hong Kong. The film follows Sherlock after he caught and sent a Robin Hood-like outlaw to prison. After the outlaw escapes, his daughter gets kidnapped and needs the help of Holmes to help find his daughter.

What book would you recommend to other Sherlockians?

Well, since I love adaptations/crossovers of the great detective, I will pick one of those. My all time favorite is the a crossover with the Marvel anti-hero Deadpool in the comic series titled Deadpool Killustrated (2013). The basic plot is that Deadpool teams up with Frankenstein's monster on a quest to kill off all literary characters. Sherlock Holmes discovers about the killings and creates his own team to go after Deadpool through different literary worlds. The climatic fight with Deadpool and Sherlock on H.G. Wells's time machine will always be one of my top battles.

Where do you see Sherlockiana in 5 or 10 years from now?

That might be one of the most difficult questions to answer. Look just at our own society, the past 5 years have changed so much. Five years ago, we held in person meetings once a month that had about 20-25 people on average attend. Today, we are almost fully online, other than the quarterly in person dinner. We have about tripled the amount of people coming to the current meetings from 5 years ago. The ability to have so many wonderful people helping out in the meetings and the opportunity to have guest speakers from across world is something that we could only dream of 5 years ago.

With the growth and use of technology over the past few years with Zoom and even Facebook, I can only say that the Sherlockian world will grow and thrive with the ability to reach out and communicate with other much easier that before. 

In the Town of Atlanta [YELL]

221B Con has been going on for over a decade now, but this past weekend was the first time I actually went.  I've heard all kinds of stories about the event, ranging from it being transcendent to it being not for a traditional Sherlockian.  Let me tell you, that no opinion I've heard over the years could adequately describe the event; it really is something that needs to be experienced.  (And of course, here I am trying to describe it to others, knowing full well that my words won't be enough to convey the atmosphere to anyone who hasn't been there.) 

(But before I get into it, I want to preface by saying that for lack of better terms, I will use "fandom" and "traditional Sherlockians" throughout.  I don't want to write a whole treatise about the different gradients in Sherlockiana so please forgive me for delineating all of us into such basic terms.)

221B Con always seemed like something that a lot of people enjoyed but it wasn't going to be my cup of tea.  A thousand people at the first event?  Cosplay and burlesque?  Fanart and shipping?  While this sounds like I was being snobby about it all, quite frankly I was anxious about going.  I worried that I would be too boring and old school for the new group of Sherlockians.  But Crystal Noll and Heather Holloway head the con, with Rusty Mason, Chris Zordan, and a team of other folks involved.  I love these four and finally decided that if they can be so involved with such an event, it was time for me to check it out.  

So off to Atlanta I went.  I even signed up to be on a panel, Education and Fan Creation, on Friday night.  When I got to the hotel, I only saw a few folks that I knew.  Many were still in transit, in their hotel rooms, or at Waffle House.  So I hung out with the few people I knew and time ticked by as I watched Sherlockians in their 20s and younger reconnecting with friends.  I had a pizza that wasn't great and we all waited for registration to open and the panels to start.

My panel was at 6 that evening, and it was... not wildly popular.  We were in the largest room and less than 10 people were in attendance.  But the other panelist, Sara, was a pro at cons and the two of us had a delightful conversation with the few people there about Sherlock Holmes and how we engaged our fifth- and seventh-grade students in literature from centuries past.  Sitting through the panel with Sara did a lot to soothe my anxieties about the con.

After my panel ended, I was free to enjoy everything else.  The thing about a convention, I learned, is that there are a bunch of things to choose from.  Sometimes you can't get to everything you want.  And sometimes there isn't anything that interests you.  In the first instance you do your best to see what you can, and in the second you hang out with folks in the lobby or sneak off to your room for a nap.

Brad Keefauver always has write-ups about the con, and you can get a feel for the frantic pace of the weekend by reading his post from this year.  I will say, my outside-looking-in view of the con has always been that it was a bunch panels of other fandoms, with a little Sherlock Holmes in there for us traditionalists.  I had that backwards.  Sherlockian programming is the backbone of this convention, and other things like Our Flag Means Death, anime, and other topics do have a place in the weekend, but are not the focus of 221B Con.

221B Con goers do love their media adaptations, though.  I don't know if I went to a single panel this weekend where the influence of movies, tv, radio, and podcasts weren't present.  And in retrospect, that makes sense.  The typical Sherlockian nowadays, no matter what age, is going to have been influenced by media interpretations.  Some of us may say, "I haven't enjoyed an adaptation since the Rathbone movies or the Brett series."  Guess what, there's a Brett vs Rathbone panel!  Of course, 221B Con came about because of the BBC's Sherlock series, but everyone there acknowledges that that series was a decade ago.  In fact, I don't think there was even a panel about BBC Sherlock this year.

Speaking of panels, some of my highlights from the ones I attended were:

Marilyn McKay telling us that 10% of the population had syphilis during the time of the Canon.  She then told us to think about who from the stories would've been suffering from that during the stories.

The Researching the World of Sherlock Holmes going deep into the nerdiness of rabbit holes during the research process.
The detailed slideshow that took us through the Mycrofts Through the Ages panel.
The cheer that when up when Toby was mentioned at The Great Mouse Detective panel.

Participants at the Sherlock & Co. panel patiently walking an older Sherlockian through what Discord is.
Scarfing down a delicious brisket sandwich from the food truck while Atlanta Radio Theatre Company put on a Jeeves and Wooster play.

The Why Do We Always Return to Sherlock Holmes panel ending in a group hug because everyone agreed that the stories brought us in the door but Sherlockians were why we kept coming back.

