Derrick Belanger's Blog: Book Reviews, Author Interviews, and Ramblings of a Sherlockian - Posts Tagged "kieran-lyne"
Interview with Author Kieran Lyne
I am starting a monthly interview series with other Sherlockian authors. This month, my interview is with new author Kieran Lyne on his novel, The Last Confession of Sherlock Holmes.
Interview with Author Kieran Lyne by Derrick Belanger
1. Tell us a little bit about your story. What made you decide to write a new Sherlock Holmes book?
Kieran: I began writing fiction in the summer of 2012 in the form of short stories and naturally began to think of writing a Holmes story. In particular I was taken by the idea of expanding upon the events which surround the hiatus of Sherlock Holmes as, though fabulously handled in the canon, to me there was more to the Moriarty story.
Essentially, The Last Confession of Sherlock Holmes is the revelation by Dr. Watson of how he and Sherlock Holmes deceived the world.
When developing the plot I was a student of History and so I tried thinking of any events which a plot could be twisted around; but it was not until I watched From Hell that I first began to think of a Holmes story about Jack the Ripper. The brutality and senselessness of the crimes were in such stark contrast to the elegant puzzles found in the canon and I thought this offered something different. I was also interested in the dynamic created by these very public events, and the effect they would have on Sherlock Holmes, as the Ripper was never caught. I did not research any other works on a similar theme until after I completed my plot outline as I wished to approach the story from an entirely fresh perspective.
2. You are the youngest author to be endorsed by the Doyle estate. How did you get the endorsement?
Kieran: I had sent my novel off to a few agents and was not enjoying a lot success, so I started trying to make things happen for myself through self-publishing as an EBook. The copyright situation surrounding the Holmes characters is very complicated and I wished to avoid any hassle. With this in mind I approached the Conan Doyle estate, who endorsed my story, gave me use of their seal and recommended me to MX Publishing.
3. Unfortunately, it seems like the Doyle estate has become a bit of a villain to Sherlockians due to the court battle with Leslie S. Klinger. What are your view on the case and the outcome? Do you feel Sherlock Holmes should now be a public domain character?
Kieran: I have heard several conflicting versions of the events and to be honest I find it all a bit strange. This situation has been quite a headache and I hope that soon enough transparency will become the norm. I’m not sure how but I hope these relationships can be mended, as in theory we should all be in the same boat. What I do want to say is that Jon Lellenberg was a great help in getting me published and for that I am very grateful.
First and foremost I consider myself a fan of Sherlock Holmes; I do not understand all the ins-and-outs of the law, particularly in the U.S, but as a fan I believe the characters should be in the public domain: I am all for creativity and artistic interpretation. However, I am also a young author trying to break into an extremely crowded and competitive industry and I have to be practical: I hope the seal will be a positive for me. Regardless of the controversy, I hope that the endorsement of the Doyle estate is a sign of quality and will not put off any Sherlockians. One of my few objectives when I set out to write the story was authenticity; I wanted Holmes to be Holmes, Watson to be Watson, and that the events should fit almost seamlessly into the canon, so the opinion of Sherlockians is important to me. I hope that my story will be judged for the quality of my writing and nothing else.
4. If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have one Sherlock Holmes story to keep with you forever, which would it be? Why?
Kieran: Tricky one! But ‘A Scandal in Bohemia’, as I believe it encapsulates everything which makes Holmes such an iconic character and the stories so timeless. We of course get to see Holmes’ trademark powers of observation and deduction, as well as his fondness for disguise and theatricality. But what sets Holmes apart is that he chooses his cases based upon intellectual intrigue and is not rigidly in favour of the law; this allows for more ambiguous crimes and interesting stories. All of this we of course witness through the exploits of the woman. Not only is Irene Adler a fabulous character, but this is her only appearance in the canon. For me this is a masterstroke of subtlety and class by Conan Doyle: it elevates her status and shows greater insight into Holmes as a character.
5. Any last thoughts for the audience?
Kieran: My journey to becoming an author was a strange one, and I am not a trained writer. I have studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, and History at the University of East Anglia: but I have not studied literature for seven years. The only instruction I had was through two books on writing by Elizabeth George and Stephen King. I would therefore encourage anyone who is thinking about writing to give it a go, whether it is Sherlock Holmes, or something entirely original. I have no idea whether my novel will be a success, but it can be done.
Kieran Lyne is the author of The Last Confession of Sherlock Holmes, and he is the youngest author ever to be endorsed by the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Author Derrick Belanger is the editor of the bestselling two volume anthology, A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural. He is a middle school Language Arts teacher, and he loves young adult literature as well as anything and everything to do with Sherlock Holmes.
Interview with Author Kieran Lyne by Derrick Belanger
1. Tell us a little bit about your story. What made you decide to write a new Sherlock Holmes book?
Kieran: I began writing fiction in the summer of 2012 in the form of short stories and naturally began to think of writing a Holmes story. In particular I was taken by the idea of expanding upon the events which surround the hiatus of Sherlock Holmes as, though fabulously handled in the canon, to me there was more to the Moriarty story.
Essentially, The Last Confession of Sherlock Holmes is the revelation by Dr. Watson of how he and Sherlock Holmes deceived the world.
When developing the plot I was a student of History and so I tried thinking of any events which a plot could be twisted around; but it was not until I watched From Hell that I first began to think of a Holmes story about Jack the Ripper. The brutality and senselessness of the crimes were in such stark contrast to the elegant puzzles found in the canon and I thought this offered something different. I was also interested in the dynamic created by these very public events, and the effect they would have on Sherlock Holmes, as the Ripper was never caught. I did not research any other works on a similar theme until after I completed my plot outline as I wished to approach the story from an entirely fresh perspective.
2. You are the youngest author to be endorsed by the Doyle estate. How did you get the endorsement?
Kieran: I had sent my novel off to a few agents and was not enjoying a lot success, so I started trying to make things happen for myself through self-publishing as an EBook. The copyright situation surrounding the Holmes characters is very complicated and I wished to avoid any hassle. With this in mind I approached the Conan Doyle estate, who endorsed my story, gave me use of their seal and recommended me to MX Publishing.
3. Unfortunately, it seems like the Doyle estate has become a bit of a villain to Sherlockians due to the court battle with Leslie S. Klinger. What are your view on the case and the outcome? Do you feel Sherlock Holmes should now be a public domain character?
Kieran: I have heard several conflicting versions of the events and to be honest I find it all a bit strange. This situation has been quite a headache and I hope that soon enough transparency will become the norm. I’m not sure how but I hope these relationships can be mended, as in theory we should all be in the same boat. What I do want to say is that Jon Lellenberg was a great help in getting me published and for that I am very grateful.
First and foremost I consider myself a fan of Sherlock Holmes; I do not understand all the ins-and-outs of the law, particularly in the U.S, but as a fan I believe the characters should be in the public domain: I am all for creativity and artistic interpretation. However, I am also a young author trying to break into an extremely crowded and competitive industry and I have to be practical: I hope the seal will be a positive for me. Regardless of the controversy, I hope that the endorsement of the Doyle estate is a sign of quality and will not put off any Sherlockians. One of my few objectives when I set out to write the story was authenticity; I wanted Holmes to be Holmes, Watson to be Watson, and that the events should fit almost seamlessly into the canon, so the opinion of Sherlockians is important to me. I hope that my story will be judged for the quality of my writing and nothing else.
4. If you were stranded on a desert island and could only have one Sherlock Holmes story to keep with you forever, which would it be? Why?
Kieran: Tricky one! But ‘A Scandal in Bohemia’, as I believe it encapsulates everything which makes Holmes such an iconic character and the stories so timeless. We of course get to see Holmes’ trademark powers of observation and deduction, as well as his fondness for disguise and theatricality. But what sets Holmes apart is that he chooses his cases based upon intellectual intrigue and is not rigidly in favour of the law; this allows for more ambiguous crimes and interesting stories. All of this we of course witness through the exploits of the woman. Not only is Irene Adler a fabulous character, but this is her only appearance in the canon. For me this is a masterstroke of subtlety and class by Conan Doyle: it elevates her status and shows greater insight into Holmes as a character.
5. Any last thoughts for the audience?
Kieran: My journey to becoming an author was a strange one, and I am not a trained writer. I have studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, and History at the University of East Anglia: but I have not studied literature for seven years. The only instruction I had was through two books on writing by Elizabeth George and Stephen King. I would therefore encourage anyone who is thinking about writing to give it a go, whether it is Sherlock Holmes, or something entirely original. I have no idea whether my novel will be a success, but it can be done.
Kieran Lyne is the author of The Last Confession of Sherlock Holmes, and he is the youngest author ever to be endorsed by the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Author Derrick Belanger is the editor of the bestselling two volume anthology, A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural. He is a middle school Language Arts teacher, and he loves young adult literature as well as anything and everything to do with Sherlock Holmes.
