Interesting Interview: Liese Sherwood-Fabre

Liese Sherwood-Fabre was inducted into the Baker Street Irregulars this year, and when her name was announced, the thought "of course, that makes sense" popped into my head.  Whenever Liese is around, it just feels like a good fit for her to be a part of any group.  She just has a cool demeanor that her make you feel like her writings and knowledge should always be a part of a conversation.

Liese describes her writing style as "good old-fashioned, gimmick-free storytelling" and that comes across on the page, at meetings, or just in general conversation with her.  She's been a mainstay at the New York Birthday Weekend and 221B Con for years now and has friends all across this hobby of ours.  Her writings are as varied as you can imagine.  When I saw her in Atlanta earlier this year, she was telling me about a new children's book about a teenage witch.  Quite a change from her popular Sherlockian writing!  But speaking of writing, let's see what Liese Sherwood-Fabre wrote for her answers to this week's Interesting Interview!

How do you define the word “Sherlockian?”

At its base, of course, is an interest in Sherlock Holmes, but it must be more than a casual interest. There’s often an aspect of fandom involved as well—a desire to learn more, read more, and discuss your interests with others. Meeting other Sherlockians is one of the most enjoyable aspects of discovering and joining a scion. Despite a diversity of professions, they all have a common interest in reading and discussing the cases to learn more about Sherlock Holmes. At the same time, this interest takes different avenues. Some have focused on Sherlock Holmes as portrayed in film; others, games related to Sherlock Holmes and mystery solving; others, collecting autographs of actors who portrayed the detective; and so many other different ways to collect or study his impact on popular culture.

How did you become a Sherlockian?

I cannot identify when I first read a case from the Canon, but I do recall being very aware of mass media characters (including those in cartoons) who put on a deerstalker hat and carried a magnifying glass as imitating the detective who appeared in the old black and white Basil Rathbone movies.

When Robert Downey, Jr. re-ignited a popular interest in Sherlock Holmes, I considered writing a novel about the man. I had already penned several other stories and novels (some of which had won awards), and I thought about a new spin on him, focusing on his origins. That has become my Early Case Files of Sherlock Holmes series.

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

I hold a PhD in Sociology from Indiana University. I have to say that I’m fascinated by how the Victorian period affected the characters in the cases. In particular, I discovered how this period opened new arenas for women through my research. The typewriter and the bicycle offered new careers and mobility that women in prior periods did not have. The Canon documents these changes in some of the cases.

What is your favorite canonical story?

“The Adventure of the Cardboard Box.” At its heart, it’s a psychological thriller. How Sarah Cushing manipulated Jim Browner to murder his wife and her lover was absolutely diabolical. Moriarty may have been the spider at the center of his web of crime, but she was just as cunning—only on a micro-scale. 

I also like this story because she becomes afflicted with “brain fever,” which I find a most fascinating condition. Today, we might call it a nervous breakdown. Others did experience a bout of it in a few other cases. A major treatment was shaving the afflicted’s head to cool off the brain. 

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

Oh, do I have to name just one? There are so many. Like I said above, everyone has such interesting professions and backgrounds. There are doctors, writers, lawyers, artists of all kinds, actors, and so many others. I particularly admire Steve Mason. He has taken on several leadership roles, not just in the Dallas scion, but also in The Beacon Society where he is very concerned about teaching the next generation about Sherlock Holmes. One way he reaches out to young people on a very individual basis is giving away copies of The Hound of the Baskervilles. He carries a few copies with him when he’s out and about, and when he sees a young person, will offer a copy to him/her because that is how he learned about Holmes, and he wants to share it with others. I think that is so powerful.

What subset of Sherlockiana really interests you?

I’m probably more into the stories (whether in writing, film, or plays) involving Sherlock Holmes. I know some are purists and prefer only the original stories, but I like the adaptations—be it Monk, Enola Holmes, or Elementary. Each brings a unique perspective to the character.

I am a big fan of your The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes series of essay collections.  What was the impetus for writing these books?