At the end of the ASH, BSI, and Other Sherlockian Orgs panel about scion societies, there was a line of people to sign up to be on mailing lists for scions that met via Zoom.

But there's more to 221B Con than just the panels.  The vendor's room was huge and as much a place to hang out as to purchase things.  While I'm on a self-imposed book buying hiatus, I couldn't pass up finally getting Major Holmes and Captain Watson .  I got to see the writer, Jeff Rider, on a few panels and really enjoyed the energy and knowledge he brought to everything.

And there's the planned socialization.  Friday night's big event was karaoke.  I chose to sit that one out and hung out in the bar with some folks.  But Saturday night was a dance party.  I got caught up in the spirit and somehow ended up dressed like Cameron Frye from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.  We hung out in the dance party for a little bit, but eventually ended up in the next room, relaxing on inflatables and drinking with just a handful of other folks.

And here's where the multi-fandom of this event really hit home for me.  At a Sherlockian event, I ended up having an in-depth discussion about The Muppets with someone I'd never met before, and we went DEEP with conversation.  See?  Just like at a traditional Sherlockian event, you start with Sherlock Holmes and build your connections from there.  Plus, they had a full-size TARDIS in that room!

Of course, just like any event, there are great times spent with friends and fellow Sherlockians.  Between dinner at the hotel that got better than that first pizza I tried (friend green tomatoes and a whiskey drink go pretty well together), and numerous trips to Waffle House, you are sure to spend time with people you like hanging out with.

221B Con: Not just a place for young Sherlockians
Were there things I didn't understand or didn't care for?  Sure.  But you know what, that's true for traditional Sherlockian events as well.  

Some of the fandom has strong opinions on Johnlock or other romantic pairings.  Some traditional Sherlockians have an Irene Adler adulation.  Whether people want to admit it or not, a romantic connection with Irene Adler and singing "We Never Mention Aunt Clara" is the same thing as shipping and fan fiction.  

Cosplay may seem strange to older Sherlockians.  It's the same thing as wearing a deerstalker or dressing in Victorian garb at other events.

But what about fanfic and all of the terms that outsiders don't understand?  It's fandom's version of terms that have become second nature to traditional Sherlockians like pastiche, Canon, and literary agent.

It was announced that next year will be the final year of 221B Con.  My only regret from this event is that I didn't get down to Atlanta sooner.  Because this event is full of energetic and intelligent Sherlockians.  And I can only hope fandom and traditional Sherlockians find more places to interact.  Because both sides of this hobby can benefit from the other.  

Interesting Interview: Ann Andriacco

This week's Interesting Interview is with the fabulous Ann Andriacco!  You've probably seen her at a million events, whether it's behind a vendor's table with her amazing creations, overseeing the Gaslight Gala during the January Birthday Weekend, or a million places in-between.  No matter where you see her, you can guarantee she's enjoying herself and if you're lucky to spend some time with her, your day will always be better!
Ann is a stalwart within The Beacon Society, now overseeing two large competitions each year.  She is married to the editor of The Baker Street Journal , Dan Andriacco, and it's plain to see that they both enjoy Sherlockian events, but enjoy each other's company even more!  Ann is a smart and friendly person to be around, and if you're one of the few folks out there who don't recognize this face, get ready to get to know one of the warmest people in our hobby!

How do you define the word “Sherlockian”?

I would define “Sherlockian” as someone who walks in the footsteps ofSherlock Holmes and inhabits his world.

How did you become a Sherlockian?

I read Sherlock Holmes in 9th grade English class and my momwas a big fan of the Basil Rathbone movies. I would often sit and watch themwith her late at night.

Then in high school I met a guy who was immersed in Sherlock Holmes namedDan Andriacco. (It was a blind date arranged by my brother.)

What is your profession (or previous if you are retired) and doesthat affect how you enjoy being a Sherlockian?

I have had several professions in life. I believe I enjoyed using thestories the most in teaching science to 7th graders. I am big onprocess skills and often had activities which used Observation vs. Inference.My students had to collect data, analyze what they were doing, etc. Once, muchto the principal’s chagrin, I had a crime scene set up in my classroom withyellow tape, an outline of the victim on the floor, and clues scattered about. (Iwas not aware that my room was used for the Education Commissionmeetings. It apparently was quite a lively discussion that took place thatnight.) The students processed the scene, collected items, did fiber burntests, checked fingerprints, interviewed people, analyzed statements, andfinally had to conclude what happened with their team. They were so involved (andcame up with two different ideas) that we then had a trial to see if they coulddecide if there had been a murder and who the perpetrator was.

What is your favorite canonical story?

I think The Hound of the Baskervilles. It is creepy, gothic, anddraws the reader in to the story. I say this after having visited Dartmoor and seenthe area in person. I do feel sorry for the Hound, though.

Who is a specific Sherlockian that you think others would findinteresting?

I would pick Glenn Miranker. At the “Sherlock Holmes in 221 Objects”exhibit in Bloomington he chose one object out of his collection and dove intowhere it came from, who owned it, how he tried to find out about it, etc. Itall began with a stamp on the front cover and took him down a fascinatingrabbit hole.

What subset of Sherlockiana really interests you?

Since I am an artist, I like the foggy streets, the atmosphere, thecharacters, and the period.

How does being married to another Sherlockian enhance your experience in this hobby?

We look at the stories and process them differently. Dan, being a writer,has a different mindset from mine. So, it is good to hear a different point ofview. Plus, I don’t ever have to buy a book or go someplace to look somethingup! The answer is generally in our house some place. He does have a FEW books.I personally like Sherlock Holmes objects. For Christmas a few years ago, Ibought him a miniature Persian slipper which then needed a fireplace, whichthen needed a wall which had to be wallpapered. Before I knew it, he had a miniaturereplica of 221B down to the bearskin rug and newspapers of the periodscattered around. 

