Interesting Interview: Kyndall Potts

Sometimes when I do these interviews, the interviewee won't send me as many pictures as I'd like to use so I have to add some that I find on Google.  When you interview an artist though, that's not a problem.  And boy, what an artist we have this week with Kyndall Potts!  I'm just going to stop right now and recommend that everyone open up the link to www.kyndallpottsart.com to have open when this interview is over.  You're going to want to spend some time clicking through there.  Wow!

Kyndall is known for her vendor tables at Holmes, Doyle, and Friends and 221B Con.  She is a member of The Agra Treasurers and The John H. Watson Society and active on social media.  Sometimes my introductions for folks can list a million things that they are active in, but I think you'll see that Kyndall is a "simple and deep" kind of person.  She doesn't spread herself too thin because once she is in to something she is IN to it.  So, if you're not yet acquainted with this delightful and passionate Sherlockian, get ready to read about someone you're going to want to spend time with, Kyndall Potts!

How do you define the word “Sherlockian”?

Rob, I believe you may have used the term “big tent Sherlockian” on the John H. Watson Society Zoom call recently, which definitely applies to me. There is a Sherlockian “spectrum,” and I think folks at all points along the spectrum are equally valid Sherlockians and contribute to the vibrancy of our community. 

I do think that to be a Sherlockian, you must be more than a casual consumer of canon, pastiche, fanfiction, or film/TV variations of Holmes. There is something deeper that we Sherlockians share. It is something that reaches into our very souls. It drives us to “play the game,”  to work Holmes into almost every conversation (even with complete strangers), to fill our homes with books, figurines, pipes, and stuffed dogs wearing deerstalkers, and, most importantly, to seek out others who understand and share our love for the great detective. 

How did you become a Sherlockian?

I discovered Holmes only seven years ago at the age of fifty-three. I had always meant to read the canon but somehow never got around to it. I liked to listen to books on my long commute to work and was looking for the biggest bang for my buck in audiobooks. Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection, narrated by Stephen Fry, fit the bill with almost seventy-three hours of content for only one Audible credit. 

I was enjoying the stories and, partway through, remembered that a few years before, I had started watching that contemporary Sherlock Holmes series with the odd-looking but intriguing guy playing Holmes. It was, of course, BBC’s Sherlock. I started watching it again while still listening to the canon. In a bizarre coincidence, I listened to "The Final Problem" on my commute home (shocked and thinking Holmes was truly dead) only to watch "The Reichenbach Fall" episode of Sherlock that evening. I can pinpoint that day as the starting point of my Sherlockian journey. I was hooked. 

I can’t overstate the impact of the sex appeal of Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal of Holmes. Yes, I’m that shallow. Without him, I would have enjoyed the canon but gone no further. Instead, I began searching social media for Sherlock and Benedict Cumberbatch fans.

And boy, did I find them.

Soon, I began reading and writing Sherlock fanfiction (I still do both). Then I began creating Sherlock fanart (I still do that, too). Next, I searched for Sherlockian groups in my area and found The Agra Treasurers in Dayton, Ohio (I am currently treasurer of that scion). I’ve been a panelist and/or art vendor at 221B Con each year since 2019, and this past January, I attended BSI weekend in New York for the first time.  

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

I was a corporate tax accountant until I became a Sherlockian. In my pre-Sherlockian days, I only had room in my life for work and family. My discovery of Holmes quickly made me realize that something had to change. I was writing Sherlock fanfiction in my head in meetings or doodling Sherlock fanart on the back of tax court cases. 

Clearly, I needed to rethink my priorities. 

I wasn’t going to ditch my family, so work had to go. I left the corporate world in 2019 to write fanfiction and create art. I had started out doing only Sherlock fanart, but I quickly found I had a knack for painting and now have a (barely) profitable art business. You can see my art at www.kyndallpottsart.com

So, it wasn’t my profession that affected how I enjoyed being a Sherlockian. It was my being a Sherlockian that impacted my profession. 

What is your favorite canonical story?

"The Red-Headed League." The case is so clever. No wonder it was Doyle’s second favorite. 