Surprise Sherlockian Author Interview
Today marks the release of my first children's chapter book, The Amazing Airship Adventure: The Macdougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes Book #1. The book involves the brother and sister twin detective team of Emma and Jimmy MacDougall as they work with Sherlock Holmes in trying to stop a mad bomber from destroying London. I am the author of the book, and my brother, Brian Belanger, is the illustrator. Just for fun, Brian decided to turn the tables on me, and I was the one interviewed for this blog. I hope you enjoy seeing me giving the answers instead of asking the questions.
1) Growing up together, you and I always shared a lot of the same interests, especially H.P. Lovecraft, Alan Moore comics, Ray Harryhausen movies and so on. I don’t remember when you first discovered Arthur Conan Doyle, though --- when did that happen, and which story was the first to grab you?
I had enjoyed Sherlock Holmes stories growing up, but the first one to really grab me was, fittingly, A Study in Scarlet, the very first Sherlock Holmes novel, when I was 14 years old. I chose the book out of a list of choices for an 8th grade mystery unit I was completing in my Language Arts class.
When I started reading the book, for the first half, I was immersed in Doyle’s London, a London as equally magical and breathtaking as that of Dickens. I got introduced to most of the major characters in the canon, and enjoyed the gruesome murder mystery, a story of bloody revenge.
Then suddenly, as the story builds to a climax, the audience runs into a brick wall as the narrative suddenly shifts to the American West in 1847. I had never read a book which was split in two halves that appeared to be two completely different stories. Then, in a brilliant move, the author brings the two stories together in a masterful weaving of plot. I thought Doyle had such faith in his readers, to throw us such a jarring twist and expect us to keep reading to the end. Of course I did, and began gobbling up all of his Holmes stories.
Now before I move onto the next question, I should add that I was hooked on Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories after reading A Study in Scarlet; however, I became hooked on Doyle’s writings a few years later. I was reading a random anthology of literature, the type where the stories are seemingly assembled because of who wrote them, not because of any cohesive theme. Smack in the middle of Shirley Jackson’s “Charles,” and Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game,” was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Horror of the Heights.” When I read this story, I was stunned at the creativity of the writing, the imagination of the aerial world of beasts living above our heads. I didn’t know Doyle beyond his Sherlock Holmes stories. I was blown away and sought out any and all of his horror writings. This, in many ways, led to my two volume anthology, A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural. I wanted others, especially Sherlockians to know Doyle’s other stories and to see that some equalled his Holmes stories in literary merit and scholarly importance.
2) What made you decide to write specifically for children and young adults? I’m guessing that your daughters had something to do with it…
I’ve always wanted to write for readers of all ages. I wrote a novel a few years ago that was specifically aimed at a young adult audience; however, the book still needs extensive revision and may never see the light of day. Recently, I wrote The Amazing Airship Adventure because my oldest daughter, who is eight, asked me, “Daddy, who is Sherlock Holmes?” I told her about the character and as the conversation continued, we both thought it would be great if there was a child detective working with Sherlock Holmes. Eventually, that idea developed into the MacDougall Twins, ten year old detectives who live across the street from Sherlock Holmes and assist him on adventures. The book was specifically written to introduce children to the Sherlock Holmes characters so that as they get older they will want to seek out the original stories in the canon.
3) Most of the children’s literature I’ve read has the main characters randomly meeting some magical person, or discovering some new world by accident. The MacDougall Twins, on the other hand, deliberately use their wits and skills to solve their mysteries. What made you take this approach?
The audience for The MacDougall twins series is children, and I want my readers to feel empowered from the books. I specifically write the stories so that children can see that they are intelligent and often can see things that adults miss. This is why Holmes relied on the Baker Street Irregulars in the original stories, and why Holmes has great respect for Jimmy and Emma MacDougall. They are great detectives in their own right. To have the twins solve mysteries using magic takes away some of the power from my audience. Kids can’t take out a magic wand and save the world; however, they can save the world using their intelligence and bravery.
4) Will Jimmy and Emma be meeting anyone else from the Holmes stories, such as Irene Adler or Lord Baskerville? Will we see crossovers from Doyle’s other works, such as Professor Challenger?
Yes, they will. The second book of the series, Attack of the Violet Vampire, involves Inspector Lestrade and Toby, the dog who helped Sherlock Holmes in The Sign of Four. One of the joys of writing the MacDougall Twins is that I’m able to use characters from the canon as well as new characters such as Nolan the newsboy and Jimmy the cab driver, from the MacDougall Twins world. Both types of characters will continue to assist the twins as they solve mysteries. I may also use characters from other Doyle stories or their ancestors, say the grandson of Brigadier Gerard, depending on how the MacDougall mysteries develop.
5) And now, the Question Which You Dread Above All Others: if you were stranded on a deserted island, and could only take one Sherlock Holmes story with you, which one would it be?
Well, this has been called my meanest question, but I’ve had the advantage of asking this question to a number of Sherlockians, so I’ve had time to think this one out. There are so many wonderful and rich stories in the canon, but my overall favorite is “The Man With the Twisted Lip.” The story has that great way of starting with one narrative thread and then shifting into a completely different story. It also shows the sinister underbelly of London with Watson’s descent into the opium den searching for Isa Whitney, and it shows how one can work around the British class system, making a handsome salary as a beggar. To top it all off, you also have Mary Watson calling her husband James instead of John, a great puzzle we Sherlockians love to try to solve.
6) What’s your favorite post-Doyle take on Sherlock Holmes? A Study In Emerald? The Jeremy Brett BBC series? The Great Mouse Detective?
Now, this is a cruel question. There are so many post-Doyle takes on Holmes, there were even quite a number of pastiches written in Doyle’s life time, that I’m not sure if this one is answerable. To me, the greatest actor to play Holme was Jeremy Brett. He is Sherlock Holmes. When I read the stories, I hear his voice, so undoubtedly, Brett is the winner here.
But I’m not stopping there. There have been so many great post-Doyle stories. I’m still new to this world, and I’ve just scratched the surface. Kieran Lyne’s The Last Confession of Sherlock Holmes is probably the best of the bunch I’ve read this year. Geri Schear’s A Biased Judgement is an equally excellent novel. The short stories of David Marcum also stand out as wonderful historical texts as well as fun pastiches. But if I had to choose one piece of writing, I’d go with Gaiman’s “A Study in Emerald.” It perfectly blends the worlds of my two favorite authors, Lovecraft and Doyle, and it has one of the best twists I’ve ever read.
This answer could easily change as I delve more and more into the world of Sherlockian pastiches. I have about a half dozen pastiches in my “must read pile,” and that pile is ever expanding.
7) What are your future projects?
As I mentioned earlier, I’m working on the second MacDougall Twins book, Attack of the Violet Vampire. I’ve plotted the book, and I’m about halfway through the first draft. I’d like to see the book released in the Spring, but we’ll see how long it takes me to complete the book, plus you’ve got to illustrate it, so we’ll see if we make that goal.
I do have a story coming out in the spring of a non-Sherlockian nature. The book will be included in the anthology, My Peculiar Family, which is a science fiction/ horror collection specifically designed to benefit the podcast show Sci-Fi Saturday Night. My story, entitled "Pieces of Rosalee" falls in the horror category, but I was channeling O. Henry, so mystery readers will have something to enjoy as well.
Beyond those two projects, I have a number of possibilities. I’m speaking at the CCIRA Literacy conference in Denver in February. My session, How to Teach like Sherlock Holmes, is already full. If the talk is well received, I may go in the direction of turning the talk into a teacher’s guide. I’d also like to write a pastiche novel. I’ve got three different ideas wrestling in my mind, and I believe one is starting to beat the others; however, the other two are not down for the count. I’ll continue writing and see where my stories take me. After all, the thrill of writing is discovery.
Sherlockian Author Derrick Belanger's publications include an eclectic mix: book reviews, articles for education journals, short stories, poems, comic books, and the graphic novel, Twenty-Three Skidoo! A former instructor at Washington State University, and a current middle school Language Arts teacher, Derrick lives in Broomfield, Colorado with his wife Abigail Gosselin and their two daughters, Rhea and Phoebe. Currently, Derrick is working on several Sherlockian projects: The second book in the MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes series entitled Attack of the Violet Vampire, The pastiche novel Sherlock Holmes and the Curse of Cthulhu, the teaching guide How to Teach Like Sherlock Holmes, and the annotated book The Hound of the Baskervilles: The Ultimate Edition, as well as several projects in the Science Fiction genre. He also co-authors the web site Mystery Aircraft.com with author Chuck Davis.
Visit Derrick's Amazon Page at http://www.amazon.com/Derrick-Belange...
1) Growing up together, you and I always shared a lot of the same interests, especially H.P. Lovecraft, Alan Moore comics, Ray Harryhausen movies and so on. I don’t remember when you first discovered Arthur Conan Doyle, though --- when did that happen, and which story was the first to grab you?