You've been head of The Beacon Society's Awards Committee for a fewyears.  What are some highlights from your tenure in this position?

I spent all my “careers” working with children and challenging them insome way.  I have been involved withwriting contests in the past. It seemed a natural transition to take over theAwards Committee. We oversee the R. Joel Senter Writing Contest and recentlyadded the Nancy Springer Pastiche Writing Contest as two of our projects. 

JoelSenter was my professor for a class at the University of Cincinnati when I was19. We then met Joel and his wife Carolyn in the Sherlock Holmes world and awonderful friendship began. It seemed right for me to help carry on his nameand introduce others to his love of Sherlock Holmes stories.  (I was a Fine Arts major and Dr. Sentertaught Psychology. It wasn’t in my field but sounded like an interesting class.When I did Statistics with another professor—also not in my major area—we usedthe book he had written for our class. I asked him to autograph my copy. He wasshocked that I still had it!)

What book would you recommend to other Sherlockians?

I would choose the Canon itself. I enjoy the stories themselves. Find anarea you really enjoy, whether it is analysis, chronology, pastiches, etc. ButI can put a plug in for a writer I know named Dan Andriacco….and he did nottell me to say that. I am his last reader before publication, and I do enjoyhis stories.

Where do you see Sherlockiana in 5 or 10 years from now?

I see younger Sherlockians coming in and falling in love with the storiesnow, and I see that continuing if we promote the world of Sherlock Holmes. Andof course, It is always 1895.

Interesting Interview: Edith Pounden

This week we are getting to know Edith Pounden!  If you've been on a Zoom meeting in the past four years, you probably recognize the face because Edith is one of the most far-reaching meeting attendees.  In fact, her love of Sherlockian meetings led her to become one of the founding members of The Legion of Zoom scion society.  Since its formation, Edith has taken on the role of coordinating the group's annual conference.

But she isn't content with Arthur Conan Doyle's 60 Sherlockian tales.  Edith is also an active member of The ACD Society and is quick to point out that her home scion, The Bimetallic Question, routinely spends time discussing the life and work of Arthur Conan Doyle.  And she know her stuff both in and out of the Canon!  Every time I've seen Edith speak up, you can count on people nodding their heads in agreement with her or watching the wheels turn as she gets folks to look at a topic from a new point of view.  So let's spend some time with her outside of the Zoom meetings in this week's Interesting Interview! 

How do you define the word “Sherlockian”?

To me, a Sherlockian is someone who has aspecial fascination with Sherlock Holmes. I don’t think there’s a particularrequirement for this, but it’s hard for me to imagine being deeply intoSherlock Holmes without eventually wanting to dive into the original stories.

How did you become a Sherlockian?

There are so many waypoints for this. I grewup with the Rathbone/Bruce films, and my sister lent me her Doubleday Book Club2-volume edition of the canon when I was still a kid (then made me return it,worse luck). So, I’d read many of the short stories before seeing the Granadaseries, and remember thinking at the time that Jeremy Brett was no Rathbone. I thinkreading Nicholas Meyer’s The Seven-Per-Cent Solution was what made me careabout what might be happening behind the page in the original stories. I was ateen in the 80s, so I found Doyle again through the stacks of New Age books inmy high school library. In one of these, there was a paragraph about Sherlockiansand the Great Game, and I remember thinking that I’d arrived too late to play,because surely everything must have been figured out by that time. (Reader, ithad not.)

I didn’t really pick up Sherlock Holmes againto read until my first hiking trip to New Hampshire with friends in the early 2000s.I found myself out of my depth, and rather than continue over Mt Washington asplanned, I returned to our starting point (which was overbooked) and hid out inthe library, where I picked out the now familiar cream-covered Oxford The Adventuresof Sherlock Holmes to read overnight (Steve Mason, if you are reading this,my chapter in Holmes and Me would have been called “A Study in Pinkham”for this reason, had I written it). I liked this edition so much that I soontracked down my own copy, as well as its mates, and finally read all 60 stories,along with the insightful annotations in that series. But I only startedactively playing the Game after watching the BBC series Sherlock, whichI think is criminally underrated.

What is your favorite canonical story?

My usual answer to this question is that Idon’t have one, but just for you, I’ll name “The Dying Detective,” because I’vebeen spending a lot of time with it lately. I will say that there is not asingle canon story that I would downrate; each of them offers pieces of thepuzzle.

Who is a specific Sherlockian that you think others would find interesting?

I will name fellow Bimetallic Question memberKristin Franseen, who is a musicologist and has a particular interest in a much-malignedprofessor of mathematics. She is full of good insights on the canon and, if Irecall correctly, was the original instigator of the “All of Doyle” BimetallicQuestion discussion group.

What subset of Sherlockiana really interests you?

Writings about the writings. I’ve been both abookseller and an academic, and I enjoy tracing ideas through publications.Cross-border shipping is lethal these days, so lately I’ve had to stopacquiring and focus on reading what I’ve got. I am also doing some writing ofmy own, which should shape itself into a book before too long.

Your interest in Arthur Conan Doyle iswell-known.  What would you say to Sherlockians to convince them to spendmore time with Doyle outside of the Sherlockian Canon?

I would say that Doyle’s non-Sherlockianwriting strongly complements his Sherlockian writing. The characters and tropesthat draw people to the canon also appear in these other stories, although thegenres may shift. I would turn to these stories before pastiche to satisfy theneed for more than sixty Holmes and Watson adventures.

As an officer of the Legion of Zoom, whatare some highlights you've experienced from this digital age of Sherlockiana?