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

This is a hard one. You have already interviewed so many Sherlockians! I was lucky enough to have been a contributor to a book that was published this May, When the Rose Speaks its Name, an anthology of queer Sherlock Holmes fiction and poems. I think it would be interesting to interview one of the editors. You can find them (and info about the book) here: https://whentherosespeaks.com. 

What subset of Sherlockiana really interests you?

It is perfectly reasonable to speculate that Holmes might have been gay, given his lack of interest in women. However, my particular interest is in the proposition that Holmes and Watson were more than just flat mates; they were soulmates.

Yes, I can see all of those eye rolls! “Oh, God. She’s one of those.” 

We in the Johnlock camp believe it fiercely. Surely, given the times in which they lived, Watson could not publish the true details in his accounts. Or perhaps his literary agent advised against it. You might say we play our own “game within the game.”  If you had told me ten years ago that I’d be devoted to a romance between Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, I wouldn’t have believed you. Yet here I am.

This weird little corner of Sherlockiana has given me so much. Here, I have met my dearest friends. It was my springboard into the more traditional areas of our universe. It inspired me to express my creative side, which had been dormant for so long. It makes me happy. It has changed my life. 

How long have you been creating Sherlockian art, and what inspiration has to hit for a new piece?

My first piece of Sherlockian art was done on notebook paper while at work, probably in early 2018. It was an illustration for a piece of Sherlock fanfiction by the woman who was destined to become my best friend and co-writer. She has it now. 

I never know when inspiration will strike, but I cannot create art unless I’m inspired. This is why I don’t take commissions. I’ve got a Mycroft piece and a Jeremy Brett piece in my head that I will try to paint before 221B Con next year. I’m a very methodical artist, and I plan and think about a piece for weeks or months before I ever pick up my paintbrush, pastel, or digital pen. 

I made an exception to my “no commissions” rule when Steve Mason approached me in New York this past January and asked me to contribute a piece of art to a special project he and Rusty Mason are undertaking for the 2025 BSI weekend. If you will be in New York, check it out at their vendor table.  

As someone who has been a member of The Agra Treasurers for some years, can you give us a peek behind the curtain into what goes into pulling off the Holmes, Doyle, and Friends conference each year?

The Agra Treasurers is a small scion. Our membership has hovered around twenty for the past several years, yet we put on a great conference! Dan Andriacco is the star of the show, putting together a consistently fabulous roster of speakers. My role is behind the scenes: booking the venue, sending e-mails, creating the registration forms, collecting the money, etc. I am the Mrs. Hudson to Dan’s Holmes. 

Our biggest challenge is the lack of affordable venues in the Dayton area that have all the amenities we need and are convenient to the airport. We are busting out of our Friday night reception space but have found nothing larger. 

If your readers haven’t been to Holmes, Doyle, & Friends, I encourage them to give it a try. The speakers and vendors are always great. A highlight for me is the karaoke on Friday night after the reception; it is so much fun! 

The next one will be on March 22, 2025 (with a reception and karaoke the night before). 

Info and registration materials can be found at our website www.agratreasurers.net. 

What book would you recommend to other Sherlockians?

One book near and dear to my heart is Rare and Wonderfully Made by Kameo Llyn Douglas. It was published in 2022 by Improbable Press, a UK publisher of queer Sherlock Holmes fiction. 

The book is a modern interpretation of Holmes and Watson. It is comprised of a series of vignettes covering the life of an autistic Sherlock Holmes from childhood to adulthood and focuses on his relationship with John Watson. Kameo has drawn from her experiences as the parent of an autistic son and as a special education teacher to paint an enlightening and heartwarming picture of Holmes and those who love him as they navigate the challenges of his unique nature. It is written entirely in the “221B” literary form. That is, every two hundred and twenty-first word begins with the letter “B.”

An interview with Kameo about this book appeared in the Autumn 2023 issue of Sherlock Holmes Magazine. Full disclosure: Kameo is my best friend and sometimes co-writer, and I created the cover illustration for the book.