I had enjoyed Sherlock Holmes stories growing up, but the first one to really grab me was, fittingly, A Study in Scarlet, the very first Sherlock Holmes novel, when I was 14 years old. I chose the book out of a list of choices for an 8th grade mystery unit I was completing in my Language Arts class.
When I started reading the book, for the first half, I was immersed in Doyle’s London, a London as equally magical and breathtaking as that of Dickens. I got introduced to most of the major characters in the canon, and enjoyed the gruesome murder mystery, a story of bloody revenge.
Then suddenly, as the story builds to a climax, the audience runs into a brick wall as the narrative suddenly shifts to the American West in 1847. I had never read a book which was split in two halves that appeared to be two completely different stories. Then, in a brilliant move, the author brings the two stories together in a masterful weaving of plot. I thought Doyle had such faith in his readers, to throw us such a jarring twist and expect us to keep reading to the end. Of course I did, and began gobbling up all of his Holmes stories.
Now before I move onto the next question, I should add that I was hooked on Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories after reading A Study in Scarlet; however, I became hooked on Doyle’s writings a few years later. I was reading a random anthology of literature, the type where the stories are seemingly assembled because of who wrote them, not because of any cohesive theme. Smack in the middle of Shirley Jackson’s “Charles,” and Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game,” was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Horror of the Heights.” When I read this story, I was stunned at the creativity of the writing, the imagination of the aerial world of beasts living above our heads. I didn’t know Doyle beyond his Sherlock Holmes stories. I was blown away and sought out any and all of his horror writings. This, in many ways, led to my two volume anthology, A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural. I wanted others, especially Sherlockians to know Doyle’s other stories and to see that some equalled his Holmes stories in literary merit and scholarly importance.
2) What made you decide to write specifically for children and young adults? I’m guessing that your daughters had something to do with it…
I’ve always wanted to write for readers of all ages. I wrote a novel a few years ago that was specifically aimed at a young adult audience; however, the book still needs extensive revision and may never see the light of day. Recently, I wrote The Amazing Airship Adventure because my oldest daughter, who is eight, asked me, “Daddy, who is Sherlock Holmes?” I told her about the character and as the conversation continued, we both thought it would be great if there was a child detective working with Sherlock Holmes. Eventually, that idea developed into the MacDougall Twins, ten year old detectives who live across the street from Sherlock Holmes and assist him on adventures. The book was specifically written to introduce children to the Sherlock Holmes characters so that as they get older they will want to seek out the original stories in the canon.
3) Most of the children’s literature I’ve read has the main characters randomly meeting some magical person, or discovering some new world by accident. The MacDougall Twins, on the other hand, deliberately use their wits and skills to solve their mysteries. What made you take this approach?
The audience for The MacDougall twins series is children, and I want my readers to feel empowered from the books. I specifically write the stories so that children can see that they are intelligent and often can see things that adults miss. This is why Holmes relied on the Baker Street Irregulars in the original stories, and why Holmes has great respect for Jimmy and Emma MacDougall. They are great detectives in their own right. To have the twins solve mysteries using magic takes away some of the power from my audience. Kids can’t take out a magic wand and save the world; however, they can save the world using their intelligence and bravery.
4) Will Jimmy and Emma be meeting anyone else from the Holmes stories, such as Irene Adler or Lord Baskerville? Will we see crossovers from Doyle’s other works, such as Professor Challenger?
Yes, they will. The second book of the series, Attack of the Violet Vampire, involves Inspector Lestrade and Toby, the dog who helped Sherlock Holmes in The Sign of Four. One of the joys of writing the MacDougall Twins is that I’m able to use characters from the canon as well as new characters such as Nolan the newsboy and Jimmy the cab driver, from the MacDougall Twins world. Both types of characters will continue to assist the twins as they solve mysteries. I may also use characters from other Doyle stories or their ancestors, say the grandson of Brigadier Gerard, depending on how the MacDougall mysteries develop.
5) And now, the Question Which You Dread Above All Others: if you were stranded on a deserted island, and could only take one Sherlock Holmes story with you, which one would it be?
Well, this has been called my meanest question, but I’ve had the advantage of asking this question to a number of Sherlockians, so I’ve had time to think this one out. There are so many wonderful and rich stories in the canon, but my overall favorite is “The Man With the Twisted Lip.” The story has that great way of starting with one narrative thread and then shifting into a completely different story. It also shows the sinister underbelly of London with Watson’s descent into the opium den searching for Isa Whitney, and it shows how one can work around the British class system, making a handsome salary as a beggar. To top it all off, you also have Mary Watson calling her husband James instead of John, a great puzzle we Sherlockians love to try to solve.
6) What’s your favorite post-Doyle take on Sherlock Holmes? A Study In Emerald? The Jeremy Brett BBC series? The Great Mouse Detective?
Now, this is a cruel question. There are so many post-Doyle takes on Holmes, there were even quite a number of pastiches written in Doyle’s life time, that I’m not sure if this one is answerable. To me, the greatest actor to play Holme was Jeremy Brett. He is Sherlock Holmes. When I read the stories, I hear his voice, so undoubtedly, Brett is the winner here.
But I’m not stopping there. There have been so many great post-Doyle stories. I’m still new to this world, and I’ve just scratched the surface. Kieran Lyne’s The Last Confession of Sherlock Holmes is probably the best of the bunch I’ve read this year. Geri Schear’s A Biased Judgement is an equally excellent novel. The short stories of David Marcum also stand out as wonderful historical texts as well as fun pastiches. But if I had to choose one piece of writing, I’d go with Gaiman’s “A Study in Emerald.” It perfectly blends the worlds of my two favorite authors, Lovecraft and Doyle, and it has one of the best twists I’ve ever read.
This answer could easily change as I delve more and more into the world of Sherlockian pastiches. I have about a half dozen pastiches in my “must read pile,” and that pile is ever expanding.
7) What are your future projects?
As I mentioned earlier, I’m working on the second MacDougall Twins book, Attack of the Violet Vampire. I’ve plotted the book, and I’m about halfway through the first draft. I’d like to see the book released in the Spring, but we’ll see how long it takes me to complete the book, plus you’ve got to illustrate it, so we’ll see if we make that goal.
I do have a story coming out in the spring of a non-Sherlockian nature. The book will be included in the anthology, My Peculiar Family, which is a science fiction/ horror collection specifically designed to benefit the podcast show Sci-Fi Saturday Night. My story, entitled "Pieces of Rosalee" falls in the horror category, but I was channeling O. Henry, so mystery readers will have something to enjoy as well.
Beyond those two projects, I have a number of possibilities. I’m speaking at the CCIRA Literacy conference in Denver in February. My session, How to Teach like Sherlock Holmes, is already full. If the talk is well received, I may go in the direction of turning the talk into a teacher’s guide. I’d also like to write a pastiche novel. I’ve got three different ideas wrestling in my mind, and I believe one is starting to beat the others; however, the other two are not down for the count. I’ll continue writing and see where my stories take me. After all, the thrill of writing is discovery.
Sherlockian Author Derrick Belanger's publications include an eclectic mix: book reviews, articles for education journals, short stories, poems, comic books, and the graphic novel, Twenty-Three Skidoo! A former instructor at Washington State University, and a current middle school Language Arts teacher, Derrick lives in Broomfield, Colorado with his wife Abigail Gosselin and their two daughters, Rhea and Phoebe. Currently, Derrick is working on several Sherlockian projects: The second book in the MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes series entitled Attack of the Violet Vampire, The pastiche novel Sherlock Holmes and the Curse of Cthulhu, the teaching guide How to Teach Like Sherlock Holmes, and the annotated book The Hound of the Baskervilles: The Ultimate Edition, as well as several projects in the Science Fiction genre. He also co-authors the web site Mystery Aircraft.com with author Chuck Davis.
Visit Derrick's Amazon Page at http://www.amazon.com/Derrick-Belange...
Author Updates and I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
Hello everyone,
It has been a few months since I posted on this blog mainly because I have begun to write for the blog, "I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere." I wanted to take a moment and update you on my current projects and upcoming events as well as update you on the authors that I have interviewed (or plan on interviewing) for my series.
A Busy Winter
Over a period of two months in January and February, I had the honor of speaking in front of five different audiences about Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and my own writing My smallest group was four people in a discussion of the accuracy of the depictions of Buddhists in Doyle's The Mystery of Cloomber, and my largest audience was my talk at the CCIRA conference in Denver. I gave my presentation, "How to Teach Like Sherlock Holmes," to an audience of 140 teachers. Probably the talk I am most proud of was being the guest speaker for the 40th anniversary dinner of Dr. Watson's Neglected Patients, Denver's scion Sherlock Holmes group. I'm taking a little break from speaking engagements for the moment, but stay tuned. I should have information on speaking at a conference in October, the first ever Denver area Sherlock Holmes conference in November, and also information on the upcoming The Science of Sherlock Holmes exhibit at The Denver Museum of Nature and Science. I am in the early stages of assisting the museum on a few events, one may be an author talk given by yours truly. Also, in early June I'll be teaching about Sherlock Holmes at a Peace and Justice Summer Camp. My audience will be ages 3 - 12, so that should be a fun, high energy group.
