What did the Baker St. Irregulars Look Like

Love writing, and enjoy the publishing process -- where your months and years of work take form. Working on the cover for my next book now. Brian Belanger, the designer, and I decided that a vintage photo is the way to go. So, the question became, what did Holmes's Baker Street Irregulars look like?  I found two pix that might work. It's not as easy to find photos as you might think, as they have to be in the public domain, or the rights have to be very inexpensive.

So, check out these two and, if you are inclined, let me know what you think. It's likely one of these will be on my new novel: Irregular Lives: The Untold Story of Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars.

NEW BOOK PREVIEW: Meet Ugly one of Holme's irregulars

As the newest Sherlock Holmes novel works its way though the publishing process toward publication in November, Am posting previews from the book -- introducing you to some of the irregulars featured in the Irregular Lives: The Untold Story of Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars.

This week, I’ll preview Ugly, one of the irregulars Doyle never mentioned by name. So, let me introduce you.

Irregular Lives tells the story of how Holmes met Ugly. You may not have known that they met in the midst of the one of the most horrendous murder cases in Scotland Yard. Ugly adopted and raised by the costers of the Spitalfields Market. It’s exciting tale. Here’s a scene for that story:

As Holmes prepared to depart the barracks he noticed one of the guards at the gate had nabbed a small boy by the collar. The nipper, about nine or ten, was screaming bloody murder. His dog was yelping and biting at the heels of the guard.

“Hey, you bastard, let me be!” the lad bellowed.

His arms flailed about as he kicked furiously at the guard, who was clearly on the losing end. Holmes chuckled and walked on.

“I’m lookin for mi Da!” the boy yelled.

Holmes called: “Set him down Corporal. I’ll see to him.”

With that, the lad was dropped to the ground, and the dog ceased his caterwauling.

“What’s your name boy?” Holmes asked.

“Ugly,” was the nipper’s reply. And to be fair, the lad was that. Whether an affliction, or accident of birth, the youth had inordinately large facial features and hands. His lips protruded, framing a huge grin. His brows were bushy, and his ears jutted out. All of this combined to give him an otherworldly appearance. “And, this here is Nicki,” the lad added.

“Pleased to meet you both. Do you have a Christian name?”

“That’s the only name I’ve got. The truth’s the truth, sir. Accept it, is what I say.”

“I concur with your philosophy,” Holmes said.”

“You what?”

“I agree with you. So, you’re looking for your father?”

“Aye, he ’ad business ’ere, ’e did.”

“What does your father look like?”

“Just a bloke.”

“Where’s your mother?”

“She’s dead and buried. Just me and mi Da now.”

“Holmes glimpsed the lorry disappearing down Repository Road.

“Why don’t you come along with me?”

“Don’t think as I will,” the lad declared.

“Where will you go?” Holmes asked.

“I have mi mates. Good lads. All for one, an’ one for all, is our motter.

“Do you know who said that?

“Mi mates.”

“But, before that, it was the Three Musketeers who said those words. Brave fellows who fought for justice.”

“I like that,” Ugly said. He cocked his head. “How did these mustaters go on?”

Holmes peered into the dirty face of the boy. “They lived happy lives, full of adventure.”

The boy’s countenance lit up. “Aye—all for one, an’ one for all!” he shouted, sticking his fist the air. “Come on, Nicki!”

I hope that you will follow this blog in the coming weeks as I introduce Snape, Archie, Kate, Benjie, and others. And, while these sneak previews are fun, they are not a substitute for reading (or listening to) the entire adventure. I’ll let you know the moment it hits the bookstores in November.

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

I’m giving away a signed copy of the Sherlock Holmes - The Golden Years on Goodreads, beginning September 12, and continuing until September 20.

AND

I will also include an Audible promo code that will allow you to have a FREE download of the audiobook version of my book. It’s got a spectacular reader -- Richard Di Britiannia.

If you are interested in entering the giveaway, CLICK HERE!  And, tell your friends.

Good luck!

NEW BOOK PREVIEW: Meet Rory WIggins

As the newest Sherlock Holmes novel works its way though the publishing process toward publication in November, I’ll post some previews from the book -- introducing you to some of the irregulars featured in the Irregular Lives: The Untold Story of Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars.

This week, I’ll preview Wiggins, the only irregular mentioned, by name, in the Doyle canon. Despite this, we did not know much about him. So, let me introduce you.