Sherlockian Zoom meetings during the pandemicintroduced me to a much wider community of Sherlockians than I had previouslybeen acquainted with. I was suddenly in contact with people I had known onlythrough their writing, and I feel fortunate to call many of these people myfriends now. And being involved in the founding of the Legion of Zoom andorganizing its annual conference has been an absolute blast. I’m glad thatseveral societies have maintained an online presence so that those of us whocan’t travel may participate in meetings held by a variety of Sherlockiangroups. Each has its own distinct character, and offers different perspectiveson the canon.

What book would you recommend to otherSherlockians?

One book—you are killing me here. I have greataffection for The Case Files of Sherlock Holmes, which was a series edited byChristopher and Barbara Roden in the 1990s. These books are a delight to read bothfor their ideas and high production quality. Sadly, only four were produced, on“The Blue Carbuncle”, “The Speckled Band”, “The Musgrave Ritual”, and “TheDying Detective”. More recently, I’ve been enjoying Trevor Hall’s books(currently reading Sherlock Holmes and His Creator).

Where do you see Sherlockiana in 5 or 10 yearsfrom now?

Five to ten years is not so long; I thinkthings will be more or less the way they are now, with BSI-type societiesmeeting either in person or online (or both), and a parallel social media-basedSherlockian community, each offering different perspectives on the canon. Thereis already some traffic between these communities; I’m sure that will continue.

All That a Good Friend Could [DYIN]

We all think of Doctor Watson as Holmes’s reliable companion, but do we really appreciate what a good friend Watson was to Sherlock Holmes?  In the very first paragraph of “The Dying Detective,” he describes Holmes as a tenant:

“His incredible untidiness, his addiction to music at strange hours, his occasional revolver practice within doors, his weird and often malodorous scientific experiments, and the atmosphere of violence and danger which hung around him made him the very worst tenant in London.”

While the landlady was at least getting princely payments for the rooms that Holmes so greatly abused, Watson did not; in fact he was PAYING to share rooms with such a man.  And even though “The Dying Detective” takes place after Watson has moved out, we know that these two men roomed together for years.  It really shows how deep their friendship had become since A Study in Scarlet for Watson to room with such a man.

The crux of this story is that Holmes is desperately ill and Watson rushes to Baker Street.  You can hear his heart breaking as he describes his friend’s condition to the reader:

“It was that gaunt, wasted face staring at me from the bed which sent a chill to my heart.”

Even as Holmes is exceedingly mean to Watson throughout this tale, Watson’s loyalty and friendship shine through.  Watson lays clear to us what respect he has for Holmes in these pages, and we can see him wrestle with the situation.  

Holmes “bitterly hurt[s]” Watson by criticizing his qualifications as a doctor, he forces Watson to keep his distance, even though Holmes is in desperate need of medical attention, and then Holmes locks them in a room together preventing Watson from retrieving even another doctor!  

And the nonsense that Watson puts up with while locked in that room?  Holmes lets out a dreadful cry that makes his friend’s skin go cold and his hair bristle.  He has to listen to Holmes raving about oysters and how Watson should displace the coins in his pocket.  John Watson is a more patient man than I.

But once Holmes releases him to bring in a specialist, Watson promises to bring the man, even if he has to carry him to the cab.  Of course, Holmes convinces Watson to go along with a plan that isn’t explained and Watson’s loyalty shows through again.  He delivers a message to this strange “specialist,” pushing though ceremony to talk to him as he pictures Holmes lying sick and dying.  After convincing Culverton Smith, Watson rushes back to Baker Street alone, and then HIDES!

Would any of us here hide behind someone’s headboard in this situation?  Think of the contortion that would have been required to do so.  And this wasn’t just for a minute or two, Watson had to sit there and listen to Culverton Smith gloat of how he was killing his best friend.  Not only did Watson have to endure that conversation, but he then had to stay hidden as Smith sat and waited for Holmes to die.  Watson said it was all he could do to hold himself quiet in his hiding place.  This is true friendship, indeed.

(And a quick side note before we raise our glasses to the friendship of John Watson.  If Sherlock Holmes had not left his sick room for three days, would he have been able to use a water closet if the Baker Street rooms even had one?  Probably not to keep up appearances, which means a bedpan would have most likely been down by Watson this whole time.)

So let’s all take a deep breath of fresh air and appreciate the loyalty that Doctor Watson showed to his friend Sherlock Holmes.  I stink think we can all agree that he was the best friend that Holmes could have asked for. 

Interesting Interview: Ray Riethmeier

December of 2023 was supposed to be the end of the Interesting Interview series.  I had hit the 100 mark and thought that would be a good place to wrap things up.  But then I got to sit with Ray and Becky Riethmeier at the BSI Luncheon in January, and they expressed their disappointment when I told them that I was hanging it up.  In fact, Ray is SO nice, that I couldn't tell him no when he asked me to continue the series.  (And if you've ever met Ray, you probably can't imagine saying no to such a great guy, either!)

Well, if I was going to keep these interviews chugging along, it seemed only natural that Ray become part of this series.  And let me tell you a little bit about him.  He is unfailingly likeable, which makes him a perfect fit for the Norwegian Explorers, a group that exudes a welcoming vibe like no other I've ever seen.  And have you seen the publications they put out?  You can thank Ray for a lot of that.  Every year, Ray has been part of the machinery that publishes their lovely annuals, and he is also one of the editors of the books that come out at every triennial conference. (Side note: the next one is coming up sooner than you think!)  I've personally never submitted anything to the Norwegian Explorers' annual, but after this interview I plan to just submit something so I can work with Ray!

How do you define the word “Sherlockian”?

