Classic Interview: Sherlock Holmes

                                                               Sherlock Holmes

This week we speak with one of the greatest sleuths in all of literature. He has mystified readers with his amazing deductions for over one and a quarter century. Of course, I'm speaking of the inimitable Sherlock Holmes. Let's see what he's got to say.  

Greg:  Good evening. It is a singular honor to be speaking with this week’s guest. He has solved some of the most baffling cases in history, always through outstanding feats of intellect and deduction. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Welcome Mr. Holmes.

Holmes:  Thank you.

Greg:  Tell me a little about your early life.

Holmes:  I don’t like to talk much about myself. It could give my enemies valuable information with which to do me injury. However, since I am retired and most of my enemies are jailed or dead, I shall indulge you just this once, although I shan’t go into too many specifics.

I was born in England in 1861. My ancestors were country squires, but the thought of lounging around on an estate all day never held much appeal for me. So, after sitting two years at Cambridge, I left school in 1880 to fight in the Second Anglo-Afghan war, where I was wounded.

Upon my return from the war, I decided to apply my immense powers of reason and my ability to disguise myself to use as a consulting detective. I had always had a talent in this line. In fact, it was while at university that I had first used my powers of deduction to solve a number of trifling cases that had been puzzling the local constabulary.

Greg:  How did you meet Dr. Watson?

Holmes:  As I said, I had been working as a consulting detective in London, but times were hard. Financial difficulties required that I advertise for a boarder. Dr. Watson turned up on my doorstep the day after I posted the ad in the Times. Wonderful bit of serendipity, that.

He and I lived and worked together for a number of years, quite successfully, until he decided to get married. After his wife’s untimely death, Watson returned, and I was happy to receive him. He has chronicled all of my most formidable cases.

Greg:  You’ve got a reputation as quite a clever fellow. It’s said that you can deduce anything about someone just by looking at them.

Holmes:  Quite.

Greg:  What can you deduce by looking at me?

Holmes:  That you love muffins, and that you have been through quite a lot to obtain one.

Greg:  How do you mean?

Holmes:  I mean that you set out for the bakery in your automobile but ran out of petrol on the way. You found that your cellular phone was dead, so you hiked to the nearest telephone, and rang the automobile club. You were picked up and transported back to your car, where you refilled the tank. You then purchased a muffin and a medium cup of coffee for yourself and the driver as a thank you.

Greg:  That’s remarkable Holmes! It’s almost like you were there with me through the whole ordeal. How did you deduce it?

Holmes:  Elementary. First, the crumbs on your shirt, and your slightly portly physique pointed to an overindulgence in sweets. Next, the mud and drops of petrol on your shoes were indications that you recently journeyed on foot and had filled your petrol tank. Behind you, I see that your cellular telephone is being recharged, which lead me to believe that you were unable to use it to telephone for help.

Greg:  Incredible, Holmes. But how were you able to sort out the bit about the automobile club and that I had bought the driver a treat?

Holmes:  Quite simple, really. On the table at your elbow lie your automobile club card and a receipt from a bakery. The receipt shows that you purchased two muffins and two medium coffees.

Now, while it is entirely possible that you purchased two muffins for yourself, I do not think that even you would have purchased two coffees for yourself alone.

So, you see it was really quite an obvious deduction. All one has to do is observe the clues.

Greg:  You’ve solved a great number of cases over the years. Which has been the most satisfying?

Holmes:  My cases have involved many lofty, even royal, personages throughout the years. While these have carried a certain amount of satisfaction, I find that I am most satisfied when dealing in cases involving the common man, for it is there that we see both the worst and the best that humanity has to offer.

Greg:  Well thank you so much for spending some time with us. It was most enlightening.

Holmes:  Yes, I am sure it was.

A Writer's Week #149: Taking a Big Steppe Forward

 This week I wrote a relatively small amount of words--only about 700--but I came a long way. Shadra is currently travelling the steppes of Jongchin on foot, tracking an unknown foe. The book, still unnamed, has reached almost 4,100 words. As it stands now she has just met up with two comrades from her clan. What will happen? We shall see.

Also this week, I received a five star review from Readers' Favorite for the first book in the Dragon Island Legends series, Fire & Ice. 

Thanks very much to Susan Sewell for the following review:

In the enchanting children’s fantasy, Fire & Ice (Dragon Island Legends) by Gregory S. Slomba, the Silver Dragon of the North attacks the villages in the islands and abducts the children to work in its mines and fields. Fifteen-year-old Benchu and Mai-Lin were saved by the Golden Dragon when they were younger and now live in an orphanage. To avenge their parents’ deaths, they want to become Denchi Assassins. Then they will have the skills to take revenge on the Northmen and the Silver Dragon. When Benchu learns that he and Mai-Lin are being moved to the Dragon Palace, they run away to join the Denchi. A shabby old man finds them in an alley and takes them to Master, who promises to train them and introduce them to the Denchi. Instead, they are forced to pick purses. How can they escape Master? Will Benchu ever get revenge for the deaths of his parents?