On the writing front, I have two Holmes pieces coming out this fall. The first is Attack of the Violet Vampire the second MacDougall twins with Sherlock holmes chapter book. This one is much longer than the first book with many more illustrations. The book has been the #1 Hot New Release off and on in the Amazon UK Sherlock Holmes list since it was posted in pre-release in February. Here's the cover:
I also have a story which will be included in the upcoming anthology, The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories which will have something close to 50 authors contributing new, traditional Sherlock Holmes tales. All proceeds will benefit The Undershaw Preservation Trust. This is a book I would say all Holmes fans will want, so it should be a bestseller and it goes to a good cause.
I have another non-Holmes related story coming out in a anthology this summer. I am still sworn to secrecy on the details, but this will see my work next to the likes of New York Times bestsellers, so it is very exciting. I'll tell you more when the publisher gives me permission to remove my muzzle.
Author Updates
Since I started this blog in August, I have conducted a dozen author interviews, and I Brian Belanger interviewed me for this blog as well. Here are updates on all of the authors and the one illustrator interviewed. If you are on this list, and I missed something, please add a comment below explaining what else you have that is upcoming. Going in interview order:
Kieran Lyne - The youngest author endorsed by The Conan doyle Estate is following up his excellent Holmes? Ripper novel with a collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories to be released this year.
Chuck Davis - The aviation expert has a short story in The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories which will involve what happened to the White Bird, supposedly the first plane to make a transatlantic flight.
Geri Schear will have a sequel to her excellent novel, A Biased Judgement released this year.
Joel Jensen is drafting a piece on the history of evidence. What constitutes evidence and how has it changed over time? Sounds like an article Holmes would draft himself.
David Marcum is busy as always. Next month sees the release of his third Sherlock Holmes short story collection, Tangled Skeins. He is also the editor and compiler of The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories. Personally knowing how difficult it is to put an anthology together when you are working with just four authors, I cannot imagine the work the man is putting into working with 50 different authors. I salute the man for his effort and know this anthology will be amazing.
Daniel D. Victor continues his American Literati Sherlock holmes series with the novel Sherlock Holmes and the Baron of Brede Place which I'm sure will be another intriguing historical page turner.
Dan Andriacco will see a release of his Holmes story "The Peculiar Persecution of John Vincent Harden" translated into Persian.
Petr Macek just released another of his action packed Holmes novels. This one is a dark tale entitled, Golem´s Shadow: The Fall of Sherlock Holmes.
Kim Krisco will have a short story in The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories. He also will be participating in the Denver Sherlock Holmes Conference.
Dean K Miller , so far my only non-Sherlockian author interview released a collection of poetry in December entitled Echoes: Reflections Through Poetry and Verse. He also is working on his first novel.
Brian Belanger is working as fast as he possibly can on completing the artwork on Attack of the Violet Vampire!. After that, he will be right back at it on the third MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes book which will complete The 1897 trilogy.
That covers my interviews so far. Look for interviews with Sherlockian authors GG Rosenquist, Luke Benjamin Kuhns, Stephen Seitz, and Elizabeth Varadan in the coming months.
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
As stated earlier, I am now writing articles for I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere. My next piece will be about a forthcoming 12 Part Sherlock Holmes novella series. I have had two articles published so far. One is an interview with author Kim Krisco. The second was a piece about Benedict Cumberbatch being this generation's Sherlock Holmes. So far the only article which is forthcoming is my interview with Diane Gilbert Madsen which has been in the queue at "I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere," since March 7th. Things move much slower when working with a bigger publisher and the same is also true of blogs. Hopefully, the article will see the light of day in the next few weeks. For my current articles, follow this link: http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/search...
If you know of any Sherlockian news you think would make for a good article please let me know. I'm trying to write a few pieces a month for the blog.
That is my long winded update. Take care everyone and keep living in Victorian times.
Derrick Belanger is an author and educator most noted for his books and lectures on Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Both volumes of his two volume anthology A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural Volume 2 were #1 best sellers on the Amazon.com UK Sherlock Holmes book list, and his MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes chapter book, Attack of the Violet Vampire! was also a #1 best selling new release in the UK. His first book in the series The Amazing Airship Adventure has been reviewed in England, India, and America. Mr. Belanger’s academic work has been published in The Colorado Reading Journal and Gifted Child Today. A former instructor at Washington State University, and a current middle school Language Arts teacher at Century Middle school in the Adams 12 School District, Derrick lives in Broomfield, Colorado with his wife Abigail Gosselin and their two daughters, Rhea and Phoebe. Find him at www.belangerbooks.com and on Facebook.
It has been a few months since I posted on this blog mainly because I have begun to write for the blog, "I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere." I wanted to take a moment and update you on my current projects and upcoming events as well as update you on the authors that I have interviewed (or plan on interviewing) for my series.
A Busy Winter
Over a period of two months in January and February, I had the honor of speaking in front of five different audiences about Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and my own writing My smallest group was four people in a discussion of the accuracy of the depictions of Buddhists in Doyle's The Mystery of Cloomber, and my largest audience was my talk at the CCIRA conference in Denver. I gave my presentation, "How to Teach Like Sherlock Holmes," to an audience of 140 teachers. Probably the talk I am most proud of was being the guest speaker for the 40th anniversary dinner of Dr. Watson's Neglected Patients, Denver's scion Sherlock Holmes group. I'm taking a little break from speaking engagements for the moment, but stay tuned. I should have information on speaking at a conference in October, the first ever Denver area Sherlock Holmes conference in November, and also information on the upcoming The Science of Sherlock Holmes exhibit at The Denver Museum of Nature and Science. I am in the early stages of assisting the museum on a few events, one may be an author talk given by yours truly. Also, in early June I'll be teaching about Sherlock Holmes at a Peace and Justice Summer Camp. My audience will be ages 3 - 12, so that should be a fun, high energy group.
On the writing front, I have two Holmes pieces coming out this fall. The first is Attack of the Violet Vampire the second MacDougall twins with Sherlock holmes chapter book. This one is much longer than the first book with many more illustrations. The book has been the #1 Hot New Release off and on in the Amazon UK Sherlock Holmes list since it was posted in pre-release in February. Here's the cover:
I also have a story which will be included in the upcoming anthology, The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories which will have something close to 50 authors contributing new, traditional Sherlock Holmes tales. All proceeds will benefit The Undershaw Preservation Trust. This is a book I would say all Holmes fans will want, so it should be a bestseller and it goes to a good cause.
I have another non-Holmes related story coming out in a anthology this summer. I am still sworn to secrecy on the details, but this will see my work next to the likes of New York Times bestsellers, so it is very exciting. I'll tell you more when the publisher gives me permission to remove my muzzle.
Author Updates
Since I started this blog in August, I have conducted a dozen author interviews, and I Brian Belanger interviewed me for this blog as well. Here are updates on all of the authors and the one illustrator interviewed. If you are on this list, and I missed something, please add a comment below explaining what else you have that is upcoming. Going in interview order:
Kieran Lyne - The youngest author endorsed by The Conan doyle Estate is following up his excellent Holmes? Ripper novel with a collection of Sherlock Holmes short stories to be released this year.
Chuck Davis - The aviation expert has a short story in The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories which will involve what happened to the White Bird, supposedly the first plane to make a transatlantic flight.
Geri Schear will have a sequel to her excellent novel, A Biased Judgement released this year.
Joel Jensen is drafting a piece on the history of evidence. What constitutes evidence and how has it changed over time? Sounds like an article Holmes would draft himself.
David Marcum is busy as always. Next month sees the release of his third Sherlock Holmes short story collection, Tangled Skeins. He is also the editor and compiler of The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories. Personally knowing how difficult it is to put an anthology together when you are working with just four authors, I cannot imagine the work the man is putting into working with 50 different authors. I salute the man for his effort and know this anthology will be amazing.
Daniel D. Victor continues his American Literati Sherlock holmes series with the novel Sherlock Holmes and the Baron of Brede Place which I'm sure will be another intriguing historical page turner.
Dan Andriacco will see a release of his Holmes story "The Peculiar Persecution of John Vincent Harden" translated into Persian.
Petr Macek just released another of his action packed Holmes novels. This one is a dark tale entitled, Golem´s Shadow: The Fall of Sherlock Holmes.
Kim Krisco will have a short story in The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories. He also will be participating in the Denver Sherlock Holmes Conference.