A Sherlockian is somebody who has more than just a passing interest in Sherlock Holmes.  A Sherlockian is someone who is a fan of the characters and has integrated some part of the lore into their lives in a meaningful way.  It doesn’t have to be someone who has read the entire Canon numerous times (or even once), nor someone who can win the various trivia quizzes that so many of us fail miserably.  You can take it very seriously, or you can be in it for the fun, and either approach is valid.

How did you become a Sherlockian?

I often want to defend the more casual fans, because you can start anywhere and find yourself drawn into the Canon.  For instance, my Sherlockian story began in 1986 when I encountered the first issue of “The Cases of Sherlock Holmes” from Renegade Press at my local comic shop.  The painted cover attracted my attention, as I was always looking for something new and different.  These weren’t comic book adaptations of the canon; they were Doyle’s original stories copiously illustrated in moody black-and-white by Dan Day, and I immediately fell in love with the authentic Sherlock Holmes stories.  I had, of course, been familiar with Holmes from all the pop-culture references that make him nearly ubiquitous in society, and I had seen a few of the Rathbone films on TV, but once you actually read the original stories by Doyle, I don’t see how anyone can escape their allure.  There was no going back for me after that.

What is your profession and does that affect how you enjoy being a Sherlockian?

I am an attorney who works as an editor of law books, which I’ve done for almost 30 years now (schooled in Indiana, admitted to practice in New York, employed in Minnesota, where I work on Alabama laws).  On the side, I also edit, copyedit, and/or proofread fiction for a variety of publishers, mostly in the pulp fiction community.  As a result, I like to describe myself as “a nitpicker for fun and profit.”  I’m not sure why it took me so long to apply my editorial skills to Sherlock Holmes, but it’s been only the last few years in which I’ve started to work on Sherlockian titles, and I’ve been pleased to put together several anthologies for Belanger Books, including my most recent, The Consultations of Sherlock Holmes, which was released last summer.  I love being able to contribute to Sherlockiana in this way, and I hope that the books I help bring into the world are enjoyed by others.

What is your favorite canonical story?

That’s easy for me: I like “The Adventure of the Dancing Men” best.  It was the second story presented in Dan Day’s illustrated comic series, and so it was an early favorite of mine that has stuck with me ever since.  It also has what I think is the best “cozy” intro in the whole Canon, with Holmes making the “absurdly simply” deduction that Watson was not going to invest in South African securities.  Holmes didn’t really shine his best in the rest of the story, but I think that helped me appreciate him as less than the super-human thinking machine that we often expect him to be.  Holmes can be fallible, and I think that makes him even more appealing.

Who is a specific Sherlockian that you think others would find interesting?

My best friend in the Sherlock Holmes community is Tim Reich, a member of the Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota, my local scion society.  When I moved to Minnesota and discovered the group, Tim was one of the first people who really welcomed me, and his camaraderie helped me feel that I belonged there.  Over the years, we’ve collaborated on a number of projects together, including co-editing the Explorers’ Christmas Annual (which I now co-edit with Phil Bergem, another dear Sherlockian friend).  Tim was the one who convinced me to make my first pilgrimage to New York City for the BSI weekend in January 2018, and our long-suffering wives joined us for that adventure.  He’s just a great guy with a lot of enthusiasm for the Canon, and it can be infectious.  We also share interests in classic rock music and obscure pulp fiction characters.  In addition to our mutual Sherlockian hobby, folks also might enjoy talking to Tim about baseball and beer!

What subset of Sherlockiana really interests you?

Pastiches.  As much as I adore the original stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle, I like finding new perspectives on the character provided by other writers, particularly in stories that put Holmes and Watson in situations other than those that Doyle did already (and usually did better).  I am particularly drawn to those pastiches that take Holmes out of his usual comfort zone, either in new settings around the world, or crossing over with figures from history or literature, or even investigating true-crime mysteries from the Victorian era.  So long as Holmes remains true to his character, I’ll be happy.  But if he becomes a villain, or if he travels through time, or if he starts accepting applications from ghosts, then I’m out.

You have co-edited The Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota Christmas Annual for quite a few years.  What do you look for in submissions each year?

The Christmas Annual is a great venue for members of the Norwegian Explorers to share their ideas with the rest of us.  I work with Phil Bergem, my co-editor, to come up with a theme for the Annual each year, and then we ask folks to submit whatever strikes their fancy.  We get a lot of great submissions every year, and I’m pleased to note that the Annual has gotten bigger every year that Phil and I have been doing it.  So long as the submissions are related to Sherlock Holmes in some way, they don’t even need to relate to the selected topic (but most of them do).  We tend to include everything submitted, which can make for quite a varied end product.  If the contributor is enthusiastic enough to share his or her creativity with us, then that’s usually sufficient to merit a place in the next Christmas Annual!

As someone who has edited more than a few Sherlockian story anthologies, what advice can you give to writers out there working on their own pastiche and fan fictions?

Oh, wow.  That is such a broad question.  I guess my advice is to remember that, although there are a number of different ways to sort the Canon into a coherent chronology, that doesn’t give writers license to place their stories in any random year and expect them to work.  Your editor should be able to help you with the details and remove any pesky anachronisms, but if you have Watson living at Baker Street when he should be married, or if clients profess to know all about Holmes from the stories in The Strand before any had been published there, or if Holmes is still in London when he should be busy keeping his bees, then we’re going to have to make some more substantial changes!  I do enjoy catching those details when I start going through submissions for the books I edit, and I hope that the writers aren’t put out too much when I suggest ways to fix things.  My job is to make the writers look better, and if it all goes well, then nobody will be able to tell that I was even there.  Oh, and please don’t have our heroes address each other as “John” and “Sherlock.”  (Leave that for the TV productions!)

What book would you recommend to other Sherlockians?

