Steve Emecz's Blog: Musings of a Sherlockian Publisher, page 14

An Interview with Claire Daines, author of A Study in Regret, a new Sherlock Holmes novel

An Interview with Claire Daines

Claire Daines has just had her first Sherlock Holmes novel published and I caught up with her recently.

I very often find it hard to find the time to write, but you have a young family, now extended by one to care for. How do you find the time?

I hold it up at gunpoint! It helps that the three eldest are at school and pre-school five days a week, and I’ve gotten very good at typing one-handed with the baby on my knee.

Are you a structured writer, writing at a set time and place? Do you just open up the laptop and let it come to you?

Not structured in the least, but my family always knows where to find me: constantly tapping away on my laptop at the dining room table, one of the few spaces available for writing.  I hate to feel like I’m not achieving anything, so I usually keep several projects on the go at once. If I run out of steam for one, I can switch to another. I also make sure to carry pen and paper with me if I’m going out anywhere.

Why Sherlock Holmes?

You know how certain characters just stay on your radar all your life, and you can spot a reference to them a mile off, no matter how slight? For me, Sherlock Holmes has always been that character. The very first Holmes story I ever read was ‘Silver Blaze’ when I was still in primary school. It was in a book of various mystery stories: Father Brown, the Thinking Machine, and so on. I must have read that book a thousand times while growing up – it’s probably still in my parents’ attic somewhere. Funnily enough, the next major ‘Holmes moment’ that I recall was at 10 years old, watching Michael Caine blunder about beside Ben Kingsley’s Watson in ‘Without A Clue’!

I love Sherlock Holmes because of his brilliant mind, but also because he is so obviously not a mere ‘brain without a heart’. His humanity is clear in every story, despite the cold, logical façade he tries to present – which itself is such a very human thing to do!

Your novel ‘A Study in Regret’ has now made its way into the world. How did the premise of this work come  to you?

To answer, we have to travel back in time to the beginning of 2012. I had recently found a certain fanfiction website, and was blown away by not only the sheer quantity, but also the quality of some of it. After reading Discworld for several days straight, I turned on a whim to the Sherlock Holmes section in the hope that it would be just as good… and oh, it was! Some of those authors, I could barely tell the difference between their writing and Doyle’s, and I loved being able to read all those wonderful new adventures. With one particular writer, ‘Aleine Skyfire’ (who is now my best friend and co-author!), I was waiting impatiently for each fresh installment of the Holmes serial she was writing. After reading one chapter in floods of tears, I found myself idly wondering what it would be like for Holmes if Watson hadn’t survived Reichenbach…

Read the full interview here.

Sherlock Holmes and A Study In Regret is available from all good bookstores including Amazon USA, Barnes and Noble USA, Amazon UK, Waterstones UK, and for free shipping worldwide Book Depository . In ebook format it is in Amazon Kindle,  Kobo and Apple iBooks(iPad/iPhone).

An exciting week for Sherlock Holmes fans.

Last week saw the launch of Eddy Webb’s detailed and brutally honest review of the Sherlock Holmes stories ‘Watson Is Not An Idiot’. Critics have called it a brilliant introduction to the original stories. An early review says:

“I am in love with this book. As a Sherlock fan, I didn’t think I would be able to learn more about Doyle’s work. Boy, was I mistaken.Eddy brings you to Doyle’s world and explains the common misconceptions of certain key phrases, Sherlock, and of course, Watson (who is not an idiot).”

This week’s new title is very special. ‘Sherlock Holmes and a Quantity of Debt’ is a special edition hardback of David Marcum’s debut Holmes novel. We say special as David’s two short story collections (The Papers of Sherlock Holmes 1 and 2) have been bestsellers since their launch in June and September this year, and compiled together into a stunning 13 hour audio version. Reviews have been amazing:

“David Marcum has achieved the ultimate Sherlock Holmes pastiche, David is indeed the undisputed master of the modern Sherlock Holmes story, to read these stories it is as if Conan Doyle himself has written them.No doubt about it David Marcum is THE best Sherlockian author of today.If like me a purist and like Sherlock Holmes stories as Conan Doyle intended them this then this book is an absolute must.”

The reaction to the short stories gave us the confidence to include in the launch a special hardback.

