{"id":6849,"date":"2021-02-10T20:25:50","date_gmt":"2021-02-10T20:25:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/greydogtales.com\/blog\/?p=6849"},"modified":"2021-02-12T14:24:16","modified_gmt":"2021-02-12T14:24:16","slug":"sherlock-holmes-and-the-occult-detectives-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/greydogtales.com\/blog\/sherlock-holmes-and-the-occult-detectives-iii\/","title":{"rendered":"Sherlock Holmes and the Occult Detectives III"},"content":{"rendered":"

After the success of Sherlock Holmes & the Occult Detectives<\/em><\/strong> Volumes I and II<\/strong> (Belanger Books, 2020), we are back, dear listener, to announce that we are now open to story pitches for a new anthology, Sherlock Holmes and the Occult Detectives III<\/strong><\/em>! So do read on for everything you need to know\u2026<\/p>\n

THE BACKGROUND<\/h2>\n

Last year I had the pleasure of editing the two anthologies mentioned at the start, in which we presented almost 200,000 words of brand new stories from a host of contemporary writers, all based on the possibility that Sherlock Holmes chose, or had of necessity, to work with those figures of the time who called themselves occult detectives, psychic investigators and the like.<\/p>\n

\"Sherlock<\/a><\/p>\n

Sherlock Holmes and the Occult Detectives<\/strong><\/em> III<\/em><\/strong> will once again be about detection, logic and mysteries. It will concern an authentic Sherlock Holmes, but with the same simple twist:<\/p>\n

Perhaps Holmes is already privately aware that there may be supernatural elements in the world, but has tried to close off such thoughts, finding them too illogical. Or perhaps he is disturbed to find something quite inexplicable affecting his resolution of a particular case, and has to step beyond his normal boundaries. He may, of course, still be highly sceptical. <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

And maybe Dr Watson was never allowed to include any such explicit references when he wrote up his friend\u2019s adventures, but now these instances can be brought into the light.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Does this ruin the core of Holmes\u2019s original position? Not necessarily, for as we have oft said, Holmes\u2019s most quoted comments on the supernatural are not quite as definitive as some might believe. Do you remember \u2018The Sussex Vampire\u2019? That particular Conan Doyle tale contains the famous lines, where Holmes tells Watson:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis agency stands flat-footed upon the ground, and there it must remain. The world is big enough for us. No ghosts need apply.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

In \u2018The Hound of the Baskervilles\u2019, what he states is that normal investigative techniques and logical deduction would be of no use in supernatural cases.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf Dr. Mortimer\u2019s surmise should be correct, and we are dealing with forces outside the ordinary laws of Nature, there is an end of our investigation. But we are bound to exhaust all other hypotheses before falling back upon this one.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

We could therefore say Holmes\u2019s concern is that none of his peculiar intellectual talents can be of value in a situation where normal ratiocination is overthrown. He has dismissed that which will not yield to him.<\/p>\n

If there are such cases, genuine ones, who will take them on? More foolish, credulous or cash-hungry \u2018consulting\u2019 detectives? Fraudulent psychics? Or, now and then, the true occult detectives, those who have developed a different blend of investigative skills and knowledge of matters apparently \u2018outside the ordinary laws of Nature\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n

Will they come to him for advice, will they cross his path during a case, or will he, however reluctantly, turn to them when only the impossible can explain what has happened\u2026?<\/p>\n

You may be able to tell us.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Sherlock<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

THE SHORT VERSION<\/h2>\n

Sherlock Holmes and the Occult Detectives<\/strong><\/em> III<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

A Belanger Books Project, edited by John Linwood Grant<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Core concept:<\/strong> A 5,000\u201310,000 word story featuring the canonical Holmes\/Watson which has them encountering and working with, or even working against, an occult detective\/psychic investigator. Existing literary characters or your own inventions both welcome. Period: c.1880-1925. English language, no reprints.<\/p>\n

Your pitch must be accepted for your completed story to be read. See PITCH section below.
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pitch Deadline:<\/strong> 16 April, 2021.<\/p>\n