Dean K Miller , so far my only non-Sherlockian author interview released a collection of poetry in December entitled Echoes: Reflections Through Poetry and Verse. He also is working on his first novel.
Brian Belanger is working as fast as he possibly can on completing the artwork on Attack of the Violet Vampire!. After that, he will be right back at it on the third MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes book which will complete The 1897 trilogy.
That covers my interviews so far. Look for interviews with Sherlockian authors GG Rosenquist, Luke Benjamin Kuhns, Stephen Seitz, and Elizabeth Varadan in the coming months.
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
As stated earlier, I am now writing articles for I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere. My next piece will be about a forthcoming 12 Part Sherlock Holmes novella series. I have had two articles published so far. One is an interview with author Kim Krisco. The second was a piece about Benedict Cumberbatch being this generation's Sherlock Holmes. So far the only article which is forthcoming is my interview with Diane Gilbert Madsen which has been in the queue at "I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere," since March 7th. Things move much slower when working with a bigger publisher and the same is also true of blogs. Hopefully, the article will see the light of day in the next few weeks. For my current articles, follow this link: http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/search...
If you know of any Sherlockian news you think would make for a good article please let me know. I'm trying to write a few pieces a month for the blog.
That is my long winded update. Take care everyone and keep living in Victorian times.
Derrick Belanger is an author and educator most noted for his books and lectures on Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Both volumes of his two volume anthology A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural Volume 2 were #1 best sellers on the Amazon.com UK Sherlock Holmes book list, and his MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes chapter book, Attack of the Violet Vampire! was also a #1 best selling new release in the UK. His first book in the series The Amazing Airship Adventure has been reviewed in England, India, and America. Mr. Belanger’s academic work has been published in The Colorado Reading Journal and Gifted Child Today. A former instructor at Washington State University, and a current middle school Language Arts teacher at Century Middle school in the Adams 12 School District, Derrick lives in Broomfield, Colorado with his wife Abigail Gosselin and their two daughters, Rhea and Phoebe. Find him at www.belangerbooks.com and on Facebook.
Beyond Watson, an Upcoming Anthology of New Sherlock Holmes Stories Featuring David Marcum, Jack McDevitt, Daniel D. Victor, and Some of the Best Sherlock Holmes Writers Today!!
Hi everyone,
I wanted to take this opportunity to announce an upcoming book which I am editing and producing next year. The book is called Beyond Watson, and it is a collection of new traditional Sherlock Holmes stories told from the perspective of someone besides Dr. Watson. With the authors involved in this project, I'm sure it will be the best Holmes book of 2016. It features:
David Marcum - The man behind the World's Largest Collection of New Sherlock Holmes Stories. ( https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...)
Jack McDevitt - The Nebula Award winning science fiction writer will have his first traditional Sherlock Holmes pastiche.
Daniel D. Victor - The best selling Sherlock Holmes author plans to have the return of one of the characters from his previous books, but I'm not giving away which one.
Marcia Wilson - The talented writer who has made Inspector Lestrade almost as endearing as Sherlock Holmes will have a story in the anthology.
Luke Kuhns - Known for traditional pastiches and also graphic novels, Luke's story may bring back a character from the original canon.
Geri Schear - The extremely talented Irish writer who wrote one of the bestselling Holmes books last year will add one of her wonderful, character driven stories to the anthology.
Tim Symonds - The author known for blending Holmes and history will add a tale to the collection.
Kieran Lyne - The youngest author ever endorsed by the Doyle estate will have a new story in the collection, his first Sherlock Holmes short story.
Elizabeth Varadan - The author who wrote an excellent Sherlock Holmes YA book last year will also write her first Holmes short story.
Don Smith - The blogger who runs The Sherlock Conversations agreed to add his pastiche voice to the collection. If you haven't checked out his blog, you should either on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherlockconv... or on the web: https://sherlockconversations.wordpre....
Derrick Belanger - Then there's me. I will be the editor of the anthology and will have my own unique story added to the mix.
This will be the first anthology published by my new publishing company. I am still working out the company details with the other shareholders, but look for a big announcement when all the details are finalized.
The book will have an Indiegogo campaign in March and then should be in your hands sometime next May. MX Publishing will be the international distributor for the anthology, so no matter where you live, you will be able to get either an ebook or physical copy.
You can follow all the details as the project and publishing company progresses by liking the Belanger Books Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Belan....
That's the news for now. Tomorrow I start back up at my non-Sherlockian job (i.e. a 6th grade middle school teacher), so wish me luck on the start of a great school year. More exciting Sherlockian news soon!!
I wanted to take this opportunity to announce an upcoming book which I am editing and producing next year. The book is called Beyond Watson, and it is a collection of new traditional Sherlock Holmes stories told from the perspective of someone besides Dr. Watson. With the authors involved in this project, I'm sure it will be the best Holmes book of 2016. It features:
David Marcum - The man behind the World's Largest Collection of New Sherlock Holmes Stories. ( https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...)
Jack McDevitt - The Nebula Award winning science fiction writer will have his first traditional Sherlock Holmes pastiche.
Daniel D. Victor - The best selling Sherlock Holmes author plans to have the return of one of the characters from his previous books, but I'm not giving away which one.
Marcia Wilson - The talented writer who has made Inspector Lestrade almost as endearing as Sherlock Holmes will have a story in the anthology.
Luke Kuhns - Known for traditional pastiches and also graphic novels, Luke's story may bring back a character from the original canon.
Geri Schear - The extremely talented Irish writer who wrote one of the bestselling Holmes books last year will add one of her wonderful, character driven stories to the anthology.
Tim Symonds - The author known for blending Holmes and history will add a tale to the collection.
Kieran Lyne - The youngest author ever endorsed by the Doyle estate will have a new story in the collection, his first Sherlock Holmes short story.
Elizabeth Varadan - The author who wrote an excellent Sherlock Holmes YA book last year will also write her first Holmes short story.
Don Smith - The blogger who runs The Sherlock Conversations agreed to add his pastiche voice to the collection. If you haven't checked out his blog, you should either on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sherlockconv... or on the web: https://sherlockconversations.wordpre....
Derrick Belanger - Then there's me. I will be the editor of the anthology and will have my own unique story added to the mix.
This will be the first anthology published by my new publishing company. I am still working out the company details with the other shareholders, but look for a big announcement when all the details are finalized.
The book will have an Indiegogo campaign in March and then should be in your hands sometime next May. MX Publishing will be the international distributor for the anthology, so no matter where you live, you will be able to get either an ebook or physical copy.
You can follow all the details as the project and publishing company progresses by liking the Belanger Books Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Belan....
That's the news for now. Tomorrow I start back up at my non-Sherlockian job (i.e. a 6th grade middle school teacher), so wish me luck on the start of a great school year. More exciting Sherlockian news soon!!
Sherlock Holmes Books = Great Christmas Presents! Part 1
Hello everyone, while the Christmas shopping season is upon us, I wanted to take a moment to recommend some fine presents for the Sherlockian or the sherlockian in your life. If you know someone who says "Ho-ho-Holmes" then below are some great gift ideas. I am focusing this entry specifically on books aimed for the older reader as my last entry focused on YA and Children's Sherlock Holmes books. This entry is on specific traditional Holmes books as well as books that meld horror into the world of the first consulting detective.
There is no better gift this year for a mystery lover or Sherlock Holmes fan than the MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories. Although technically one book, the collection was released in three volumes. This has been called the finest collection of Sherlock Holmes stories ever published. The three volumes are The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories Part I: 1881 to 1889, The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories Part II: 1890 to 1895, and The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories Part III: 1896 to 1929. While a little on the pricey side, these books are well worth the cost (and yours truly has a story in volume 1). Also, even the most staunch Scrooge in your life, can shout out a Merry Christmas knowing that the proceeds for all three volumes go to Stepping Stones, a special needs school which is using the funds to restore Undershaw, the former estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 
Luke B. Kuhns is an impressive young Holmesian author. His book Sherlock Holmes and the Scarlet Thread of Murder was one of my favorites for 2015. The book has three stories. The first involves three seemingly separate crimes investigated by three different detectives, one real, two fictional). One of the detectives is Holmes. Another is Martin Hewitt, a different Victorian era detective. I found the way Mr. Kuhns weaved the three threads together particularly compelling. His second story in the book involves Holmes assisting Irene Adler in solving the case of the murder of her husband. This is such a refreshing story. Irene Adler acts like Irene Adler. She is a force to be reckoned with and an equal of Holmes, not the sexist versions of Adler currently portrayed on television, but the real, true Irene Adler. I won't say much about the third story, just that it is a very good shorter piece with a mystery involving a seedy man in the shadows stalking a ballerina. Write more books like this one, Luke Benjamen Kuhns! 