I spent the last year re-reading the Canon as I received “Letters From Watson” in my email courtesy of the Substack online platform.  After I reread each story, I decided to finish off with a dip into D. Martin Dakin’s A Sherlock Holmes Commentary to see what he had to say about each story.  I found it to be an extremely rewarding experience viewing the Canon through his eyes.  But to stay more on what seems to be the focus of this interview, the single best pastiche I’ve read in the last few years is One Must Tell the Bees: Abraham Lincoln and the Final Education of Sherlock Holmes, written by J.  Lawrence Matthews.  It takes a bold, alternative view of Holmes’s life story, but he never really contradicts anything Doyle wrote.  I look forward to whatever additional Holmes books Matthews gives us next!  He did contribute a related story to The Consultations of Sherlock Holmes, but I don’t want to get too cheeky by recommending one of my own books (unless I just did by mentioning it again).

Where do you see Sherlockiana in 5 or 10 years from now?

It’s certainly not dissipating, that’s for certain.  In 5 or 10 years, we’ll still be trying to figure out how many wives Watson had, where Holmes went to school, what Watson meant by mentioning his “bull pup,” and all your other favorite Canonical conundrums.  Nobody is ever going to have the single, definitive answer to any of these puzzles, and that might be what makes the Canon so enduring and endearing, that it contains such compelling additional mysteries that keep us thinking about the stories for so long.  That may have been Doyle’s true genius, leaving us with all of those unanswered questions that we could ponder long after he put down his pen.

Interesting Interview: Ann Margaret Lewis

Ann Margaret Lewis is one of those familiar faces that you just feel at home with when you see her at Sherlockian events.  I've seen her talk a few times and have always been impressed by the depth of what she knows, no matter the topic.  Some smart people can give off a vibe that makes them feel unapproachable, but that is definitely not the deal with Ann.  She's always surrounded by friends and is quick to talk with anyone in her vicinity.
As you'll see below, Ann has written plenty on Sherlock Holmes, both research-based and pastiche.  But she's also written for DC Comics, Star Wars, and a stand-alone space fantasy novel.  She's won the Independent Book Publisher’s Award, a Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval, and was a finalist for the Catholic Arts and Letters Award for 2010.  See?  I told you she was smart!  But I also said she gives off a welcoming vibe and that comes across very much in this week's Interesting Interview.  So let's get to know Ann Margaret Lewis! 

How do you define the word “Sherlockian”?
A Sherlockian (or Holmesian) is someone who loves Sherlock Holmes, and who participates in activities that celebrate him. 
How did you become a Sherlockian?
After reading all of my mother’s Agatha Christie books in high school, she suggested I read The Hound of the Baskervilles. I was hooked, and I ended up checking the Double Day Complete edition out of the library. I kept checking it out until my mother got me a copy for Christmas. Later in college I connected with The Greek Interpreters of East Lansing, and I was a Sherlockian for life.

What is your profession and does that affect how you enjoy being a Sherlockian?
My day job is working for the Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis at their newspaper The Criterion. However, I also write novels and I’m a classical singer. I earn money at all three, so I guess we can say they’re all my professions. I also taught high school English for 10 years, so you could count that as a former profession. 
What is your favorite canonical story?
I have several, but I’ve always been fond of “The Yellow Face.” It’s not that difficult of a mystery, but Holmes character development in that story is quite moving. He admits he made a mistake. It’s interesting when he does that because it shows his humility and growth. 

Who is a specific Sherlockian that you think others would find interesting?
Robert Sharfman of Chicago. He was just made a BSI this year (Killer Evans), and he truly deserves it. He has so many interesting stories, and even at his advanced age, he drives long distances to many scion meetings in the Midwest just because he loves his fellow Sherlockians. I only hope I am as interesting and have as much energy when I reach his age.
What subset of Sherlockiana really interests you?
It’s hard to pick one, but I really do like film and the portrayals of Holmes on screen. I guess I was influenced by my late dear friend Patricia Ward of the Illustrious Clients of Indianapolis who knew everything about every Holmes portrayal on screen. She taught me a great deal. 

Your book, Murder in the Vatican: The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes, collects three mysteries that Sherlock Holmes investigates connected to organized religion.  What drew you to connect the church and Sherlock Holmes?
I am a practicing Catholic (obviously…that’s where I work) and I founded of a scion for “Catholockians” called “The Vatican Cameos.” But what really connected the two concepts for me is that the pope of the time (Leo XIII) is mentioned twice in the canon. In fact, it looks like he is the only person to have hired Holmes twice – for the “sudden death of Cardinal Tosca” and the “missing Vatican cameos.” I figured since Watson pointed that out, I might as well take these untold tales and tell them. Besides, Pope Leo XIII was a really interesting man. In the book I imitate his voice (as translated into English) from his encyclicals along with that of Doyle. It was a challenge, and I really learned a great deal from that project.

As the Sherlockian who probably knows the most about the polyphonic motets of Lassus, can you explain to us lay people just what in the heck those are and why Sherlock Holmes would be writing about them?
Let me see if I can give you the short explanation:
First, all motets are polyphonic, so the term “polyphonic motets” is redundant. (Oopsie, Watson!) But a motet is a piece of religious Renaissance choral music meant for the Mass. The lyrics for the pieces are certain scriptural portions assigned to given days of the Church calendar. The music, as I said, is polyphonic, which means each voice has its own melody line, and those melody lines combine to create an extra-worldly sound. Orlando di Lasso (aka Lassus) was a Renaissance composer of renown during this time, and his harmonies are interesting and different from others of his period. In fact, some of his harmonic patterns were not seen again until the 20th century, which is why I think Holmes found his music compelling.
I wrote about this subject in more detail in two books:  Referring to My Notes by BSI Press and 70 Years by Gaslamp: The Illustrious Clients’ Sixth Casebook , so if people want more information on this, they can check those out.
What book would you recommend to other Sherlockians?
As crazy as it sounds, I think Sherlock Holmes for Dummies is a great book, not only because it’s written by my good friend Steven Doyle, BSI, or because it is an original scholarly work of great depth (it wasn’t meant to be) but because it helps the Sherlockian explain to non-Sherlockians what this Holmes thing is all about. It gives us a language to use to communicate our love for the Great Detective. It’s also a great resource for newbie Sherlockians. While it’s not still in print currently, it’s not hard to find used copies on Amazon. 

