Welcome to the Coffee Chat!
This week’s guest for book chat is mystery author Liese Sherwood-Fabre, bringing us her featured book, The Adventure of a Murdered Midwife (The Early Case Files of Sherlock Homes, Case One).
Good morning, Liese. How do you take your coffee?
LSF: I like my coffee with some type of creamer (anything from half and half to almond milk—the lower the fat, the better.) In a pinch, I’ve been known to go with the artificial ones.
Ally: No need for artificial ones here. :) While I pour, please tell readers something about yourself.
This week’s guest for book chat is mystery author Liese Sherwood-Fabre, bringing us her featured book, The Adventure of a Murdered Midwife (The Early Case Files of Sherlock Homes, Case One).
Good morning, Liese. How do you take your coffee?
LSF: I like my coffee with some type of creamer (anything from half and half to almond milk—the lower the fat, the better.) In a pinch, I’ve been known to go with the artificial ones.
Ally: No need for artificial ones here. :) While I pour, please tell readers something about yourself.
Bio:
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 from Indiana University, she joined the federal government and had the opportunity to work and live internationally for more than fifteen years. After returning to the states, she seriously pursued her writing career.
Her writing has been recognized with a series of awards, including a Pushcart Prize nomination, a Golden Heart finalist, and a blue ribbon from Chanticleer Book Reviews. Steve Berry has called her work “Good old-fashioned, gimmick-free storytelling” and Gemma Halliday enthused her current novel is “a classic in the making.” A recognized Sherlockian scholar, her essays on Sherlock and Victorian England are published across the globe and have appeared in the Baker Street Journal, the premiere publication of the Baker Street Irregulars.
Something unusual about yourself: “I’m in a handbell choir at my church. I have played handbells since I was in the seventh grade and managed to continue at different churches in my college years as well as an adult. Unlike some choirs or instruments, it has to be a total group effort. Only together can you make music. If you’ve never heard this type of music, you can check it out here (not my choir).”
Social Media Links:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon Author Page
Goodreads Author Page
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 from Indiana University, she joined the federal government and had the opportunity to work and live internationally for more than fifteen years. After returning to the states, she seriously pursued her writing career.
Her writing has been recognized with a series of awards, including a Pushcart Prize nomination, a Golden Heart finalist, and a blue ribbon from Chanticleer Book Reviews. Steve Berry has called her work “Good old-fashioned, gimmick-free storytelling” and Gemma Halliday enthused her current novel is “a classic in the making.” A recognized Sherlockian scholar, her essays on Sherlock and Victorian England are published across the globe and have appeared in the Baker Street Journal, the premiere publication of the Baker Street Irregulars.
Something unusual about yourself: “I’m in a handbell choir at my church. I have played handbells since I was in the seventh grade and managed to continue at different churches in my college years as well as an adult. Unlike some choirs or instruments, it has to be a total group effort. Only together can you make music. If you’ve never heard this type of music, you can check it out here (not my choir).”
Social Media Links:
Website
Amazon Author Page
Goodreads Author Page
INTERVIEW:
Ally: Why did you write your featured book?
LSF: A few years ago, I was working out on a treadmill (I get some of my best ideas when working out) and wondered how Sherlock Holmes came to be the “world’s most famous detective.” A little research revealed Sir Arthur Conan Doyle provided very little about his character’s origins. In one story, Holmes shares that his ancestors were country squires and his grandmother was the sister of Vernet, the French artist. That information along with having a brother named Mycroft represented the extent of his history and provided basically a blank slate to create a series around him and his family. I decided that the conventional idea that his father somehow shaped his development was too boring. Instead, I decided his mother was a very intelligent woman who was restricted by Victorian society but shaped her children’s instruction in a way that made him into the logician we find in the later stories. I fell in love with my young Sherlock and hope others do too. To date, the reviews have all been 5 stars, so there are some out there that truly enjoy it as well.
Ally: What's the best writing/marketing advice you can pass on to other writers?
LSF: Something I learned in grad school: you can’t edit what isn’t written down. I was working on my master’s thesis at the time and attended a panel presentation on thesis and dissertation writing. During the discussion, someone said, “Get it down on paper. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You can edit it later. But it needs to be written down.” I live by that.
Ally: If you met JK Rowling (or any other favorite author), what would you talk about?
LSF: I’m a Potterhead, and I would probably pester JK Rowling with many different questions. I think the one I’m most interested in is the arc through the eight books. I’m such a pantser (develop the plot as I go), I have only a vague idea how the story will develop. I know she had boxes of notes for each book, but how much was truly plotted out ahead of time? How much was written/developed on the fly? When did she come up with the idea of horcuxes? Did she have this idea from the first book? She’d probably kick me out after the first five hours.
Ally: What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read your books, of course!).
LSF: There are several editions of the collected Sherlock Holmes stories. Arthur Conan Doyle wrote four novels and fifty-six short stories (60 cases in all). I would suggest fans begin there (after mine—which will give you a good background). Sherry Thomas has a Miss Holmes series, which has a different twist—Sherlock Holmes is the fictious brother of Charlotte Holmes who actually solves the cases but gives her “brother” the credit. Bonnie McBird has another series that follow those in the original tales.
Ally: Do you prefer to read standalones or series books? Is it the same for writing?
LSF: I enjoy both, but there’s something special about series. Often, I get to the end of a book and wish there were more. With a series, I get to catch up with the same main character(s). They are like old friends who share what they’ve been up to since last you spoke.
I’ve not written a series before, but there was so much material for this one to spin as he grows. I have about seven years I can cover from age 13 to about 20. So much fun!
