Happy Birthday, Arthur

Today is the 150th birthday of my favorite author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Scottish-born literary genius. Having created two of the most iconic and everlasting characters ever in Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, Sir Arthur truly is The Man.

I've read every Sherlock Holmes story every written by Sir Arthur, many times over. They never cease to compel and entertain. If you somehow haven't read them, race out right now and get a copy of the Complete Sherlock Holmes. If you have, take some time to re-read the best detective stories ever written.

So, a happy birthday to the great man and his ability to entertain, not only in his own time, but in all the times that came after. That's a legacy all authors aspire to, but only the Great Ones achieve.

Cheryl Walker

Spring Is In The Air

I just looked up and realized, whoops!, I haven't blogged in about two months.

Uh...sorry.

But, you remember that idea I said I was going to do no matter what? Well, I've been working on it. And, happily, my agent is now all for it. So, I've had a great reason to not be blogging.

And, okay, truth time. I, sort of, kind of, rather completely, lost track of time.

I wish I could say it's because of the novel. And in some ways, it is. I'm enjoying it, loving the characters, having fun with the twists and turns. It's a good mystery, filled with suspense and humor (at least, I think so, and at this stage, my opinion is the only one that counts). The research hasn't been too onerous, and, for the most part, the book is flowing.

But the weather's been beautiful and I've been cleaning the house (I know -- but why?) and taking walks with the dogs and, all in all, enjoying Spring. I can't even use this stuff as an excuse -- as in, "Well, it's for my novel." Because it isn't. The novel's set in January, no one's cleaning anything, at least, not on the pages, and no dogs are in evidence. At least, not yet. The book's still young. A dog could make an appearance. And even bark in the night. Or not.

Oh, come on. You had to figure that, somehow, some way, I'd sneak in a Sherlock Holmes/A. Conan Doyle reference, didn't you? And I'm sure that, somewhere along the way, Sir Conan took a breather from the Victorian version of blogging. I'm sure he did! And if he didn't, well, he probably wanted to.

Tell you what -- I'll try to remember to blog more frequently and you don't shatter my illusions. Fair trade?

Cheryl Walker

The Butler Made Me Do It

Well, really, it was my agent. Yes, you're right, it's the ever-challenging 'introduction post' of a new blog. What to say to entice blog readers to come on back?

(Look! Is that blood over there?)

I write mysteries and suspense, with thrills tossed in for good measure.

(Did you hear a shot in the dark?)

My agent is shopping my first series around -- and I've gotten some really complimentary rejections. You have to find that silver lining where you can, right?

(What about the mysterious behavior of the dog in the night?)

I'm hard at work on the first book of my next series. I may try my hand at short mysteries, but haven't felt the desperate need to do so just yet. I have another series begging for attention after I finish my current work in progress, and I find writing novels easier than writing shorts.

(Is that a bloody handprint under the throw rug?)

I like all kinds of mysteries, from what I consider the original master -- A. Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes -- through to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, and all points in between and beyond. Short and long, as long as there's something to solve, I want to read about it.

(Where'd the butler go, anyway? And who's hiding in the shadows with a candlestick?)

Hope to entertain you along my path to a succesful conclusion...and then entice you on to the next sequel.

(Wait...who's there? Is that --)

Cheryl Walker