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

I predict it will still be going strong. Of course, new blood will come and rile up the gatekeepers with some new interpretation, as Sherlock did. The Sherlock & Co. podcast (which is fantastic!) has drawn a new generation of potential Sherlockians, and I’m sure we’ll see many of those youngsters in our ranks down the line.

Some things will never change. We won’t stop revering Watson’s canon, and we won’t stop reciting "221B" or wearing our deerstalkers. But new traditions will be born, and new ideas and lore will be generated, adding to the richness of our Sherlockian culture and ensuring that it survives far into the future. 

Interesting Interview: Matt Hall

Even though the term "nice Sherlockian" is the norm, I always feel it important to point out when the people I interview on here are nice folks, and man, does Matt Hall fit the bill!  Anyone who's met him feels like they've reconnected with an old friend.  Just sitting by him for a bit can elevate any Sherlockian gathering.  (Yes, I'm speaking from experience here.)

Matt has been speaking on Sherlockian topics a lot lately, and whether it's in Minneapolis, Scintillation of Scions, Legion of Zoom, or any other place he pops up, you know you can count on an intelligent and charming presentation.  And if you can't make to his appearances, there's always his great 221B Cooee blog to check out which conveys his great personality and depth of knowledge in each post.  So let's get to meet our favorite Australian transplant a little better, shall we?

How do you define the word “Sherlockian”?

I think it's self-assigned. I have learnt that the Sherlockian world is a broad church, two Sherlockians can have completely different interests with little overlap. At the center of it all is Sherlock (or Doyle, or Watson, or Moriarty!). For example, I've learnt some people don't enjoy pastiches, others struggle to suspend belief and truly 'play the game', and others have zero interest in literary study. The one common element I've found in Sherlockians is friendship, whether it be at a scion meeting, via correspondence (including good old-fashioned mail), or over a drink or two.

At a wonderful Friday evening dinner at Dick Sveum's home. L-R: Max Magee, Glen Miranker, Peter Blau (the head of my local scion The Red Circle), the blog author, and Will Walsh.

How did you become a Sherlockian?

As a young boy growing up in Sydney I loved a book on my parents very small bookshelf, called 'Rivals of Sherlock Holmes'. I tried to read some (I was very young) and was confused because Sherlock never appeared! With a love of mystery stories generally, it was easy for Conan Doyle's work to stand out among the rest, and for me that's where it stayed - an absolute passion for Sherlock, regularly re-reading the Canon. What I did not know, was that other people who loved Sherlock were gathering, talking, published, and sharing the good word - I had no idea there was a Sherlockian world! Then, about eight years ago I wondered what order the stories were in, and Google led me to a podcast on Baring-Gould's chronology. Phrases like 'Baker Street Irregulars' quickly entered my ears, and I was opened up to a whole new world, reading journals and books.

It was a few years before I worked up the courage to join a Red Circle scion meeting, then COVID came. And that made it far easier - it was wonderful to join Zoom meetings and meet people, and then I took the plunge the first opportunity post-COVID and attended the BSI Empire conference in mid-2022. I knew nobody and wondered if I was going to sit lonely in the corner and embarrass myself. I walked in, and three wonderful people immediately introduced themselves to me and invited me to join them for dinner: Walt Colby, Jim Webb, and Tom Brydges. They tore down my nervousness instantly, and I've never looked back. I'll never forget it, and I hope to pay it forward in welcoming others.

Some of my first Sherlockian friends who took me under their wing and force-fed me 'Blue Carbuncle' cocktails at the Sherlock and Empire BSI Conference. This photo makes me happy. -  L-R:Jayantika Ganguly, Tamar Zeffren, Maria Fleischhack, Phil Bergem, Karen Bergem.

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

I'm a scientist by training, working at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland. My training was in chemistry and pharmacology, and I now work in drug discovery for rare diseases. I've always loved science, and think that led me to have such strong affection for Sherlock - the chemist, the drug user, and the observer (compared to, say, Miss Marple). I do find myself reflecting on some of the scientific aspects of the Holmes story, and try to approach understanding the stories (or their real-world influence) through that lens. For example, a recent talk and article I wrote attempted to explain why phosphorus could have been used (relatively) safely, and the history of our understanding of phosphorus and its glow.

