Whilst here we met Bonnie MacBird, the author of several great Sherlock Holmes tales at The Sherlock Holmes hotel in Baker Street. Shout out to Anita, the manager on reception. She remembered us and we had a warm welcome from her.
Since our trip, I have written another story which is available from Amazon and (from today) Smashwords. The new story is called 'Sherlock Holmes and Miss Violet Dixon (deceased). This is based on a true and truly shocking scam that was centred on London but affected women all over the British Isles. Here's the blurb from my Amazon entry....
"Holmes returns angry and disturbed after a visit to
Hammersmith mortuary at the end of a particularly tiresome case. Whilst at the
mortuary, Lestrade shows him the body of a young woman who has taken not only
her own life, but that of her unborn child.
So begins a tale that highlights the exploitation of
vulnerable women through quack medicine and blackmail in a scheme of
unbelievable proportions. Julia Moriarty, the sister of the late Professor
James Moriarty is suspected to have a hand in the affair and Holmes must
involve Lestrade in a bid to apprehend the perpetrators. Lestrade springs the
trap but in doing so, causes Watson to be grievously wounded.
Moriarty escapes but has she revealed to Holmes her Achilles
heel? Whilst Holmes has seen that the 'Rule of Law' is maintained and the case
concluded, Watson is in turmoil as he is unsure whether their investigation has
inadvertently caused further harm to those they sought to protect."
I have to say I like it and as it is a true story that I
have weaved Holmes and Watson into, it is even more exciting and poignant.
I am half way through writing my next short story, 'Sherlock
Holmes and The Emerald Spirit' which is going 'so-so'. It's difficult to write
with a young Lemon Setter wanting to join you by sitting between your legs on
the footstool. I sit on the sofa with my feet up on my IKEA footstool and my
laptop on my beanbag tray. She can't resist a cuddle and climbs up and I end up
with splayed legs on the very edges of the stool. She is getting MUCH bigger
and is well into teething!! She has most of her teeth now but will still chew
most things!
Anyway, I will write more soon.
Dick xx