When I started my Early Case Files of Sherlock Holmes series, I had to do a lot of research to get the historical period right. One of the first things, for example was that he said his ancestors were country squires. I had to find out what a country squire was and how this might have shaped Sherlock Holmes. As I compiled all this knowledge, I thought it a pity to keep it all to myself and decided to write short essays on various subjects to share with Sherlockian scions for their newsletters. One that I contacted was the Dallas scion (The Crew of the Barque Lone Star), and its leader Steve Mason invited me to a meeting. It might not be apparent, but almost everything in my novels provided the basis for one of my essays.

How do you decide the topics for your quarterly articles in Sherlock's Spotlight Gazette?

I basically go through the essays that I have already written and look for topics that I think are appropriate and of interest to young people. For example, what was school like? Or secret writing as in “The Adventure of the Dancing Men.” After I select the essay, I shorten it because there is a length requirement, then I pass it to you for a readability review. I like the idea that these essays have more than one life, and maybe the young people who read them find them fun and interesting as much as the adults.

What book would you recommend to other Sherlockians?

Can I mention my own? Just kidding [not].

There are so many good Sherlockian books and series out now. Of course, there’s the Mary Russell series by Laurie R. King. The first is now celebrating its thirtieth birthday (Can you believe it?). I also enjoy Bonnie MacBird’s series which is more Canonical with Holmes and Watson solving cases. One that took a different perspective is Robert Ryan’s Dr. John Watson series. In these books, Watson is serving in WWII and solving mysteries without his companion. He often will consider what Holmes would have said/done in a particular situation as he tries to solve the mystery confronting him.

I really can’t pick one but would suggest to others they check them all out. The nice thing is, there is something out there for every reader’s taste.

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

During the pandemic, the Dallas scion went virtual. Before, we would meet once a month at a restaurant with about 20 attending. Once we could meet in person again, the scion continued to meet virtually because it had increased in number and reach. There are regular attendees from many parts of the world. We also have had several young people attend. Two incredible girls from Canada recently did a presentation that blew everyone away. I think the use of virtual meetings with its wider reach can be a great tool to keep Sherlock’s memory and influence alive and further expanding his audience. 

Interesting Interview: Rudy Altergott

One of the newest member of the Baker Street Irregulars is this week's Interesting Interview, Rudy Altergott!  If you've been active in Sherlockiana over the past few years, this name or face my be familiar to you because Rudy is a force of nature!  His energy and zeal about Sherlockiana is contagious.  To talk with him is to be immediately swept up in a deep conversation.  And who know where that conversation will go?  It could get you digging into the minutiae of your favorite story or brainstorming ideas for local scion events!

Rudy is also one of the most gracious guys out there.  As someone who's relatively new to this hobby of ours, he is quick to give credit to those who have come before him and always eager to learn from other Sherlockians.  It's no wonder that he was invested into the BSI this January; Rudy seems to be a lifer at every interest he takes up!

How do you define the word “Sherlockian”?

I have read so many of these interviews and appreciated that among the answers, there is not one single definition. To me, the flexible definition of a Sherlockian would include being someone who loves Sherlock Holmes and detective fiction, who has either read the Sacred Writings in full or in part or has a familiarity with them and wants to learn more, who writes or produces content related to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson and Arthur Conan Doyle, et al., and who attends in-person or virtual scion meetings. Again, I do not think you have to be a Canonical expert. Honestly, I have not read it in its entirety, but have read most of it (I am keeping the shilling, thank you very much!). And someone can be a Sherlockian without attending scion meetings, like my friend Greg Redding, dean of students at our alma mater, Wabash College. Perhaps the definition could simply be someone who loves Sherlock Holmes and detective fiction. 

How did you become a Sherlockian?

I was introduced to Sherlockiana proper like Holmes and Watson, by a certain ‘Young Stamford.' I met Terry McCammon, not long before he was to receive that investiture, through my Masonic lodge where he was a regular visitor and is a honorary member. He mentioned Hugo’s Companions when I was visiting his home and woodshop one Saturday in October 2017, and the next dinner was in December. I was invited to attend, did so, and have kept coming since. 

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

My current work is as a surgical records manager. Truthfully, it does not really affect me as a Sherlockian. What it has done is brought me even closer to my father and namesake, Dr. Rudy Altergott, Sr., of whom I am most proud, and from whom, like my mother, Dr. Karen Heidkamp, I inherited a love of reading. 

