The Power of Sherlock Holmes

by Sara Rosett 

Photo: Cyril Thomas 

According to Wikipedia, the first Sherlock Holmes story appeared 127 years ago in 1887. The novel, A Study in Scarlet, struck a cord with readers. 

The publication of a several short stories in 1891 in The Strand Magazine vaulted the main character of Sherlock Holmes to popularity that continues to this day.

Sherlock has become a stable of the entertainment industry. Besides the nearly endless list of plays and feature films based on the books by Arthur Conan Doyle, we also have the popular modern day version from the BBC, Sherlock, as well as the alternate-universe TV series, Elementary, which is a “what-if” spin-off that takes the basic premise and turns it inside out: what if Holmes was a recovering drug addict and Dr. Watson was a his female sobriety companion? 

Then there are the TV shows that don’t actually feature Sherlock Holmes by name, but are not so subtle homages to the character. The Mentalist, House, and Monk all feature main characters who make seemingly uncanny deductions to solve mysteries.

Derivative works can be found in the literary world as well. Laurie R. King and Carol Nelson Douglas have both written spin-offs. The Brothers of Baker Street is another modern-day mystery series featuring two brothers who work at a modern office at 221b Baker Street and become embroiled in mysteries. There are books about young Sherlock as well as a new novel, a continuation of the Holmes stories, which was authorized by Doyle’s estate.

Why do we love Sherlock so much? I think it comes down to two essential elements:

First, we’re fascinated by the character. “Brainy is the new sexy,” says Irene Adler in Sherlock, but I don’t think there’s really anything new about smart being sexy. I think readers and viewers have always been attracted to intelligent characters. Sherlock himself is a puzzle. We want to figure him out.

Secondly, we love a mystery. The mental challenge—the game of wits—draws us in. Can we sort the clues from the red herrings as cleveryly as Holmes?

I know there are other reasons Sherlock continues to fascinate. What are they? And I’d love to hear which is your favorite Sherlock story or spin-off.

Sara Rosett writes a cozy mystery series (Ellie Avery series) and a suspense series with a dash of

romance (On the Run series). As a military spouse Sara has moved around the country (frequently!) and traveled internationally, which inspired her latest suspense series. Publishers Weekly called Sara’s books, "satisfying," "well-executed," and "sparkling."

Sara loves all things bookish, considers dark chocolate a daily requirement, and is on a quest for the best bruschetta. Connect with Sara at www.SaraRosett.com or sign up for her newsletter list here. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Goodreads.

Trend Watch: Tread Desking

By Sara Rosett 

I’m not a trendy person. If something is hot…well, you can be sure I haven’t heard of it when it is at the peak of its popularity.

Downton Abbey? I didn’t watch it until the end of the second season when speculation about Anna and Bates reached a fever pitch and penetrated even my little insular bubble. Binge viewing commenced after I watched a couple of episodes.

Ereaders? I was slow on this front as well, clinging to my hardcopies and my love of holding printed pages. I reluctantly bought a Kindle…and immediately loved it. I still treasure printed books, but I adore the ability to download new books instantly, not to mention the pleasure of knowing I have twenty or thirty unread books stored on my Kindle that I can take with me anywhere.

Same thing with treadmill desks. I hadn’t heard of them until a few months ago, but Wikipedia says they’ve been around since 1996. Here is the definition from Wikipedia, “A treadmill desk, walking desk or treadmill workstation is a computer desk that is adapted so that the user walks on a treadmill while performing office tasks. Persons using a treadmill desk seek to change the sedentary lifestyle associated with being an office worker and to integrate gentle exercise into their working day.”

Walking is my type of exercise, and I loved the idea of combining it with my daily writing time, so a few weeks ago I took the plunge. After researching various options, I decided to combine a walking treadmill with a Work Fit workstation, which I can raise and lower. I wanted to be able to use my desktop computer while walking, but also wanted the option of sitting while doing tasks that combine fine motor skills and heavy mouse use, like editing.