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
LSF: I’m in the final editing stages of Case Two: The Adventure of the Murdered Gypsy. It will be available for pre-order in May and will be published in late July/early August. I’m finishing Case Three: The Adventure of the Deceased Scholar with pre-orders scheduled for June and publishing in August/September. After that, I will be releasing my third volume of essays: The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes: Essays on Victorian England for October/November. In between all this, I have plans for one or two short stories.
Ally: What an ambitious schedule. Good luck with it. Now, I’m eager to see which of the short answer questions you chose.
LSF:
Ally: Why did you write your featured book?
LSF: A few years ago, I was working out on a treadmill (I get some of my best ideas when working out) and wondered how Sherlock Holmes came to be the “world’s most famous detective.” A little research revealed Sir Arthur Conan Doyle provided very little about his character’s origins. In one story, Holmes shares that his ancestors were country squires and his grandmother was the sister of Vernet, the French artist. That information along with having a brother named Mycroft represented the extent of his history and provided basically a blank slate to create a series around him and his family. I decided that the conventional idea that his father somehow shaped his development was too boring. Instead, I decided his mother was a very intelligent woman who was restricted by Victorian society but shaped her children’s instruction in a way that made him into the logician we find in the later stories. I fell in love with my young Sherlock and hope others do too. To date, the reviews have all been 5 stars, so there are some out there that truly enjoy it as well.
Ally: What's the best writing/marketing advice you can pass on to other writers?
LSF: Something I learned in grad school: you can’t edit what isn’t written down. I was working on my master’s thesis at the time and attended a panel presentation on thesis and dissertation writing. During the discussion, someone said, “Get it down on paper. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You can edit it later. But it needs to be written down.” I live by that.
Ally: If you met JK Rowling (or any other favorite author), what would you talk about?
LSF: I’m a Potterhead, and I would probably pester JK Rowling with many different questions. I think the one I’m most interested in is the arc through the eight books. I’m such a pantser (develop the plot as I go), I have only a vague idea how the story will develop. I know she had boxes of notes for each book, but how much was truly plotted out ahead of time? How much was written/developed on the fly? When did she come up with the idea of horcuxes? Did she have this idea from the first book? She’d probably kick me out after the first five hours.
Ally: What three books in your genre would you recommend to fans (after they’ve read your books, of course!).
LSF: There are several editions of the collected Sherlock Holmes stories. Arthur Conan Doyle wrote four novels and fifty-six short stories (60 cases in all). I would suggest fans begin there (after mine—which will give you a good background). Sherry Thomas has a Miss Holmes series, which has a different twist—Sherlock Holmes is the fictious brother of Charlotte Holmes who actually solves the cases but gives her “brother” the credit. Bonnie McBird has another series that follow those in the original tales.
Ally: Do you prefer to read standalones or series books? Is it the same for writing?
LSF: I enjoy both, but there’s something special about series. Often, I get to the end of a book and wish there were more. With a series, I get to catch up with the same main character(s). They are like old friends who share what they’ve been up to since last you spoke.
I’ve not written a series before, but there was so much material for this one to spin as he grows. I have about seven years I can cover from age 13 to about 20. So much fun!
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
LSF: I’m in the final editing stages of Case Two: The Adventure of the Murdered Gypsy. It will be available for pre-order in May and will be published in late July/early August. I’m finishing Case Three: The Adventure of the Deceased Scholar with pre-orders scheduled for June and publishing in August/September. After that, I will be releasing my third volume of essays: The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes: Essays on Victorian England for October/November. In between all this, I have plans for one or two short stories.
Ally: What an ambitious schedule. Good luck with it. Now, I’m eager to see which of the short answer questions you chose.
LSF:
- An item on your bucket list: “I want to go to Antarctica and see the penguins. Ever since I first learned about the frozen continent and these birds, I’ve always thought it would be so cool to actually go there and observe them in the wild. I’m not a huge fan of freezing cold, I’d brave it for this.”
- Most watched tv show: “I enjoy Big Bang Theory immensely and watch the reruns every night when I prepare dinner. Of course, it’s over and now I have to satisfy my craving for new stories with Young Sheldon. I think part of the attraction is he reminds me of Sherlock. That and I was a nerd in school (I once won a math trophy) and so relate well with all the characters except Penny (I can only wish I looked like her.)”
- Last time you rode a train (not subway): “My son is studying in Europe for the year, and we went over to visit him in late 2019 and early 2020. We took trains a number of places from the boring (airport to city) to the interesting (Verona, for example). Once we had to ride the whole way standing up. Long story (and ride) there.”
- Pie or cake? “It depends on the kind. Lemon—pie; Chocolate—cake.”
- Your pets - type and names: “My son left us a border-collie mix about ten years ago because he moved into an apartment and couldn’t keep him. His name is Guaro—for a Costa Rican rum he came across while visiting the country.”
The Adventure of a Murdered Midwife (The Early Case Files of Sherlock Homes, Case One)
Genre: mystery (historical)
Rating: PG-13
The Adventure of the Murdered Midwife introduces Sherlock having endured a miserable few weeks of his first year at Eton. Sherlock’s father calls him and his brother back to Underbyrne, the ancestral estate. The village midwife has been found with a pitchfork in her back in the estate’s garden, and Mrs. Holmes has been accused of the murder. She must depend on the family—but especially Sherlock—to solve the murder and save her from the gallows.
Pre-Order/Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
Apple
(Note: The first two cases are available for pre-order. The second at a discount price.)
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