Final Submission Deadline:<\/strong> 31 August, 2021.<\/p>\n

Payment:<\/strong> Authors shall receive a payment of $100 or $50 plus 1% of the Kickstarter net profits, whichever amount is GREATER, and a paperback copy of the anthology.<\/p>\n

The Kickstarter will run March 2022, and publication of book is expected early Spring 2022.<\/p>\n

\n

THE LONG VERSION<\/h2>\n

This part is more detailed because it all increases the chances of us taking your story. And it has a few hints. The more in tune with us you are, the more we\u2019ll wag our tails when we read what you send. If you\u2019re confident that you\u2019ve already grasped the concept, or you\u2019re an experienced writer, you might use it just to double-check. We\u2019d still prefer you read it through.<\/p>\n

Stories MUST have all the following four key elements:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Sherlock Holmes (and\/or Watson) as a key protagonist; a proper, authentic Conan Doyle-type Holmes, in full character and with the traditional mannerisms.<\/li>\n
  2. One or more occult detectives as the other key protagonist(s), ones who could have taken up a case at the same time as Holmes was alive and functioning. This means Public Domain figures from around 1880 \u2013 1925* OR your own original character operating in the same time period. The latter are very welcome.<\/li>\n
  3. A strong supernatural, paranormal, occult, psychic or other abnatural element which is crucial to the story. You can try a \u2018debunking\u2019 tale, where a mundane explanation ensues, but we won\u2019t take many of those.<\/li>\n
  4. An actual case\/investigation \u2013 not Holmes and Dr Silence happening to see a ghost pass by, whilst they argue about the price of stamps over coffee.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    We do NOT want time-travel stories, alternative universes, robot Watsons or steampunk. We probably don\u2019t want Lovecraftiana, unless the latter is very clever, subtle and original, in which case we might have a glance. Think more of Algernon Blackwood, William Hope Hodgson, Arthur Machen, L T Meade and so on. Classic late Victorian, Edwardian and Twenties mysteries and scariness.<\/p>\n

    * Do check that any literary occult detective is in the Public Domain. Seventy years after the author\u2019s death is the usual rule-of-thumb, except for some important characters where an Estate is still active and protecting its copyrights \u2013 Agatha Christie, for example.<\/em><\/p>\n

    \"Sherlock<\/a><\/p>\n

    \n

    THE PITCH<\/h2>\n

    IF YOU DO NOT PITCH FIRST, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONSIDER YOUR STORY.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Why the pitch system? Because otherwise it\u2019s possible to end up with loads of similar stories, however well written they are, and thus loads of rejection letters. Seventeen cases where Holmes and Dr Hesselius prove that the apparition at Gruntling Hall was in fact the butler in a sheet (but that the family was genuinely cursed anyway, because a wicked ancestor ate cheese too late at night). Or twelve cases of werewolves, phosphorescent pain and missing boots.<\/p>\n

    For this anthology, we require short pitches \u2013 say one hundred to three hundred words \u2013 telling us about your planned story:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The decade and general physical setting(s), e.g. London; a decaying Cornish farmhouse, before WWI; a fancy hotel in Paris.<\/li>\n
    2. The sort of supernatural threat\/mystery, e.g. classic ghostly appearances; physical monstrosity on the loose; madman possessed by something; cursed item. Get us intrigued.<\/li>\n
    3. The occult detective(s) involved, e.g. Van Helsing late in his career; John Bell having decided spirits do exist; Carnacki at his wits end and needing a co-conspirator.<\/li>\n
    4. A hint of plot, to show you already have a story broadly in mind.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      If you\u2019ve never pitched before, have a go at it, and we\u2019ll tell you if you have something there which we think is worth pursuing. If you\u2019ve done it before, you know the drill.<\/p>\n

      The authors of the most suitable pitches will be invited to write up a full submission for possible inclusion, so you\u2019ll then have a further four months. No guarantees, but it means that you\u2019re at least on the right lines; your story will get more attention and your chances will have gone up.<\/p>\n

      PITCHES AND QUERIES ONLY TO occultholmes@virginmedia.com<\/a> BY 16th<\/sup> APRIL 2021, PLEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n

      A NOTE ON LEADING CHARACTERS<\/h2>\n

      Literary and historical figures featured in Volumes I and II included:<\/p>\n