What is your favorite canonical story?

This is a tough question to answer. I may have to say BRUC since I have always loved spy stories, and would include NAVA and SECO along this line. Once when he was in Chicago, over cocktails in Sinatra’s booth at the Pump Room, Dan Andriacco told me that he thought BRUC could arguably be the best story under certain criteria. HOUN is the theme of Chicagoland scions and has some of my favorite lines of Conan Doyle, also showcasing his masterful ways of revealing the truth behind the seemingly supernatural in the Canon. I also feel I must plug VALL and LAST because of my research on Birdy Edwards, Sherlock Holmes (‘Mr. Altamont of Chicago’), and the infiltration of secret societies in the Canon. The denouement of LAST may be my favorite scene in the Canon, but then there is Holmes’ reveal in EMPT. I could keep going on but won’t, for your sake, Rob, and the readers’. 

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

I want to highlight George Sheetz of Batavia, Illinois, a Sherlockian of 40-plus years now. Kind and soft-spoken, a retired librarian, he is also one of the most hilarious folk I know. I consider him among my mentors even though he is one of those who treats you like an equal. Every time I am with him, and in the immediate aftermath, I am on cloud nine. 

What subset of Sherlockiana really interests you?

I suppose I would say Sherlockian cinephiles or Sherlockians who write on military history. Both of these topics in general are among my lifelong interests. I really regret not introducing myself to Sherlockian film expert Russell Merritt, the last Sherlockian face I saw before departing the ASH Brunch for LaGuardia during the 2023 BSI Weekend. 

Chicago is a city with many different scion societies.  What is the Sherlockian scene like with so many different groups up there?

There are many different avenues that are their own. The thing I would like to see are more young folk like myself. At the same time, I try to listen and learn from those who have long been involved, and there is much to be gleaned.

Your chapter in the book Holmes and Me is titled "How Sherlockiana Has Helped Me Through Covid-19."  How was Sherlockiana a life raft for you during that time?

It not only made me take the Canon seriously and read more of it for the first time, not only made me read more books in general and become a serious book collector because of Starrett and Morley and authors and books and series that other Sherlockians recommended, it also introduced me to dear, dear friends and made me more comfortable to put myself out there, to introduce myself to the ‘big wigs’ via Zoom. In the final analysis, Sherlockiana during lockdown gave my life new purpose and direction and helped me commit to a life in letters. 

What book would you recommend to other Sherlockians?

I would recommend anything by David Baldacci. I am convinced he is a Sherlockian in all but affiliation. A portrait of Conan Doyle is featured in his Master Class course, and he has said that reading The Adventures, specifically SPEC, was an eye-opening experience for him as a kid. He also incorporates Sherlockian tropes in his stories, like disguises, one of my favorite features of the Canon. A good starting point would be his novel Memory Man (2015). The title character, Amos Decker, is a bit like Holmes. A former pro football player, his IQ is heightened to genius level after a brain injury during play. He becomes a police officer and later a private investigator driven to solve the murder of his family. Baldacci’s books are hard to put down. 

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

Frankly, I am optimistic. Wiggins seems receptive to approving new scions, depending on their purpose and such, and some defunct scions have even been resurrected. Who knows? I would not be surprised if, within the next decade, there will be new, stimulating conferences in places in the U.S. and abroad that one might not have imagined. What excites me most is the likelihood of making new friends in that nearer term. This not only expands the Rolodex, it offers more opportunity to learn. (‘Education never ends, Watson…’)

Interesting Interview: PJ Sullivan

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

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

How do you define the word “Sherlockian”?  

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

How did you become a Sherlockian?  

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

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

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

What is your favorite canonical story?  

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

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

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

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

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

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

What subset of Sherlockiana really interests you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What book would you recommend to other Sherlockians? 

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

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

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

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

Interesting Interview: Rusty Mason

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

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

How do you define the word “Sherlockian”?

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

How did you become a Sherlockian?

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

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

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

What is your favorite canonical story?

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

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

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

What subset of Sherlockiana really interests you?

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

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

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

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

At the Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY

What are some Sherlockian anime that people should know about?