What is your favorite canonical story?

For me, it's 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'. Centered on a legend, perfectly written, plenty of attention for Watson, and lots of tension. That might be a cliched (common?) answer. Of the short stories, I dearly love the Six Napoleons. I have a feeling that is partly because of the wonderful Granada episode based on that story.

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

It's such an incredible community. I'm going to say Mark Jones. His knowledge of the Doylean and Victorian literature world is amazing, he's just started as Editor of the Sherlock Holmes Journal of London, and his podcast is a joy (The Doings of Doyle). Recently, Mark published a book on the BBC TV series, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Mark is a wonderful example of someone who shares his knowledge with the community, and enriches it.

What subset of Sherlockiana really interests you?

I really lean into the literary study of the stories, and the real-world historical context for the stories. Nothing makes me happier than finding a small connection to Doyle in the real world. For example, I recently have a talk at the Sherlockian Saturdays at the Pratt (that you can watch on Youtube) about R T Norman. Who? Norman was the man who won the 1927 competition to guess Conan Doyle's twelve favorite Sherlock short stories. Norman was clearly a Sherlockian - yet nothing was known about him - and I had a lot of fun hunting him down, and shining a Sherlockian light on him.

Oh and books!

How does being a Sherlockian in America compare to being a Holmesian in Australia?

Well, that's difficult to answer, because I wasn't a Sherlockian/Holmesian in Australia - or I wasn't connected with the community. I wish I'd somehow discovered this community sooner. What I can say is that I am a member of the Sydney Passengers now, and join their meetings and try to contribute an article to each issue of the Passengers' Log. The focus of these articles is to provide a short biography on each person Doyle mentions in his memoirs of his Australian tour: Wanderings of a Spiritualist. It's a group worth joining - I once called the Sydney Passengers a 'scion' and received a note in typically independent Australian fashion that they weren't a scion, because they didn't need anyone's permission to exist!

What made you decide to start the 221B Cooee blog?

As a community, sharing and engaging with each other is so important. I recognized that publishing articles was an important way to support our society journals, but also found that I continually had small observations or findings I wanted to share. Publishing an article is lengthy process, and a lot of what I wanted to share wasn't important enough (or interesting enough!) to publish.

So I created 221b Cooee as a way to share posts and thoughts. I post on new books and journals; old newspaper articles I find ; my book collecting goals and progress (like my white whale goal of collecting all BSI publications) ; meetings and talks ; and miscellanea. I'm not sure that many people read it, but the pleasure for me is in putting the posts together.

Another pic I love of friends and community - walking around Stockholm with Mattias Bostrom was a lot of fun!

What book would you recommend to other Sherlockians?

I want to give a realistic answer. So many books are out of print - therefore rare and expensive. I do get a little down sometimes that so much wonderful Sherlockian writing is out of reach of those we want to read it - newcomers!

So I'll restrict my answer to something accessible, and this is going to be very left-field (to use the American).

Nothing has made me laugh harder that Vince Stadon's 'Hounded! My Lifelong Obsession with Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles'.

Vince is based in the UK, and when the COVID pandemic arrived and he was well and truly locked down, he resolved to record his experience watching every adaptation of 'Hound of the Baskervilles'. The book is set against the backdrop of living during the pandemic, visiting the moors to experience the environment, and some hilarious self-deprecating moments (he steals a neighbors shoe for example to play out the scene in the book). I haven't read anything else quite like Stadon's book, and it's easy to find through Amazon, etc. If you like that book, you and I will get along!

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

Bigger! Larger! More connected! I think there are so many new adaptations and productions of the stories - on stage, screen, and in print (including graphic novels) that there will continue to be a stream of new Sherlockians. How do we help them find our community? How do we ensure there are ways for everyone to get involved and meet them where they are irrespective of means - whether it's through zoom, at local meetings, or at conferences and weekend events. There are so many people out there (like I was) blissfully unaware of what they were missing out on - an enriching community of peers. I think over the next decade we'll find new ways to bring more people into our wonderful, irreverent, serious, literary world.