Finally, this week sees a fantastic free event for Sherlock Holmes fans on Friday 8thNovember, 7pm at the Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes Hotel. The launch of ‘The Immortals’ a comprehensive review of the BBC Sherlock and CBS Elementary series from Holmes expert Matthew Elliott – free tickets available from http://theimmortals-efbevent.eventbrite.co.uk/.

Watson Is Not An Idiot is available from all good bookstores including  Amazon USA,Amazon UK, Waterstones UK, and for free shipping worldwide Book Depository . In ebook format it is in Amazon Kindle,  Kobo, Nook and Apple iBooks (iPad/iPhone).

Sherlock Holmes and A Quantity of Debt is available from all good bookstores including  Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstones UK, and for free shipping worldwide Book Depository. In ebook format it is in Amazon Kindle, Kobo and Apple iBooks (iPad/iPhone).

The Immortals: An Unauthorized guide to Sherlock and Elementary is available from all good bookstores including Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstones UK, and for free shipping worldwide Book Depository . In ebook format it is in Amazon Kindle.

Philip K Jones reviews Mystery at St. Andrews

"This is the first Sherlockian fiction by Mr. Lawler.  It is a mystery novel that takes place during “The Great Hiatus” and it stars Colonel Sebastian Moran and Irene Adler Norton along with an unexpected visit by Dr. Watson.

This book is dedicated to Golf, and it devotes a great deal of time to the “Royal and Ancient” course at St. Andrews.  The database lists more than twenty tales involving golf, most of them from two books by golfer Robert D. (Bob) Jones with an anthology of eighteen short stories (Sherlock Holmes, the Golfer) and a novel (Sherlock Holmes Saved Golf).  These two books have been the literary stars of Sherlockian golfers up until now, but I expect their luster has faded with publication of the present volume.

This book is a carefully constructed and entertaining mystery, although Sherlockians will know the outcome once they have placed the characters and timing, it remains fascinating to find out how the know results will occur.  Even with a known outcome, the mystery that unfolds is compelling and intriguing.  The author also manages to interlard the mystery with a good deal of narrative about golfing on the course at St. Andrews.  I did not look forward to reading it as my interest in golf was killed by too many fruitless games of miniature golf in my teens.  The book was a pleasant surprise for a defiant non-golfer.  The author’s explanations and descriptions of the play on the course were amusing and interesting.  He certainly loves the sport and manages to convey his fascination with the game in a most effective fashion.

The familiar characters in the book are all depicted very much as they appear in the Canonical tales.  Irene is grace and beauty personified and Colonel Moran is charming with barely suppressed violence hidden behind a genial manner.  Watson remains the epitome of an English gentleman, both in manner and in actions.  He is, of course, somewhat smarter than he portrays himself in his tales, but Sherlockians all know that anyway.

The story is well-told and well thought-out and the characters are familiar and very well presented.  We can feel comfortable with all of them and we can enjoy a delightful trip to “the Royal and Ancient” in the early 1890s with congenial old friends.  The editing was well-done and the usual Americanisms expected from Colonial writers were absent, or at least unobtrusive.  Since I am quite picky, I managed to find a few neologisms, but it is very difficult to weed out new terminology from a Century and a quarter in the future.”

Mystery at St Andrews is available from all good bookstores including Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstones UK, and for free shipping worldwide Book Depository . In ebook format it is in Amazon Kindle,  Kobo, Nook and Apple iBooks (iPad/iPhone) and it is available in Audible Audio Edition.

Philip K. Jones reviews Holmes in Time for Christmas by Ross K. Foad

"This is the first Sherlockian fiction by Mr. Foad that I know of.  It is a short novel that takes place during “The Great Hiatus.”

This is a lively, amusing tale that occurs while Sherlock is touring England as an actor.  He and “The Woman” have been touring together, he as Mr. Sigerson and she as Miss Adler. They seem to enjoy one another’s company but also do not seem to be romantically tangled.  Both are taking a rest from their regular lives, using acting to keep themselves occupied.

Holmes receives a small package in the mail which sends him into a depressed state.  On December 24th of 1899, Watson queries him about the package and Holmes agrees to explain it as his Christmas present to Watson.  Holmes tells Watson to come along and he calls for a cab that takes them to the Diogenes Club.  It appears that Mycroft is involved in the events represented by the package.

The package contained a small book which is a piece of Irene Adler Norton’s diary. Together, Sherlock and Mycroft, with the help of the diary, tell the story of a trio of Christmas murders that all three of them investigated in December, 1893.

