It’s been too long since we last talked – May 2017 to be exact — so let’s get caught up.
You came here because of my annotated mystery novels by Agatha Christie or Dorothy L. Sayers, or my collections of Sherlock Holmes parodies, or my republication of true crime books about William Palmer. Some of you signed up because of my wife’s novel (written as Odessa Moon) called “The Bride from Dairapaska,” or Skye Kingsbury’s “A Dictionary of Flowers and Gems.”
You might even remember a book I wrote for Penguin called “Writers Gone Wild” and wondering if the sequel will ever appear (answer: I’m still working on it, but slowly).
If you still don’t remember why you signed up, and you’re not interested in our books, just hit the unsubscribe link at the bottom of this email and we’ll go away. I’ll understand.
With that out of the way, here’s what we published lately, where we’ll appear in the Hershey area, and what’s coming from the Peschel Press.
Recently Published
Sherlock Holmes Jazz Age Parodies and Pastiches I: 1920-1924 (April 2018).
This is the next-to-last volume in the series, with stories by James Thurber (a strange parody about a detective named Blue Ploermell who has a fondness for animal crackers), Dashiell Hammett (an attempt at satire with a last line that could have been spoken out of the side of his mouth), Arthur Conan Doyle (written for the Queen’s Dollhouse project), and more.
For those unfamiliar with the 223B Casebook series, be warned that the quality of the stories vary widely. Some were written by newspaper reporters on a deadline, by schoolboys and high school students, and even a commie or two! Each story comes with an introduction based on my researches into the author, and footnotes about unfamiliar words and references in the stories. Each year begins with an biographical essay on Conan Doyle’s life during those 12 months.
Most of the volumes also come with a Sherlock pastiche I wrote featuring Mark Twain, which I’ve collected in a separate book below.
The Dictionary of Flowers and Gems (May 2018).
Skye Kingsbury compiled the cream of Victorian-era books listing more than 2,000 flowers and the messages they convey. They’re organized by name and emotions (it was a massive task proofing this!), and she also added their scientific name. As a bonus, she listed several hundred gems and their associated powers as well. The 8.5 x 11-inch book has received praise for its interior design and easy of use. Here’s a few examples:
The Casebook of Twain & Holmes (May 2018).
Seven stories featuring Mark Twain in the world of 221B Baker Street. Four of them feature Twain with Sherlock, with additional stories in which the humorist encounters a young Watson in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Mycroft in a case of espionage in Tangiers, and Irene Adler in Heidelberg! I had great fun researching Twain’s life and integrating these stories into Holmes’ chronology, and I hope you enjoy them as well!
The Bride from Dairapaska (August 2018).
(Available only at Amazon and Kindle Unlimited) Odessa Moon’s first book in “The Steppes of Mars” series. Set on a terraformed planet hundreds of years in the future, this science-fiction novel tells the story of Debbie, who fled an abusive marriage with her children into the wilderness and unwittingly changes Martian history! The first chapter can be read at Odessa Moon’s website.
Coming Appearances
Before we get into our appearances, I want to talk about Craig “Longmire” Johnson. I’m a fan of his books, and he’s touring behind his latest novel, “Depth of Winter.” He’ll be at a church in Mechanicsburg, Pa., on Sunday, Sept. 16. I’ve seen him in person several times, and he delivers a great, fun talk. I’ll be in the audience for this one as well. Even if you haven’t read his books, come anyway: He’s an entertaining cuss.
To register for the free event at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, visit the Mechanicsburg Mystery Bookshop site at https://www.mysterybooksonline.com/craig-johnsons-author-visit
Oct. 13: We’ll be part of a group booksigning at Cupboard Maker Books in Enola, Pa., from about 1 to 3 p.m. Come in and say hey! https://www.cupboardmaker.com/
Nov. 3: We’ll be at the Winter Arts Show at Hershey High School from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Works In Progress
Sherlock Holmes Jazz Age Parodies and Pastiches II: 1925-1930
The final volume in the 223B Casebook series, including stories by Frederic Door Steele (American illustrator of Sherlock stories), August Derleth, Corey Ford, Stephen Leacock, with a special appearance in Frank Godwin’s “Connie” comic strip (about an adventurous and liberated flapper). It’ll also contain “The Adventure of the Fight Club,” my pastiche featuring Twain, Watson, and Holmes running a long con!
Man Out of Time
I’m flexing my fiction fingers with this romance of a 16th century playwright who finds himself in contemporary New York. Should come out late in September.
Making Cloth Grocery Bags
Teresa Peschel, my wife, sews cloth bags that we give away with purchases at book fairs and festivals, and she’s written this guide to making them yourself. Whether you want to start a side gig or want to stop using plastic bags that uses precious resources, this will guide you through making two types of bags: a simple version and a complex “Cadillac of bags” model.
Also coming: I’m mentioning this nowhere else, but I’ll be writing a couple of novella this year. I’m calling them – at least to myself – “Drive-In Novellas,” because I want them to be fast, fun reads. I also want them to come out this year, because I’m tired of spending 18 years writing a novel (I’m looking at you “Ride of My Life”!)
“Deadstock” involves a son estranged from his rock-star father, a massive music festival, and zombies.
“London Calling” is a really weird story, a thriller about British gangsters, a suitcase nuke, and a girl just trying to get by.
See you next month. It’ll be a shorter newsletter, and I’ll throw in some reviews of media I like (like “Crazy Rich Asians”; read the book and see the movie!).
Cheers,
Bill and Teresa
Peschel Press