a guest post by Liese A Sherwood-Fabre, author of The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes
Who doesn’t love Sherlock Holmes, in any of his incarnations? Imagine, though, being brave enough to write your own version of Sherlock! If you want to tackle it, though, Liese A Sherwood-Fabre’s guest post will get you started. After that, her fact-filled new book, The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes, is going to be your best friend and stalwart companion. What’s more Liese will be awarding a $20 Amazon, Apple or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Read on to get all the info you need.
The Challenge—and Fun—of Taking on a Popular Fiction Character
In an article from The Guardian in 2012, Ewan Morrison noted that if fan fiction is defined as “reworking…another author’s characters,” the concept only developed after laws regarding copyright and intellectual property appeared—along with the printing press and mass production of fiction. Prior to the Statute of Anne, drafted in the 18th century, creators of original compositions had no protection from the publication of any derivative works. Even Miguel de Cervantes was unable to stop the publication of an unofficial sequel to the first volume of Don Quixote. He did, however, refer to it in the second volume—and mock it in the process.
One day while on the treadmill (I get my best ideas while exercising), I considered how Sherlock Holmes became Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle provided little in the way of his character’s history or family, and I thought it was perfect for developing an origin series for the great detective.
But could I pull it off?
The good thing (or bad, depending on perspective) is that I would not be alone in penning a story about the great detective. Shortly after Arthur Conan Doyle published his last tale in 1927, American teen August Derleth asked if he could continue the series. While the author declined, Derleth did develop his own stories about a detective Solar Pons who seemed uncannily similar to Sherlock Holmes—down to having a brother named Bancroft. And such homage continues. One fanfiction site alone boasts 127,000 stories based on Conan Doyle’s character—second only to Harry Potter (at more than 253,000).
When 20% of recent British respondents identified Sherlock Holmes as an actual, historical figure, an author must recognize readers’ expectations related to the character. The base and heart of Sherlock’s popularity was—and is—his ability to apply logic and science to solving mysteries. When originally written, many of his methods were just being applied to solving true crimes, and some even anticipated actual application.
There is also the issue of copyright. As I was completing research for my first book, the Conan Doyle estate brought a copyright case against another author, and thanks to that case, all but the last ten Sherlock Holmes stories were considered in the public domain (but are slowly entering the public domain as time moves on).
In summary, anyone interested in adding to a popular character or series (be it Star Trek, Twilight, or Sherlock Holmes) should keep these ideas in mind:
- Be true to the character. Read the original works and understand the characters’ personalities and traits.
- Be true to the time and setting. Unless set in an alternate universe, be certain to keep to the original historical period.
- Be aware of any copyright issues. Anne Rice does not allow fan fiction. J. K. Rowling does, if not for profit. Or follow those now in the public domain. Winnie the Pooh just recently entered this sphere, but don’t show him in a red shirt (Disney added that and still hold the copyright there)
- Based on the above, have fun! Put the characters in new situations, or at a time and place before or after what is known.
Happy writing!
Be as smart as Sherlock Holmes!
Arthur Conan Doyle’s original tales include many references to everyday Victorian life that are no longer part of current readers’ world. What Holmes would have eaten from a can while searching for the hound of the Baskervilles, Watson’s enjoyment of a yellow-back novel, or the proper use of a gasogene would have been common knowledge to the Victorian contemporary but compels modern readers to run to the nearest reference book. These twenty-five short essays pull such items from the past and expand on their significance in the story. As an additional bonus, this book contains an essay on the role of scandal in Holmes; cases, originally appearing in a collected volume of essays on feminism and agency. After enjoying these concise treatises on Holmes’ world, readers will have a deeper understanding and appreciation of both the times and the life of the world’s greatest consulting detective.
Excerpt from The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes
Transgressions: Scandal in the Canon
The threat of scandal appears in almost a quarter of the tales in the Canon. In four of these cases, clients seek Holmes’ assistance to avoid exposure of a Victorian norm violation: three involve letters to previous lovers; the fourth, an attempted theft of an item entrusted to a banker. In the other ten, as Holmes solves the mystery, he uncovers evidence that, if revealed, would cause a scandal for someone entangled in the case. In many of these tales, the mere threat of such publicity is enough to force them to do another’s bidding (such as paying blackmail or changing a will). That committing murder is considered a better solution than suffering the negative public reaction to such revelations indicates the power certain Victorian social norms carried (and still do) within certain social strata.
While many behaviors may be unacceptable (stealing, for example), not all are scandalous, and even disreputable behavior can be tolerated under certain circumstances. Ari Adut in On Scandal: Moral Disturbances in Society, Politics, and Art defines the public experience of scandal as “an event of varying duration that starts with the publicization of a real, apparent, or alleged transgression to a negatively oriented audience . . .” Three basic elements must exist to form a scandal: the transgression, someone to publicize the offense, and a public who cares or is interested in the offense.
The danger of scandal played an important role in maintaining proper Victorian social conduct, and in several of Holmes’ cases, was suffcient to force some to break the law themselves—including murder. Understanding what makes a scandal and why avoiding such exposure in Victorian times provides greater depth and understanding of the motivation behind the crimes Sherlock is called in to solve or prevent.
About the Author
Liese Sherwood-Fabre knew she was destined to write when she got an A+ in the second grade for her story about Dick, Jane, and Sally’s ruined picnic. After obtaining her PhD, she joined the federal government and worked and lived abroad for more than fifteen years. Returning to the states, she seriously pursued her writing career, garnering such awards as a finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart contest and a Pushcart Prize nomination. A recognized Sherlockian scholar, her essays have appeared in scion newsletters, the Baker Street Journal, and Canadian Holmes. These have been gathered into The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes essay collection series. She has recently turned this passion into an origin story series on Sherlock Holmes. The Adventure of the Murdered Midwife, the first book in The Early Case Files of Sherlock Holmes series, was the CIBA Mystery and Mayhem 2020 winner.
Writer links:
Website: www.liesesherwoodfabre.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liese.sherwoodfabre
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lsfabre
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Liese-Sherwood-Fabre/e/B00810INE6
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5758587.Liese_Sherwood_Fabre
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