The story is well-told and enthralling and the characters all act in ways consistent with their personae as revealed in the Canon.  The editing is relatively good, with only a sprinkling of neologisms and misplaced apostrophes and commas.  The author will, however have to overcome a tendency to drop surreptitious puns like small landmines along the way.  Many readers who are not addicted punsters may find them distracting or even corrupting.  He must remember why Socrates was condemned, “…for corrupting the minds of the young.” Creating a taste for sneaky puns is definitely a step down that slippery slide.”

Reviewed by: Philip K. Jones, October, 2013

Published in “The Beggar’s cap, [V10, # 01, 09/2013]

Holmes in Time for Christmas is available from all good bookstores including  Amazon USA, Barnes and Noble USA, Amazon UK, Waterstones UK, and for free shipping worldwide Book Depository . In ebook format it is in Amazon Kindle and Apple iBooks(iPad/iPhone).

Review of In Search of Doctor Watson 2nd Edition by Molly Carr

"According to the author, this book “falls naturally into two parts: the Doctor as written about by Doyle, and an exploration of the concept of the foil before, during and after the first appearance of Watson.”

She is, however, doing herself an injustice with this relatively bald statement. Part One covers every aspect of a character that you can imagine, the friends and acquaintances on which Doyle may have drawn – or not, and, if not, why not –for inspiration;  the places and actions and fallacies of same – in a historical context; Watson’s own background and possible ‘origins’, his income and where that would fit into London society.

For me, just as interesting as this detailed investigation is the wealth of background information and research that is included to paint such a complete and convincing picture: the history of the Field Medical Services, the 66th’s movements during the Second Anglo-Afghan War, the attitude of the medical profession (including Doyle) towards dressers, the description of Charles Booth’s social system etc. etc.

Equally fascinating is her attempt to construct a plausible  timeline before and, especially, after Maiwand and Peshawar and when Watson met Holmes; naturally she has to excuse the former for the occasional lapse of memory as to precisely in which hospital he was tended for his shoulder wound. She even suggests that Watson purposely chose New Year’s Day for their first meeting as it “makes for better ‘theatre’.”

Equally interesting is the discussion on the literary duos spawned [by Holmes and Watson], although I would disagree with her argument – when discussing Arthur Morrison’s  lack of success with his Strand stories which appeared soon after The Final Problem – that “what the readers…of the Strand desperately wanted was a second Holmes and Watson.” What they clearly clamoured for – and eventually got – was the return of the original! Raffles & Bunny, Drs Thorndyke and Jarvis, Lord Peter Wimsey & Bunter, Sexton Blake & Tinker, Poirot & Hastings: they are all there,  but the conclusion is, naturally,  that there‘s only one Holmes and Watson!

Can I find any fault in this, perhaps definitive, work on Dr. Watson? Well yes, just one: given that the author shares her extensive knowledge of relevant sources with us, an index and/or bibliography would be handy for the interested researcher. Something for the next edition maybe.

But in the meantime this one can be wholly recommended.”

This review appeared in THE TORR: The Journal of ‘The Poor Folk Upon the Moors’ The Sherlock Holmes Society of the West Country. Issue No. 43  - Autumn 2013

In Search of Dr Watson 2nd Edition is available from all good bookstores including Amazon USA, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK and Waterstones. For elsewhere Book Depository who offer free delivery worldwide. In ebook format it is in Kindle, Kobo, Nook and iBooks(iPad/iPhone).

Amy Thomas looks at the life and work of the late Marlene Aig, female Holmesian pioneer.

Amy Thomas looks at the life and work of the late Marlene Aig, female Holmesian pioneer.

"Ever since I jumped into the Sherlock Holmes scene with both feet a few years ago, I’ve been conscious of the issues of gender and feminism that underlie the current surging interest in the detective. One of the first things I learned, one that amazed me, was that the Baker Street Irregulars, respected international Holmes organization, did not admit women until the year 1991. I also learned that in past years, women who wanted to be active in the world of Sherlock Holmes fandom (for it is a fandom, make no mistake), did not always have the easiest time of it. Even today, the issues of sex and gender are a complicated and sometimes unpleasant aspect of being in the Holmesian world.