Where do you see Sherlockiana in 5 or 10 years from now?
I think we’ll have new film and TV series to follow, drifting into works based on pastiches (like Enola Holmes). I’m hoping we’ll have some really cool new adaptations of the original canonical stories, but I doubt that’ll happen. Hollywood seems more interested in their own stories rather than those of Doyle. 
Meanwhile, I think our scion groups will start to connect with each other more often and help each other grow. That seems to be happening now as a result of Zoom. Covid made us connect with each other, and suddenly Sherlockians of all different scions started to visit each other in person afterward. I believe that trend will continue because we’ve started to discover how cool all our fellow Sherlockians are. We’re such an interesting bunch. If you haven’t visited a scion from another town, I do recommend it. You meet great people and always have a good time. It’s like finding family wherever you go. 

Several Trustworthy Books of Reference [VALL]

At the BSI Weekend, Peter Eckrich and I debuted our new anthology, Canonical Cornerstones: Foundational Books of a Sherlockian Library , at the Wessex Press dealer's table.  And man, we were not prepared for the reception it received.  It was a whirlwind of signing books until we looked up and the stock of Canonical Cornerstones had completely sold out in less than 90 minutes!

So what made this book such a hot item at the BSI Weekend?  This anthology is a collection of 17 essays by different authors making arguments for 17 books that are important to any Sherlockian library.  And we all love reading about Sherlockian books!
Will you have some of these in your library already?  Hopefully.  
Will you have a different opinion on what 17 titles should make up this list?  Probably.  
Will you enjoy reading everyone's impassioned arguments for their particular title?  Absolutely!
But I'm going to let the table of contents speak for itself, because the contributors are the real selling point for this anthology.
Foreword - Michael DirdaIntroduction -  Peter Eckrich & Rob Nunn“Shall they not always live in Baker Street?”: Vincent Starrett’s The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes - Ray BetznerIn the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes by Michael Harrison - Catherine CookeThe Baker Street Journal - Peggy MacFarlaneLet Me Recommend This Book: Leslie S. Klinger’s The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes - Peter E. BlauD. Martin Dakin’s A Sherlock Holmes Commentary - Mike McSwigginA Pastiche That Plays the Game: Nicholas Meyer’s Seven-Per-Cent Solution - Anastasia KlimchynskayaDaniel Stashower’s Teller of Tales: The Life of Arthur Conan Doyle - Mark JonesBeyond the Canon: Apocrypha et Cetera - Ross E. Davies“Only For The Madmen”: Jack Tracy’s Encyclopedia Sherlockiana - Sonia Fetherston“Respectful, waggish, farcical” — The Misadventures of Sherlock Holmes by Ellery Queen - Timothy J. JohnsonHolmes and Watson: A Miscellany by S. C. Roberts - Roger JohnsonFrom Holmes to Sherlock by Mattias Bostrom - From Concept to Classic - Mark AlberstatSherlock Holmes for Dummies: Not Just for Dummies - Regina StinsonThe World Bibliography of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson by Ronald Burt De Waal - Ira Brad MatetskyThe Classic Doubleday Omnibus: A Bible All Awry - Russell MerrittAn Era in Profile: Edgar W. Smith's Profile by Gaslight - Dan AndriaccoWilliam Baring-Gould’s The Annotated Sherlock Holmes - Julie McKuras
You can see why I'm so excited about this book!  Since that morning in New York when it sold out so quickly, Peter and I have been receiving messages left and right from readers who are enjoying the different essays in this collection.  So, if the idea of this book interests you, head over to Wessex Press to grab a copy.  You'll be gad that you did!

The Events Occurred Which I am Now About To Summarise [ENGR]

Last weekend was the annual Sherlock Holmes Birthday Weekend in New York.  If you were anywhere on the Sherlockian internet, I'm sure you saw tons of pictures and posts from people who were there.  

It's always a pleasure to get to see so many friends in one place, and there are many people I honestly spent less than ten seconds with in the hubbub of everything, despite wanting to talk more with them.  This year's weekend had more events than previous ones, with the Gaslight Gala coming back from its Covid hiatus and things starting on Wednesday (or maybe Tuesday, I'm not really sure), so there's always something going on!

My time in New York was split between Sherlockian events, touristy stuff, and carving out time with friends.  I'll try to keep my rundown of the weekend as brief as a synopsis of four packed days can be.

I booked the earliest possible flight out of St. Louis on Thursday and landed in New York around 9am.  Even getting there that early, I was missing things!  As I arrived at the Westin hotel and 10:30, people were leaving for the Doylean honors horse race at The Mysterious Bookshop and The Christopher Morley Memorial Walk had already been going on for half an hour by then.  

I texted Rusty Mason when I hit town and he and his dad, Steve, were waiting for me to get settled in and we headed for lunch at McSorley's Old Ale House.  Jim Hawkins and Rich Krisciunas were with us as we got there and beat the crowd.  That back room really fills up when Sherlockians are in town!  