If there was a Sherlockian Man of the Year award, it would have to go to David Marcum David not only assembled and edited all three volumes of The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories, he also released Sherlock Holmes – Tangled Skeins - Stories from the Notebooks of Dr. John H. Watson, the best traditional Sherlock Holmes story collection released in 2015. The book involves cases of Holmes and Watson which occur during or between other cases from the canon. Every fan of the original canon should read this one. And if you haven't read Marcum's other books, I recommend the handsome hardback edition of The Papers of Sherlock Holmes Volume 1 and 2. You get both volumes of Marcum's book in one collection, so you save money and get a hardcover book. Even the Grinch couldn't complain!
For those who are dreaming of a white Christmas, may I recommend my own book Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance. This story takes place in the winter of 1890 and is a tale of art theft and espionage. But don't take my word for it, here is the latest five star review on Amazon: "This is one of those rare pastiches that is well plotted and truly written in the style of A.C. Doyle. I found the story both exciting and "page turning" and any devoted Holmes fan will enjoy it." 
For those who prefer to have a nightmare before Christmas, let me recommend Sherlock Holmes and The House of Pain by Stephen Seitz. This book blends the world of HG Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau with the world of Sherlock Holmes. An excellent Holmesian mash-up. For those who want a Holmes-Ripper tale, I'd recommend The Last Confession of Sherlock Holmes by Kieran Lyne. Though the changes in the canon will not please everyone, the boy is a talented writer, and I found the book to be riveting.I will keep periodically sending out book recommendations throughout this Christmas season. Next up will be historical Holmes books by Daniel D. Victor, Tim Symonds, and David Ruffle. I will follow up with Romantic Holmes books by Amy Thomas and Geri Schear.
Take care and for those who don't like lists and prefer to do their own shopping unadvised, may I recommend searching the entire MX catalogue at http://www.mxpublishing.com/ and the entire Belanger Books catalogue at http://www.belangerbooks.com/books.html.
Thank you and a Merry Christmas to all, even though it is still November!!
Beyond Watson Update, My Peculiar Family Kickstarters FUNDED, and More Peculiar Interviews
Time to go Beyond Watson
Would you like to know how Holmes met Mrs. Hudson? How about the time when Charlie Chaplin befriended Billy the Page? Or, the time when a little girl learned that Yes, Virginia, There is a Sherlock Holmes?
Those are just three of the incredible adventures recounted in Beyond Watson, the first Sherlock Holmes anthology published by Belanger Books, and what is sure to be our second successful kickstarter campaign. All of the stories are told, at least in part, by a character who is not John Watson, and are written by some of the best current Sherlock Holmes authors including David Marcum, Daniel D. Victor, Don Everitt Smith Jr., Elizabeth Varadan, Geri Schear, Kieran Lyne, Luke Benjamen KuhnsMarcia Wilson, David Ruffle, and me, Derrick Belanger. I am also excited to announce that the great science fiction author Jack McDevitt will have his first Sherlock Holmes story in this collection, and another sci-fi author, Richard Paolinelli, will have his story included as long as we reach our Kickstarter stretch goal.
I will post more updates on the Beyond Watson anthology as we get closer to the Kickstarter date in March. Look to this blog for author interviews and other exciting news about Beyond Watson and other upcoming Sherlock Holmes anthologies. And if you'd like to preview some of the products we will offer as Kickstarter rewards, check out the Belanger Books Redbubble page here: http://www.redbubble.com/shop/belange...
My Peculiar Family FUNDED
Yes! The horror anthology My Peculiar Family which was the first anhology and first Kickstarter by Belanger Books is fully funded! There is still a week to go to get your copy of My Peculiar Family and help us reach our stretch goal! Please follow the link to My Peculiar Family and check out the best horror collection of 2016! A huge thank you to Les Rosenthal (a.k.a. The Dome) for putting together such a wonderful anthology and pulling in both new authors and NY Times bestsellers. To wrap up this campaign, I have posted below the table of contents for the anthology as well as my final author interviews for My Peculiar Family.
It is my pleasure to share with you the stories included in the anthology.
Christopher Golden and James A. Moore - The Genealogy of Chastity Willingham Dimsdale
Stacey Longo - Miss Elizabeth’s Poison
Jason J. Mooers - Law and Mother
Robert Mayette - Solomon’s Mirror
William Meikle - The Luck of Walter Dimsdale
F. Allen Farnham - Tuckahoe Marble
Samantha Boyette - A Twisted Vine
David Schechter - Just Words
Rob Watts - Crowninshield’s Apothecary
Kristi McDowell - With This Ring, I Thee Bind
Karen Gosselin - Eggsetential Circumstances
George O'Conner - Joshua Was My Favorite
Derrick Belanger - Pieces of Rosalee
Bracken MacLeod - Know All Men
John Pallisano - The Space Between
Tracy Hickman - (TBD)
STRETCH GOAL STORY - Scott Thomas (Agatha)
Original Artwork by Sara Richard and Peter Vinton, Jr..
F. Allen Farnham Interview
1. Tell us a little about your story. What makes it so peculiar?
While just a boy, Victor’s parents were taken ill with rashes, debilitating nausea, body aches, and unusually high fevers. Doctors of the time were stumped, finding nothing they could bleed or cut away, and it was an herbalist’s healing medicine that saw his parents well again.
Amazed by such artistry, Victor followed in the Herbalist’s footsteps. He studied at the best schools, absorbed everything his mentor would share. Books were not nearly enough to sate his curiosity, and Victor set off to make his own discoveries in the jungles of the Amazon.
What Victor found in the lush tangles more accurately found him.
2. What made you want to participate in My Peculiar Family?
It’s a brilliant concept! Dome and I have been friends and associates for years, and when he told me of his idea, I was immediately interested. I mean, how could I not? One glance at these old tintypes and I had to know their history.
Then he told me some of the other authors on the project, and I knew it was more than an idea. It was happening.
3. What are some of your other projects you’d like to tell the readers about?
The Angry Ghosts series ( Angry Ghosts) is hard, post-apocalyptic Sci Fi for the reader who wants more than space battles with alien baddies. Ultimately, it’s a story of redemption and the high price that must be paid for it.
Deeper descriptions can be found here:
https://cadreonepublishing.wordpress....
There’s a section reserved for the more interesting dreams I’ve had. Going to throw a cover around them and publish, because some of them are just out there:
https://cadreonepublishing.wordpress....
Samantha Boyette Interview
1. Tell us a little about your story. What makes it so peculiar?
Raised by her uncle after the death of her parents, Jessamine has a way with plants. A few words or a touch and she can make them do what she wants, growing wild or returning to a seed. She keeps the gift to herself as she grows up, never sharing it with her Uncle until years later when another young girl moves in with them.
2. What made you want to participate in My Peculiar Family?
I loved the whole idea right away. Whenever I look at old pictures I can't help but imagine what the lives of the people in them were like. This was a chance to actually write one of those stories.
3. What are some of your other projects you'd like to tell the readers about?
I have five ebooks currently available on Amazon.com (see Samantha Boyette). My next book 18 Months will be available in December 2016 through Bold Strokes Press.
4. Any last thoughts?
I hope readers are as eager to find out the stories behind the pictures as I am!
Jay Mooers Interview
1. Tell us a little about your story. What makes it so peculiar?
For My Peculiar Family I was given an odd looking young man named Edward and he was a lawyer. He didn’t look like a heavy hitter to me, so I figured Edward was trying to become a lawyer and get away from his odd relationship with his mother. But he seems to stumble from one entrapment to another as his first client may be his last. I made my short story a kind of prequel to a series I’ve been working on called Bloodlines. It reveals secrets about characters from that series, but also stands on it’s own.
2. What made you want to participate in My Peculiar Family?
I’m always looking for a new challenge. I’ve spent years doing artwork and only a few writing. I love pushing myself and trying new kinds of story telling techniques. This is my second published short story, and I’m rather proud of it. I know many of the people involved in the anthology and love being associated with them all. They are good people and I’m happy to be a part of this Peculiar family.
3. What are some of your other projects you'd like to tell the readers about?
My second novel, Scales and Sand will be released this spring 2016. It’s a children’s novel about a fantasy world where the daughter of a merchant is chased across a terrible red desert only to discover herself and grow up along the way. My comic book, Autumn Grey will be available this summer after my kickstarter campaign to fund the printing and is already available on comixology. It’s an urban fantasy tale about a young girl in the years between school and adulthood who is drawn into the fantastic world of faeries and monsters with devastating results. There’s many more things coming soon so keep an eye out via my website, www.edenparktales.com
4. Any last thoughts?
I’d just like to thank Dome for all his hard work on this and every project he embraces. His podcast has been a great way of promoting not only myself, but many others whom I’d never have known anything about otherwise. We are all a part of his Peculiar family.