And yet, this post is not meant to be in the least bleak, because, well, you can’t keep, as they say, good women down. In the late 1960s, a group of enterprising ladies formed an organization called the Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes, and it’s still going strong. I respect these women extremely highly, and one of the early trailblazers among feminine Sherlockians is the subject of this post: Marlene Aig…

As a Holmesian and as a woman, I’m delighted to say that a piece of Marlene’s legacy has been left behind for us to enjoy. Many years ago, she penned a Sherlockian pastiche–a novella starring Sherlock Holmes that is titled Sherlock Holmes and the Lufton Lady…”

Read the full blog post here.

Sherlock Holmes and The Lufton Lady is available from all good bookstores including  Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstones UK, and for free shipping worldwide Book Depository . In ebook format it is in Amazon Kindle,  Kobo, Nook and Apple iBooks(iPad/iPhone).

Audio version of Mystery at St Andrews out this week

Audio version of Mystery at St Andrews out this week - Doctor John Watson is visiting the village of St Andrews, Scotland, on a much-needed holiday. Still saddened by the loss of his good friend and companion, Sherlock Holmes, he seeks to put his life back in order. - Narrated by David Collins.

Mystery at St Andrews is available from all good bookstores including Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstones UK, and for free shipping worldwide Book Depository . In ebook format it is in Amazon Kindle,  Kobo, Nook and Apple iBooks (iPad/iPhone) and it is available in Audible Audio Edition.

The Sydney Passengers reviews The Disappearance of Mr James Phillimore by Dan Andriacco

"THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MR. JAMES PHILLIMORE, by Dan Andriacco (MX Publishing, 2013; 240 pp.) is the fourth book in his series about Jeff Cody (in London for the second half of a honeymoon) and Sebastian Mc-Cabe (in London to debate Holmes-vs-Poe); there are two Phillimores (one of them Canonical and one quite modern), more than two murders, and some interesting sleuthing. The author’s entertaining (and Sherlockian) blog is at <www.bakerstreetbeat.blogspot.com>.”

The Disappearance of Mr James Phillimore is available from all good bookstores including Amazon USA, Amazon UK, Waterstones UK, and for free shipping worldwide Book Depository . In ebook format it is in Amazon Kindle, Kobo, Nook and Apple iBooks(iPad/iPhone).

September 23-30 New Sherlock Holmes Books

Two exciting new Holmes books to tell you about this week.

Sherlock Holmes and A Study In Regret is a traditional Holmes story that runs on the premise that two not one perished at Reichenbach.

Also in a traditional vein comes The Papers of Sherlock Holmes Volume 2 from David Marcum. The first Volume that came out on in June and has been our bestselling book over the summer. An extremely high quality collection of short stories – very much Conan Doyle style.

Sherlock Holmes and A Study In Regret is available from all good bookstores including Amazon USA, Barnes and Noble USA, Amazon UK, and for free shipping worldwide Book Depository.

The Papers of Sherlock Holmes Volume Two is available from all good bookstores including   Amazon USA, Barnes and Noble USA, Amazon UK, Waterstones UK, and for free shipping worldwide Book Depository . In ebook format it is in Amazon Kindle,  Kobo, Nookand Apple iBooks (iPad/iPhone).

Book Review: The London of Sherlock Holmes from ’I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere’

„In the canon, Conan Doyle’s stories give London a very tangible sense of place. As Holmes and Watson have their adventures, readers are provided details which make the geography of 1895 London come alive, providing a unique opportunity to engage in ‘the Great Game’.

Available through MX Publishing, The London of Sherlock Holmes by Thomas Bruce Wheeler is a great resource, combining 21st century technology with the canon to provide a thorough piece of Sherlockian scholarship that you can sample via this online chapter.

On a superficial level, The London of Sherlock Holmes is an extremely fascinating book, providing a point-by-point analysis of locations disclosed within each story of the canon. (The online sample chapter focuses on “The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans” [BRUC]”). For anyone considering a walking tour of Holmes’ London, this would be more than adequate. However, reading the electronic version of the book via e-reader provides an additional level of engagement. Clicking on specific links automatically calls up Google Maps of each location. Combined with GPS maps, The London of Sherlock Holmes provides a much more immersive experience, bringing Holmes’ London a little closer for readers…”

Read the full review here.

The London of Sherlock Holmes is available from all good bookstores including in the USA  Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Classic Specialities,in the UK Amazon andWaterstones and for free shipping worldwide Book Depository . In ebook format it is inKobo, Nook , Amazon Kindle and iTunes.