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

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

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

What book would you recommend to other Sherlockians?

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

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

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

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

In the Town of Atlanta [YELL]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Researching the World of Sherlock Holmes going deep into the nerdiness of rabbit holes during the research process.

The detailed slideshow that took us through the Mycrofts Through the Ages panel.

The cheer that when up when Toby was mentioned at The Great Mouse Detective panel.

Participants at the Sherlock & Co. panel patiently walking an older Sherlockian through what Discord is.

Scarfing down a delicious brisket sandwich from the food truck while Atlanta Radio Theatre Company put on a Jeeves and Wooster play.

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

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

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

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

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

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

221B Con: Not just a place for young Sherlockians

Were there things I didn't understand or didn't care for?  Sure.  But you know what, that's true for traditional Sherlockian events as well.  

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

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

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

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

Interesting Interview: Ann Andriacco

This week's Interesting Interview is with the fabulous Ann Andriacco!  You've probably seen her at a million events, whether it's behind a vendor's table with her amazing creations, overseeing the Gaslight Gala during the January Birthday Weekend, or a million places in-between.  No matter where you see her, you can guarantee she's enjoying herself and if you're lucky to spend some time with her, your day will always be better!

Ann is a stalwart within The Beacon Society, now overseeing two large competitions each year.  She is married to the editor of The Baker Street Journal, Dan Andriacco, and it's plain to see that they both enjoy Sherlockian events, but enjoy each other's company even more!  Ann is a smart and friendly person to be around, and if you're one of the few folks out there who don't recognize this face, get ready to get to know one of the warmest people in our hobby!

How do you define the word “Sherlockian”?

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

How did you become a Sherlockian?

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

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

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

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

What is your favorite canonical story?

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

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

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

What subset of Sherlockiana really interests you?

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

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

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

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

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

Joel Senter was my professor for a class at the University of Cincinnati when I was 19. We then met Joel and his wife Carolyn in the Sherlock Holmes world and a wonderful friendship began. It seemed right for me to help carry on his name and introduce others to his love of Sherlock Holmes stories.  (I was a Fine Arts major and Dr. Senter taught Psychology. It wasn’t in my field but sounded like an interesting class. When I did Statistics with another professor—also not in my major area—we used the book he had written for our class. I asked him to autograph my copy. He was shocked that I still had it!)

What book would you recommend to other Sherlockians?

I would choose the Canon itself. I enjoy the stories themselves. Find an area you really enjoy, whether it is analysis, chronology, pastiches, etc. But I can put a plug in for a writer I know named Dan Andriacco….and he did not tell me to say that. I am his last reader before publication, and I do enjoy his stories.

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

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

Interesting Interview: Edith Pounden

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

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

How do you define the word “Sherlockian”?

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

How did you become a Sherlockian?

There are so many waypoints for this. I grew up with the Rathbone/Bruce films, and my sister lent me her Doubleday Book Club 2-volume edition of the canon when I was still a kid (then made me return it, worse luck). So, I’d read many of the short stories before seeing the Granada series, and remember thinking at the time that Jeremy Brett was no Rathbone. I think reading Nicholas Meyer’s The Seven-Per-Cent Solution was what made me care about what might be happening behind the page in the original stories. I was a teen in the 80s, so I found Doyle again through the stacks of New Age books in my high school library. In one of these, there was a paragraph about Sherlockians and the Great Game, and I remember thinking that I’d arrived too late to play, because surely everything must have been figured out by that time. (Reader, it had not.)

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

What is your favorite canonical story?

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

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

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

What subset of Sherlockiana really interests you?

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

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

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

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

Sherlockian Zoom meetings during the pandemic introduced me to a much wider community of Sherlockians than I had previously been acquainted with. I was suddenly in contact with people I had known only through their writing, and I feel fortunate to call many of these people my friends now. And being involved in the founding of the Legion of Zoom and organizing its annual conference has been an absolute blast. I’m glad that several societies have maintained an online presence so that those of us who can’t travel may participate in meetings held by a variety of Sherlockian groups. Each has its own distinct character, and offers different perspectives on the canon.

What book would you recommend to other Sherlockians?

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

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

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