In keeping with my trivia theme, I've decided to pose three questions:
1. Who's the talented young Sherlock Holmes writer new on the publishing seen?
2. Who brought Holmes to South Florida and introduced him to Thomas Edison?
3. Who wrote her first novel in seventeen days?
Welcome, Amy!
The Detective and the Woman: A Novel of Sherlock Holmes takes place during the Great Hiatus when Holmes is believed dead. But as readers of Holmes’ stories, we know that he has simply gone underground to sort things out. In several Holmes’ pastiches, he has spent time in exotic locales across the globe, but this time Thomas landed the Great Detective in Fort Myers, Florida where he meets Thomas and Mina Edison and follows the bad guys into the recently planted citrus groves. Brother Mycroft requests his services in helping keep the woman alive and from financial ruin. Thomas has cleverly written the tale from both Holmes and Irene Adler's point of view: Holmes, appropriately written in third person, and Adler in first—nice technique that demonstrates Holmes’ elusive nature while allowing readers to get to know the woman on a personal level.
Holmes appreciates Adler’s wit and intelligence and does not harbor ill feelings against her for beating him at his own game when they first met. Adler learns to trust the detective, although he frustrates her to no end. The two become partners and friends. Without giving away the ending, I believe we may see these two again in future Thomas mysteries. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Now, let's see what Amy has to add.
1.
When and how did you first discover Sherlock Holmes? What was the first
story in the Canon you read?
I remember first
discovering Sherlock Holmes through an audiobook from the public library. The
story I recall most clearly is “The Speckled Band,” which freaked me out. I
also recall “The Five Orange Pips” and my amazement that Holmes had failed to
save one of his clients.
2.
You reread the Canon only recently. Have your thoughts about Holmes and
Watson changed since the first time reading about their adventures?
This time through, I was very struck by
the subtlety of the humor and the masterful characterizations. Watson is a
mesmerizing narrator, and the question of his reliability or lack thereof is
always tantalizingly present between the lines. As a child, I enjoyed the
excitement and mystery, but the sophistication of the writing is much clearer
to me now.
3.
What was the inspiration behind the creation of your Holmes novel, The Detective and the Woman: A Novel of
Sherlock Holmes, which by the way is a wonderful title?
Thank you! When
I reread the canon in 2010, I was particularly intrigued by “A Scandal in
Bohemia,” the story in which Holmes meets Irene Adler. The story is a
fascinating one because Holmes begins it with a very negative opinion of Irene
and ends it thinking she’s clever and more honorable than his client. She’s an
audacious and interesting character, and I found myself wanting to imagine a
future in which she and Holmes could form an actual friendship based on
understanding and respect. That was the subject that inspired me. I was also
inspired by NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), a program that encourages
participants to pen a whole novel in a month, and that’s how I got the story
fully on paper.
4.
What do you enjoy most about writing?
I’m a very
character-driven author, so my favorite aspect of writing is delving into the
minds of my characters and writing about their motivations and idiosyncrasies.
5. Can you give us a peak at your next Holmes
novel?
At the moment,
I’m working on a sequel to The Detective
and The Woman that will tell the story of the disappearance of James
Phillimore, an incident that is mentioned by Watson in the canon but not
explained.
6.
What was your inspiration behind brining Holmes to Florida?
I live in Fort
Myers, Florida, which was the winter home of the inventor Thomas Edison. His
presence here attracted many interesting people, and Fort Myers society was
alive with newness and possibility at the turn of the century. On the other
hand, the area was also filled with orange groves and migrant workers, who were
no less important to the area’s development. I was drawn to the possibility of
a meeting between Holmes and Edison—two great minds—and to the tensions of a
society that was dependent on both the rich and the poor to such a great
extent.
The geographical
location itself also inspired me. South Florida has a pace and feeling all its
own, and life on the coast is filled with sea air and a special tropical beauty
that I longed to communicate through the novel.
7.
As a member of the Baker Street Babes podcasting team, you’ve read and
reviewed a lot of Holmesian literature. What are your thoughts on the ever-growing
world of Sherlock Holmes?
I’m extremely
privileged to be part of the Baker Street Babes, and I’m excited about the
widening world of Sherlock Holmes. In the past few years, mainly as a result of
the recent Sherlock Holmes films and BBC/Hartswood TV adaptation, a huge influx
of newer and younger people has joined the ranks of Holmes fans around the
world. I’m pleased by the increasing interest in the canon, as well as by the
fact that new authors are trying their hands at writing new adventures for history’s
greatest detective. Laurie R. King (author of the Mary Russell series of
pastiches) is an ongoing inspiration for me, and I hope that other fans will
find the same inspiration in Holmes-derived fiction.
8. With all the demands expected of writers
today, tell us how you juggle all your responsibilities and schedule time for
writing.
I have a
non-writing, part-time office job, but I also suffer from Crohn’s Disease, an
incurable digestive disorder. Illness sometimes limits my ability to be active outside
my home, but it also affords me extra time for writing. I wrote The Detective and The Woman in 17 days,
but my health challenges gave me plenty of time for editing and honing it
afterward.
The best way to
make time for writing is just to do it, whether someone has ten minutes or ten
hours available. Many people want to write a novel, but only some actually do
it. The difference is that some people take out a pen and paper or open a Word
document one day and start writing—and don’t stop until they’re finished, even
when they have to fit writing between other things in their lives. I believe
the main secret to writing a novel is simply perseverance.
9.
I can’t resist asking this question. It’s been asked so often, it’s
almost become a cliché, but I’ve found that Sherlockians light up when the
question is posed. Who is your favorite actor, be it TV or film, who has played
Holmes?
With all due
respect to the magnificent Jeremy Brett, I believe Benedict Cumberbatch has
done an unparalleled job of portraying a Holmes who is both thoroughly
canonical and thoroughly modern. Before the Sherlock
series was released, I had no idea how a modern adaptation would work, but
after two brilliant series, I’m totally convinced. Benedict is a classic Holmes
in every sense of the word.