Once we realized it was time to give our seats up to folks who needed a place to sit, the five of us went to a dessert bar, The Spot.  Fantastic desserts, and even five midwestern and southern guys could appreciate New York takes on classic desserts (even if all of us were too old to recognize the TikTok celebrities that were photographed on the wall).

If you've never been to the weekend, one thing you need to know is that there is a ton of food.  My next stop was another meal, this one at an Italian restaurant with Rusty, Jim, and Cynthia and Bill Mason.  After that, Rusty and I were off to see Back to the Future: The Musical on Broadway.  Not Sherlockian, but definitely fun.

Every night of the weekend ends at Rosie Dunn's, with a revolving cast of people to spend time with.  One thing that hit me differently this year was how tired I was all of the time.  I had fun conversations with lots of folks on many different topics (The Simpsons, Dolly Parton, etc.), but it would be a lost cause for me to try to tell you which night things went down at the pub.  But trust me, if you're in New York for the Birthday Weekend, Rosie Dunn's should be on your itinerary.

A newer tradition at this weekend is folks who have been invested into the BSI getting together for breakfast with their classmates on Friday morning.  This was my class's second year gathering, and it's great to have a dedicated time to spend with people around a meal.

One great thing about the Westin's location is its relative closeness to the New York Public Library.  Even if you don't get to go inside every year, walking by those beautiful lions out front and knowing you're close to so many books is wonderful.  But this year, Crystal Noll, Heather Holloway, Rusty Mason and I went to visit their Treasures from the Archives exhibit.  It had everything from Civil Rights flyers to Charles Dickens's writing desk to the Bill of Rights.

After that, it was time for the William Gillette Luncheon.  I somehow signed up early enough to get a table right up front.  In fact, I was sitting with some of the afternoon's performers!  Two skits were performed to laughs, a nice meal was had, and everyone got to see each other in one of big events of weekend.

And that night was the event that the whole weekend revolved around: The BSI Dinner.  This is the event that the rest of the weekend has grown up around, but I think it's important to point out that this is the only invite-only event of the weekend.  Everything else is open to everyone and everywhere you go, people are happy to welcome friends old, new, and ones they haven't yet met.

This is the event that probably gets recapped the most, so I will keep mine brief.  There were some great toasts and talks, which will be in the Spring issue of the Baker Street Journal, and of course everyone is always clamoring to learn who will be included in this years investiture class.  It's been shared elsewhere, but I will post the picture of my notes from that night.  

The list of investitures always makes me happy.  It's a combination of recognition of those folks I have known to be doing great work in Sherlockiana and names of people I haven't met yet but look forward to getting to know in the future.

After the dinner, everyone goes downstairs to enjoy an hour or so at the Yale Club, and then people make their way to Rosie Dunn's to meet up with everyone from the Gaslight Gala.  Two things stood out to me from this part of the night.  

1. While everyone from the BSI Dinner flooded into the Yale Club's lounge, one other patron was determined to sit in his armchair and read a newspaper amid the clamor of all of us.  I wish I had that kind of focus!  

2. By the time we were kicked out of Rosie Dunn's, it was POURING rain outside.  It took my suit a day and a half to dry from that onslaught of rain.

Saturday kicks off with the Dealer's Room with Sherlockians selling all kinds of things.  Wessex Press and BSI Press debut their new titles here, and Belanger Books and MX Publishing have tables with their latest books as well.  If those four aren't enough to drain your wallet, there are plenty of individuals selling enough old books and ephemera to fill your suitcase.

One of Wessex Press's new books this year is one I'm very proud of, Canonical Cornerstones: Foundational Books of a Sherlockian Library.  This is an anthology that Peter Eckrich and I oversaw and will be the subject of its own blog post at a later date.  It was great to get to sign copies for everyone who picked one up, but unfortunately not everyone could get one because it sold out in less than 90 minutes!  Every time I think of how excited people were to check this book out, it just makes me smile.

After that, it was back to the Yale Club for the BSI Luncheon.  Even though, this has BSI in the title, this event is open to everyone and in the past few years it has been selling out very quickly.  It's a nice time for everyone to mingle and talk with everyone from across the country.  It's always fun to see who ends up at your table.  As usual, I had a good group this year: Rudy Altergott, Peter and Joe Eckrich, Brian and Derrick Belanger, Max Magee, Ed Petit, and Ray and Becky Riethmeier.

That night, I had dinner with Ray Betzner, Ashley Polasek, and Tim Greer.  You couldn't ask for more pleasant company!  It's interesting that with this being a Sherlockian weekend, so many of my conversations with folks were about other topics.  That night's conversation wandered from heist movies to theater performances to college commencements.  I've found that Sherlockiana is a great jumping-off point for meeting folks and we then build our friendships from there.  (Well, maybe it wasn't all non-Sherlockian... we may have tried out our Nigel Bruce impressions)

Sunday always brings one of my favorite events of the weekend, the ASH Brunch.  It's the wind-down event where people can move around and visit with one another without any kind of program (and there's as much bacon as you want).  I've equated this event to the last day of summer camp.  People are comparing notes of what they saw and did over the past few days and making plans for the upcoming year.  As its time for folks to catch their flights, they drift off one by one until the locals have their city back.

I'm not standing on anything, there's just that much of a height difference.
I had one more stop on my weekend, though.  I'm a big Muppets fan, so I made a trip over to Queens to the Museum of the Moving Image where they had a Jim Henson exhibit that included all kinds of original Muppets and the sign that was used in the Muppet Show.

By this time, winter weather was hitting the Midwest and causing delays with flights across the country.  Luckily, I was only delayed by an hour and a half (which allowed me to get last week's Interesting Interview posted) but I know others had a much longer wait.  It sounds like everyone eventually made it home safely, with suitcases of new books and brain attics full of good memories.  I'm already looking forward to next year's weekend.