Karen Gosselin Interview
1. Tell us a little about your story. What makes it so peculiar?
Isabelle is an artist living on her own in Civil War era New York City. She receives an unusual commission from a very wealthy, and eccentric man. The commission puts her in the middle of a battle between good and evil, opening her eyes to things she thought were myth.
2. What made you want to participate in My Peculiar Family?
I love writing! I have my own stories I want to tell and share. This was a great way to get my start, cut my teeth on writing fiction and having it published.
3. What are some of your other projects you'd like to tell the readers about?
Mostly artwork for now. Creating a series of pieces that are my interpretations of gods and goddesses from other cultures. I'm also writing a series of urban fiction stories that incorporate various supernatural creatures balancing "battling evil" with living a "normal" life and "fitting in" with modern society. Example: a married couple with supernatural powers not only fight to protect others, but try to raise their children at the same time. Or a Lesbian Werewolf having to deal with a nosy neighbor who is insulted that the "dog" pooed on his lawn. They still have to save the world, but they also have to do their taxes.
4. Any last thoughts?
Really excited about this project and can't wait to share what I wrote with others.
Go to My Peculiar Family to back the Kickstarter campaign and to see some of the astounding prizes still available!!
Derrick Belanger is the author of the #1 bestselling book Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance which was in the top 200 bestselling books on Amazon. He also is the author of the MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes books, the latest of which is Curse of the Deadly Dinosaurand edited the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle horror anthology A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural. His latest novella Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure Of The Primal Man is currently available as an ebook from Endeavour Press. Mr. Belanger also is a frequent contributor to the blog I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere. Mr. Belanger resides in Colorado and continues compiling unpublished works by Dr. John H. Watson.
MX Sherlock Holmes Anthology IV and My Peculiar Family Kickstarter Ending This Weekend!!
There's only a mere 48 hours or so left in our current Kickstarter campaigns!! Yep, just a few hours to be the first to get your hands on two of the best books to be published this year. I can say this with confidence because the first three volumes of the MX Anthology of New Sherlock Holmes Stories was called the greatest collection of new Sherlock Holmes stories ever published by Sherlockian legend Philip K. Jones who has literally read thousands of Holmes pastiches. You know that with David Marcum, one of the best current Sherlock Holmes authors, at the helm as editor, MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories Part IV will be just as incredible as the last three. So don't delay. Follow the link to the MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories Part IV now!
The other book which is a must have for fans of horror and Holmes alike is the gothic horror anthology My Peculiar Family which surprisingly, still has some incredible awards available!! As of my writing this blog post, backers can still get:
7 of the "Vanished Killer" Reward
You get both the e-book version of My Peculiar Family plus the illustrated e-book of my Sherlock Holmes story, "The Case of the Vanished Killer" all for just 10 bucks!! Plus, your name will be published in My Peculiar Family as a patron of the project.
5 of the “Second Chance Collections Edition” Reward."
This award gets you the softcover My Peculiar Family , your name in the book as a patron, plus an original historic tintype used as a basis for a story in the collection.
2 of the "Stacey Longo Book and Bloody Pillow" Reward.
One of my favorite stories in the collection was penned by horror writer Stacey Longo. For just 75 dollars, you get a horror anthology with one of her stories, a handmade bloody pillow designed to look like a blood splot, My Peculiar Family, and your name published as a backer in the book. Personally, I can't believe this award is still available!! I think this one is a steal. So, definitely check it out at the My Peculiar Family Kickstarter page.
3 of the “Co-Host Sci Fi Saturday Night For An Episode” Reward.
Yes, you can co-host an episode of the show that has had such sci-fi legends as Harlan Ellison and Tracy Hickman as guests. Imagine which literary legend could be talking with you. Maybe it would be one of the NY Times Bestselling authors who are part of the My Peculiar Family anthology.
8 of the “Christopher Golden Signed AND Personalized Book” Reward.
And “The “Tracy Hickman Challenge” Reward.
You can get the My Peculiar Family book, your name published as a patron, and a signed and personalized book by Christorpher Golden and Mike Mignola. Since it is personalized, you can say who Mr. Golden makes the book out to and a small amount of text you'd like him to include.
The Tracy Hickman Challenge Reward
Ever want to be a published author? How about co-writing a story with a living legend NY Times Bestseller? That's what you get for the Tracy Hickman reward. You will get a tintype image sent to you. You tell Mr. Hickman the names of the characters in the story and the basic plot, and he will write the tale based on your plot and descriptions. You will be listed as a co-author, so this is a huge opportunity!! Only one available!! Check it out at My Peculiar Family!
Remember, there's only a few hours left to get in on these FUNDED Kickstarter projects!
For one last time, it is my pleasure to share with you the stories included in the My Peculiar Family anthology.
Christopher Golden and James A. Moore - The Genealogy of Chastity Willingham Dimsdale
Stacey Longo - Miss Elizabeth’s Poison
Jason J. Mooers - Law and Mother
Robert Mayette - Solomon’s Mirror
William Meikle - The Luck of Walter Dimsdale
F. Allen Farnham - Tuckahoe Marble
Samantha Boyette - A Twisted Vine
David Schechter - Just Words
Rob Watts - Crowninshield’s Apothecary
Kristi McDowell - With This Ring, I Thee Bind
Karen Gosselin - Eggsetential Circumstances
George O'Conner - Joshua Was My Favorite
Derrick Belanger - Pieces of Rosalee
Bracken MacLeod - Know All Men
John Pallisano - The Space Between
Tracy Hickman - (TBD)
STRETCH GOAL STORY - Scott Thomas (Agatha)
Original Artwork by Sara Richard and Peter Vinton, Jr..
So, get your copy of MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories Part IV and My Peculiar Family today!!
Next month comes another incredible Sherlock Holmes anthology, Beyond Watson, more info on that collection and how you can submit a Sherlock Holmes story to two additional upcoming anthologies in my next blog post. Stay tuned!!
Derrick Belanger is the author of the #1 bestselling book Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance which was in the top 200 bestselling books on Amazon. He also is the author of the MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes books, the latest of which is Curse of the Deadly Dinosaurand edited the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle horror anthology A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural. His latest novella Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure Of The Primal Man is currently available as an ebook from Endeavour Press. Mr. Belanger also is a frequent contributor to the blog I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere. Mr. Belanger resides in Colorado and continues compiling unpublished works by Dr. John H. Watson.
Call for Sherlock Holmes Stories, Beyond Watson Launch Date, and a Peculiar Family Thank You
Belanger Books just wrapped up our first official Kickstarter campaign. The horror anthology My Peculiar Family not only met its goal, but it also met its stretch goal. A big thank you to all of the authors involved, and especially a huge thank you to The Dome (a.k.a Les Rosenthal), the host of the podcast Sci-Fi Saturday Night, for not giving up on his dream project. Rest assured, Les, you'll be the first person to hold a copy of the anthology in your hands come May.
Also, a big congratulations to David Marcum and Steve Emecz for another successful Kickstarter campaign in support of Undershaw. The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories met its goal early in the campaign and was a smashing success. Here's to more MX anthologies in the future.
So, what's next? well, we have four additional Kickstarter projects in the works. The first, which will launch next month, is Beyond Watson. The campaign for this anthology of new Sherlock Holmes stories NOT told by Dr. Watson is set to run March 20 - April 18th. All of the stories are told, at least in part, by a character who is not John Watson, and are written by some of the best current Sherlock Holmes authors including David Marcum, Daniel D. Victor, Don Everitt Smith Jr., Elizabeth Varadan, Geri Schear, Kieran Lyne, Luke Benjamen KuhnsMarcia Wilson, David Ruffle, and me, Derrick Belanger, plus an introduction co-written by Mark Levy, BSI. I am also excited to announce that the great science fiction author Jack McDevitt will have his first Sherlock Holmes story in this collection, and another sci-fi author, Richard Paolinelli, will have his story included as long as we reach our Kickstarter stretch goal.
Call for Sherlock Holmes Stories
We are also planning on two additional Sherlock Holmes collections. The first, Holmes Away from Home: Tales of the Great Hiatus will be an anthology of stories which take place during May, 4th, 1891 - April 5, 1894, or the time when Sherlock Holmes was believed to be deceased having "perished" in his confrontation with Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls. the second anthology is called Before Watson: Sherlock Holmes in Montague Street, and it is a collection of stories that take place before Holmes met Watson and resided in rooms in Montague Street.
If you are interested in submitting a story, it should be between 5,000 - 10,000 words (though if you go over or under some it is okay as long as it benefits the story). Entries for Holmes Away From Home should be received at submissions@belangerbooks.com no later than July 1st, 2016. Entries for Before watson should be received before September 1st, 2016. Again, please send all entries to submissions@belangerbooks.com.