Irregular Lives tells the story of how Holmes met Wiggins, and the other irregulars. You may not have known that they met in the midst of the largest jewel robbery in London. Wiggins meets Holmes as he dips into his pockets. It’s exciting tale. Here’s a scene for that story:

Holmes made his way, in a casual stroll, until he came to a stall selling leather goods set along the edge of the street. He began fingering a collection of belts hanging from the top of the stall. As he reached his arms upwards, his coat opened up, throwing both pockets behind him. Within moments the lad had closed the space between them and dipped both hands, simultaneously, into Holmes’s pockets.

Suddenly, Holmes swung around and gripped the lad’s hands—which were now holding a handkerchief and an inkwell.

“It’s a fair cop, sir,” the lad exclaimed in surrender.

Then, just as quickly, the boy swung a huge kick toward Holmes’s right leg, grazing his shin and rending his trousers.

“It seems you’re no better with your feet than you are with your hands,” Holmes remarked.

The lad smiled. But, the boy’s smile twisted into a look of confusion as he stared at his right hand. “Blimey! An inkwell. What’s all this then?”

“Not much value there,” Holmes said. “And, you might also note that the handkerchief has a hole it.”

“I made a right pig’s ear of it, di’n I, mister?”

I hope that you will follow this blog in the coming weeks as I introduce Snape, Ugly, Archie, Kate, and Benjie. And, while these sneak previews are fun, they are not a substitute for reading (or listening to) the entire adventure. I’ll let you know the moment it hits the bookstores in November.

NEW Sherlock Holmes Novel Coming this Fall

As promised . . . here’s an update on the new book I’ve been writing for the last year:

Irregular Lives: The Untold Story of the Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars spans nearly four decades, beginning in 1884 and ending in 1919. If you were ever curious about how Holmes shaped and changed the lives of the irregulars, and how they transformed his life . . . then, this is the book for you.

This is an untold story, because as Holmes told Watson in after the war:

“My history with the irregulars runs deeper than you might know. They were at my side when you could not be. When you were with . . . others.”  The “others” Holmes was referring to were Watson’s wives. And, due to Watson’s absence, the story was, indeed, untold . . . until now.

A visit to a mysterious photography exhibit catapults Sherlock Holmes back in time as he recalls his adventures with Wiggans, Ugly, Snape, Kate, and other members of his urban army. Each of the five “irregular tales” is a classic, stand-alone Sherlock Holmes story. Wrapped around it is a bigger mystery and adventure that begins when a jolly reunion with the irregulars abruptly erupts into a terrible tragedy.

You will read about the irregulars when they were adolescents and children, and also as the adults they became. The Baker Street irregulars survived their rough upbringing in the slums of London. Unfortunately, their propensity for finding trouble did not diminish in the process.

More updates to come. But, in the meanwhile, put the newest Sherlock Holmes novel on your reading list -- just in time for Christmas!

AUDIOBOOK HIT 100 SALES!

Sherlock Holmes - The Golden Years, on Amazon and Audible, just hit the 100 mark. A great new voice talent, Richard Di Britannia, has brought his amazing skills to bear as one of the best “Holmes voices” ever.  But he also shows his amazing range and versatility all 70 characters in the book.

Check it out!

NEW HOLMES BOOK COMING!

Irregular Lives: The untold story of Sherlock Holmes and Baker-street irregulars will be published in November, along with the kindle edition and audiobook. It’s an unusual novel in that, within the larger tale, there are five stand-alone tales--each featuring one of the irregulars:

·      WIGGINS: A lad who learned too well the lessons that the street taught.

·      UGLY: Adopted and raised by the costers of the Spitalfields Market.

·      SNAPE: A blacksmith’s son, who forged a life from the rubbish in the Thames.

·      KATE & ARCHIE: Orphaned at the age of six, Kate found a family and made her way with ARCHIE. And . . .

·      BENJIE: A boy about the business of life on the streets—where everything is for sale.

Holmesian fans will know something of Wiggans, who appeared in three of Doyle’s stories but, until now, no one has introduced the other irregulars.

Of course, all or the shorter tales take place between 1884 and 1898, when Sherlock Holmes was in his prime. Irregular Lives takes place in 1919, just after the WWI has ended. Holmes and Watson are in retirement at ages 65 and 66 respectively, and the irregulars are in their mid to late thirties. While several decades have passed, the irregulars have not lost their propensity for getting in trouble.

So, stay tuned . . . more to come as Irregular Lives gets closer and closer to going to press. In the meanwhile, check out the audiobook version of Sherlock Holmes - The Golden Years at Audible and Amazon.