Fire & Ice by Gregory S. Slomba is a captivating children's story with a meaningful plot and a well-developed storyline. The story is beautifully executed with the right amount of conflict, tension, and resolution. I enjoyed meeting all the characters, even the villainous ones; each is well-rounded and authentic. Relatable and engaging, Benchu's and Mai-Lin’s characters meet their challenges with realistic youthful rebellion and audacity. The setting and the dragons create a lovely story resembling a Chinese legend imbued with lessons grounded in moral strength and personal growth. Young and young-at-heart readers will enjoy this poignant and charming story.

So, honestly, this unnamed book 2 has been a little bit of a struggle as far as figuring out what path it's going to take to get to the ending I'm envisioning. But it's nice to receive a review like this. It encourages me that if I keep plugging away at the current book, it will all come out all right. I'll keep you updated on all its twists and turns in my next Writer's Week.

Peace

Interview With Robin Hood

 Robin Hood

 

This week's interview is with that famous outlaw, Robin Hood. It's hard to get Robin away from his merry men, and even harder to pry him away from Maid Marian, but we managed it. We'll see if we can shed some light on this legendary figure.

 

Greg:  Welcome, Robin, it's great to have you in from the cold for a minute.

Robin:  Thank you, good sir. It is an honor to speak with such an august personage as yourself. 

Greg:  You flatter me, sir. I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit about your youth.

Robin:  It was so long ago that I can scarce remember it. I was born in the early 12h century...hold. No, it may have been later, perhaps the 13h century. Ah well, 'tis no matter, all water under the bridge. In any event, I was born and grew up strong and true in England's green and pleasant hills. It was there I learned the archer's art, and sword craft. 

I practiced uncounted hours, until as an archer I was without peer throughout the length and breadth of England. As a swordsman, I was scarcely far behind. In fact, I daresay that among all the swordsmen of the realm, there were only two or three that could best me.

Greg:  How did you become an outlaw? 

Robin:  Ah, now there we come to the crux of the matter, one that shaped my destiny, if you will. There are scores of theories circulating throughout the shire, nay, throughout the country, but I shall shed the light of truth on the matter.

I was a stout yeoman, not noble born, but I considered myself as good as any man alive. When good King Richard left England for the Crusades, his brother Prince John robbed the poor in taxes to pay for his gluttonous ways...hold again. Perhaps it was good King Edward that I served. Ah well, as before it is of little moment. The point is that I robbed from the rich and gave to the poor. Yes, that is what history shall remember.

Greg;  Right, right, why should details get in the way? It was all a long, long time ago. Which begs the next question. Are you a historical figure, or a fictional character?

Robin: Well asked, my good fellow! What is history? What is fiction? Answer those two questions, my lad, and you'll find that the answer to the question of my origin lies somewhere in between. I am neither wholly real, nor wholly fictitious.

While I have come to symbolize all that is good and noble in human nature, I as a person of mere flesh and blood could not hope to live up to the expectations that history has placed upon me. Therefore, is it not unreasonable to assume that a certain amount of fictional embellishment may have occurred over the course of centuries?

However, at the core, I am the man of which the legends sing. Many of the deeds which are credited to me, I actually did perform.

Greg:  Tell me about your merry men. Who was your favorite?

Robin:  Another excellent question, my lord. My merry men are a joy to me. A stouter band of ruffians and yeomen I could never hope to find! Over the course of the centuries, history and legend have given them their personalities, making them, too, larger than life. Who could forget heroes with names like Will Scarlet, Little John, Much the Miller's Son, and of course Friar Tuck.

The good friar is the one I'd want most with me in the heat of battle. No hardier warrior have I known. And none so quick to celebrate a victory with a joint of mutton and a jug of ale. There is also the added benefit that, when stuck in a tight spot, he could administer Last Rites and send you clean of conscience to your Maker if need be.

Greg:  I think people would like to know what happened to you after you were pardoned?

Robin:  Ah well, I do believe the phrase is "lived happily ever after". The good king, Richard...or Edward depending on which version of my life you prefer, granted me lands and the hand of the lovely Maid Marian. I, brash boy that I am, took all of the fair damsel and lived to a ripe old age.

Although I left the world's stage at that point, legend was not through with me. My deeds grew and grew until even I could scarce recognize my little life from the thing of sheer magnificence that it now is. It truly is an amazing thing.

Greg: Yes, well thank you so much for taking some time out from your legendary schedule.

Robin: It was a time which I shall always hold dear. You are without equal as an inquisitor, and I doff my cap to you, sir! Ta, ta for now!