My verdict: it’s great! I’m using it as I type this blog. So far today, I’ve walked for an hour and forty-five minutes, taken 6,556 steps, and burned 158 calories. I moved the treadmill and lowered the workstation last week as I worked through copy-edits for my newest book, Suspicious. Then, for the final read-through, I raised the work station, put the treadmill back, and walked as I listened to the whole manuscript with Text-to-Speech.

If the idea appeals to you, here’s a few things I’ve learned:

• Most treadmill motors are calibrated for faster movement—running speeds. I wanted to start with a used treadmill, but found that most treadmill settings didn’t go low enough for slow walking (.05 to .08 miles/hour). You can certainly use your regular treadmill to see if you like writing while on the treadmill, but be aware you could burn out the motor. I decided to get a walking treadmill. Mine is from LifeSpan and I like it so far.
• There are plenty of DIY YouTube videos with instruction on how to modify a treadmill using things as simple as a shelf from the hardware store or an IKEA desk.
• Start slow. I walked for an hour the first day, then upped it to an hour and forty-five minutes the next day. The first week, I walked for three days. Even at the slow pace and only walking a few days, I could feel it!
• Do tasks that don’t require lots of fine motor skills to begin with:  reading articles, watching videos, etc.
• Good walking shoes are a must.
• Don’t forget to stretch!

Anyone else out there treaddesking? Post a pic or a link to your treadmill desk.

Before I go, a shameless plug for my new release: Suspicious (On the Run #4), a book that I wrote because readers asked for more in the series. :) Here’s a blurb:

Zoe and Jack’s trip to Rome was supposed to be a romantic one-year anniversary celebration with a little business on the side. Jack’s fledgling security company has landed the plum assignment of providing additional security for the opening night gala of a museum exhibit featuring priceless gems.

However, the easy job turns complicated when they discover the exhibit is the next target of a cat burglar who has struck several times in recent months, snatching up a hoard of sparkling jewels. Opening night goes off without a hitch, but then the police accuse them of switching the real gems for fakes.

With the exhibit’s organizer missing and planted diamonds showing up in their belongings, Zoe and Jack are forced to delve into the shady side of the diamond trade in a search for the culprit, a journey that takes them from the fountains and piazzas of the Eternal City to the snow-capped Alps.

If you like mysteries and/or heist stories, I hope you'll check it out.

Sara writes mystery (Ellie Avery series) and suspense (On the Run series). Publishers Weekly called Sara’s books, "satisfying," "well-executed," and "sparkling."

Sara loves all things bookish, considers dark chocolate a daily requirement, and is on a quest for the best bruschetta. Connect with Sara at www.SaraRosett.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Goodreads.

Research Trip: Paris Metro, the Eiffel Tower, and Monet

by Sara Rosett

I love research. I could do it forever. It’s a great procrastination technique. While trolling Facebook or Pinterest is hard to justify during my writing hours, researching art nouveau Paris Metro signs is much easier to rationalize.

I usually do my research through the library and the Internet, but I now have a new favorite sub-set of the research phase:  the research trip.

I’ve just returned from a short research trip to Paris. I’m working on DECEPTIVE, the third book in the On The Run series, which features suspense, mystery, international destinations, and a dash of romance.

I’d already roughed out the Paris section of the book, and it was interesting to see what changed after a first-hand look at the city. I’d been lucky enough to visit Paris once before several years ago, so I’d relied on memory, guidebooks, and my photos.

I’d described my main character, Zoe, holding onto a ceiling strap during a ride on the crowded Metro. The Metro was indeed packed, and the basics of the transportation lines were right, but I had one thing off. Turns out that the Metro trains I used (which my main character will also be on) don’t have straps.

I’d also described Zoe getting her first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower when she emerged from the École Militaire station, which should have been possible according to the map, but when I surfaced from that station all I could see where five- and six-story buildings, a tangle of roads converging, and several sidewalk cafes. The sound of a jackhammer echoed over the whole scene from a nearby building under renovation. Not very romantic, but realistic. However, I did find a Metro with a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower, the Alma Marceau.