You are also welcome to contact me at derrick@belangerbooks.com with any questions you may have. Thank you,
Derrick Belanger
Derrick Belanger is the author of the #1 bestselling book Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance which was in the top 200 bestselling books on Amazon. He also is the author of the MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes books, the latest of which is Curse of the Deadly Dinosaurand edited the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle horror anthology A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural. His latest novella Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure Of The Primal Man is currently available as an ebook from Endeavour Press. Mr. Belanger also is a frequent contributor to the blog I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere. Mr. Belanger resides in Colorado and continues compiling unpublished works by Dr. John H. Watson.
Beyond Watson Goes Live with Free Shipping to US, UK, and EU, Plus a Historical Festival Update
Beyond Watson Makes Half of its Goal in First 24 Hours on Kickstarter
What a great first day! Within the first 24 hours Beyond Watson is already more than halfway to its goal. Thank you to everyone who has backed the project so far!!
Also, we heard from many of you that you wanted Beyond Watson to be available in Germany or France or Sweden. We did not expect such an outpouring of support from the EU, but because of you, we have now made it so that there is free shipping to any EU country. If you could not order your copy yesterday and you live in an EU country, please go back and make your order.
Remember, all of the stories in Beyond Watson are told, at least in part, by a character who is not John Watson, and are written by some of the best current Sherlock Holmes authors including David Marcum, Daniel D. Victor, Don Everitt Smith Jr., Elizabeth Varadan, Geri Schear, Kieran Lyne, Luke Benjamen KuhnsMarcia Wilson, David Ruffle, and me, Derrick Belanger. I am also excited to announce that the great science fiction author Jack McDevitt will have his first Sherlock Holmes story in this collection, and another sci-fi author, Richard Paolinelli, will have his story included as long as we reach our Kickstarter stretch goal.
I would love to see Beyond Watson meet its goal by the end of the first week of the campaign. The best thing we all can do to help continue the momentum (besides buying a copy) is to let others know about this project. Please share via Facebook, Twitter, Email, Instagram, or any other social media method you employ. I will have an author interview series with the Beyond Watson participants throughout the campaign, so look back here for author interviews in the near future.
Thank you and looking forward to sending you advanced copies of Beyond Watson after the Kickstarter meets its goal.
Historical Festival Update
The Endeavour Press Historical Festival is just around the corner. The festival will run from April 18th - 22nd and each participating author will have a 30 - 60 minute time slot where you can ask them questions and interact with them via their Goodreads author page. At least two Sherlock Holmes authors, Derrick Belanger and David Stuart Davies (Ed.), will be participating. I have requested a time on April 18th or 19th. When I know the precise time, I will update on this blog. You can check out all the authors and events at: https://historicalfestival.wordpress.....
Derrick Belanger is the author of the #1 bestselling book Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance which was in the top 200 bestselling books on Amazon. He also is the author of the MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes books, the latest of which is Curse of the Deadly Dinosaurand edited the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle horror anthology A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural. His latest novella Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure Of The Primal Man is currently available as an ebook from Endeavour Press. Mr. Belanger also is a frequent contributor to the blog I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere. Mr. Belanger resides in Colorado and continues compiling unpublished works by Dr. John H. Watson.
Interview with Mark Levy, BSI and Beyond Watson Update
"What would Holmes be like without Watson?" Mark Levy, BSI, ponders in the introduction to Beyond Watson:
"The result of Holmes without Watson would be like Gilbert’s lyrics without Sullivan’s melodies, or Simon trying to harmonize without Garfunkel, or Rogers attempting to produce a musical without Hammerstein, or Englebert without Humperdink. Imagine Fred Astaire gliding along the dance floor without Ginger Rogers, like an orchestra conductor without a baton."
And yet, Beyond Watson does just that. This has been a Great week for Beyond Watson! In just five days, we met our funding goal, and we are now advancing towards meeting our stretch goal. And there's still over three weeks left in the campaign!! If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes stories and have not backed this project, you really should! The stories are top notch and written by some of the best authors in the field.
One such author is Mark Levy, BSI, who, as stated above, contributed to the introduction of the anthology. I interviewed Mr. Levy on his contribution to Beyond Watson, his investiture as a Baker Street Irregular, and his Sherlock Holmes short story in which Wason learns to juggle!
1. Your portion of the introduction to Beyond Watson was not originally written to be included in the anthology. Can you tell the readers why you wrote your piece, originally as a toast, and how it ended up in Beyond Watson?
Mark Levy (ML): Our local scion (Dr. Watson's Neglected Patients) had an annual dinner for which I volunteered to toast my favorite Sherlockian character and Sherlock’s best friend, Dr. John H. Watson. We tend to overlook Watson’s importance to Sherlock and to the readers. Let’s face it: without Dr. Watson, we wouldn’t know anything about Sherlock.
2. You are an invested member of the Baker Street Irregulars. Tell us a little about your Sherlockian history. How did you become interested in Holmes? How did you end up as a BSI?
ML: I began reading Sherlockian tales as a young teenager and my interest increased when I obtained a copy of Baring-Gould’s The Annotated Sherlock Holmes. I discovered the Baker Street Journal and submitted an article to that publication. The editor at the time, Julian Wolff, was kind enough to print my article in the March, 1971 issue.
Sometime later, I moved to Binghamton, NY and made the acquaintance of Kate Karlson, a BSI, who introduced me to a number of scions in New York State. I eventually submitted another article to the Baker Street Journal that was published in the winter, 2011 issue, some 40 years after my first BSJ article. About that time, at the suggestion of Kate and one or two other BSIs, the head of the BSI, Michael Whelan (“Wiggins”) invited me to the annual BSI dinner as a guest in New York City. After a few years of attending those dinners, I received my investiture as “Don Juan Murillo” in January, 2013.
3. You wrote a rather unusual Holmes pastiche called "Juggling with Sherlock's Friend" for Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine #15. Tell us a bit about this unique story.
ML: I thought it would be fun to place Holmes and Watson in a contemporary setting and to give Watson the limelight, for a change. About the time I was thinking about the story, I was also trying my hand (unsuccessfully) at juggling. And that’s often how ideas arrive: a juxtaposition of two or more situations. It turns out, Watson is a natural juggler, much more adroit at this skill than I.
4. Besides being a Holmesian author, you also dabble in science fiction. Tell us about your sci-fi writing.
My interest in science fiction goes back to the third grade when I discovered a book of linked short stories by Eric Frank Russell titled, Men, Martians and Machines. One thing led to another and I convinced my high school English teacher, Kurt Paul, to help me start a science fiction club and magazine we called Nebula, a year before the Science Fiction Writers of America adopted the name for their annual awards and registered the trademark. I met with the iconic editor, John Campbell, and Isaac Asimov gave our readers advice in a fantastic essay. That was a pretty good introduction to the literature of science fiction. I am working on an SF novel now, and someday I intend to write a Sherlockian novel set in the future.
5. Do you have any upcoming Sherlock Holmes stories or other writings?
ML: I’m working on a story that takes place during and immediately after the great hiatus, in which Sherlock meets John Kellogg of breakfast cereal fame. Editor's note: This story will be included in the next Belanger Books Sherlock Holmes collection, Holmes Away From Home: Tales of the Great Hiatus.]
6. Any last thoughts?
ML: Over the years, I’ve joined an Albany scion (“Altamont’s Agents”), a Syracuse scion (“The Mycroft Holmes Society”), and a new scion Kate Karlson organized in Binghamton (“Watson’s Holmestead”). When I moved to Miami, FL, I joined yet another scion (“The Tropical Deerstalkers”). Now I am a member of a Denver, CO scion (“Dr. Watson’s Neglected Patients”), the fifth scion I’ve been associated with in my short life. Meetings of scions are a great way to keep Sherlock alive. I’ve found the members to be intelligent, interesting, and friendly. I strongly encourage everyone who loves Sherlock to find a local scion and attend at least a few meetings to enrich their Sherlockian experience.
Mark Levy, BSI has worked at Fortune 500 corporations as a technical writer and as an intellectual property attorney. He has also been managing partner at two law firms, representing individuals, partnerships, large and small corporations, and universities. In addition to many legal opinions relating to patents, trademarks, and copyrights, he has drafted and prosecuted some 850 issued patents over the last 35 years.
Derrick Belanger is the author of the #1 bestselling book Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Peculiar Provenance which was in the top 200 bestselling books on Amazon. He also is the author of the MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes books, the latest of which is Curse of the Deadly Dinosaurand edited the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle horror anthology A Study in Terror: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Revolutionary Stories of Fear and the Supernatural. His latest novella Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure Of The Primal Man is currently available as an ebook from Endeavour Press. Mr. Belanger also is a frequent contributor to the blog I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere. Mr. Belanger resides in Colorado and continues compiling unpublished works by Dr. John H. Watson.
Book Reviews, Author Interviews, and Ramblings of a Sherlockian
Book Reviews, Author Interviews, and other writings by Author (and future Publisher) Derrick Belanger
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