Some things I had spot-on, like the twin beams of light that shine from the Eiffel Tower at night as well as the delicious food. Much sampling was necessary on the Rue Cler to ensure I had the food part just right. :)

DECEPTIVE is about a search for a missing Monet painting, so I spent time at the Musée d’Orsay, taking in everything I could:  the thickness of the brushstrokes, the size of the canvases, and the size, shape, placement (and sometimes absence) of Monet’s signature. 

I wish this was a Monet painting! Photography wasn't allowed. :( 

I love Impressionist paintings, and I have to say that seeing them first-hand is a completely different experience than looking at them in a book or on-line. I was amazed at the difference a few feet made in the viewing experience. Up close, the brushstrokes dominated in splats or dots of color; a few steps back and—viola!—the cathedral had depth and detail. It was amazing, almost like a hologram. 

The Louvre makes a brief appearance in my book, but only the exterior courtyard with the glass pyramid, so I really didn’t have to spend a whole day inside. 

But I did. 

What can I say? I love museums almost as much as I love research.  

I’m sure I can use it in a book someday…

~Sara

When not plotting new books that require research trips, Sara writes mystery (Ellie Avery series) and suspense (On the Run series). Deceptive, On the Run Book #3, will be out this summer. The first two books in the series, Elusive and Secretive are available now on Kindle, Nook, iTunes, and Kobo. Publishers Weekly called Sara’s books, "satisfying," "well-executed," and "sparkling."

Sara loves all things bookish, considers dark chocolate a daily requirement, and is on a quest for the best bruschetta. Connect with Sara at www.SaraRosett.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Goodreads.

Book Marketing: Guest Blog Posts

by Sara Rosett

We’re talking book marketing here at Girlfriends Book Club.

Over the years, one thing I’ve done consistently for promotion is guest blog. I don’t have any hard data that guest blog posts drive sales, but they do help me spread the word about my books, and I get to interact with mystery readers, which is always a great thing.

Here’s a fun “Day in the Life” blog I wrote from the perspective of Zoe Hunter, the protagonist of Elusive, for Dru’s Book Musings.

A Day in the Life of Zoe Hunter

A typical day? That’s a tough one.

See, I don’t have a set schedule, and I love it.

I tried the nine-to-five office routine, but it was like the death of a thousand cuts—paper cuts, that is. But still, I couldn’t take it.

I guess you’d say my days are fluid. I’m a “Jill of All Trades.” I do it all:  freelance copy-editing, property management, even dog walking. I like the variety. Sure, it’s a little insecure, but I’m not exactly what you’d call cautious. I don’t look before I leap. No, I’m more likely to charge over the edge of the cliff and worry about the consequences later.

Normally, I love surprises and the unknown. This situation with my ex, Jack, is the exception. Ah, Jack—that was probably my most impulsive move ever—getting married on the spur of the moment. It was crazy, but it felt so right…at least at the time.

Anyway, right now everything is getting a little too bizarre, even for me. Jack has disappeared, there’s a ton of money missing from the banking account of the small business he owned with a partner, and the investigators think I know what happened.

I’m not sure what Jack was involved in, but I’ve been dragged into it, too. Normally, I’m up for new experiences, but being investigated by the FBI was never on my bucket list, so I’ve been poking around. It seems Jack left out a few key details about himself. I’m counting on his cousin in Vegas to have some answers. After that, who knows? I’ll follow the trail until I figure out what’s going on, so I can get back to my “normal” crazy life.

You can read about Zoe’s search for answers that takes her from Las Vegas to Italy in Elusive (Book #1 in the “On The Run” series). It’s available in from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, and Smashwords.

~Sara

P.S. Book giveaways are another marketing thing I do. I have one going on right now for Elusive at Library Thing. (Scroll down about a quarter of the page.) Happy reading! 

Sara writes mystery (Ellie Avery series) and suspense (On the Run series). As a military spouse Sara has moved around the country (frequently!) and traveled internationally, which inspired her latest travel suspense books. Publishers Weekly called Sara’s books, "satisfying," "well-executed," and "sparkling."

Sara loves all things bookish, considers dark chocolate a daily requirement, and is on a quest for the best bruschetta. Connect with Sara at www.SaraRosett.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Goodreads.