CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS for new SHERLOCK HOLMES and SOLAR PONS publications, Sherlock Holmes into the Fire roars on Kickstarter, and FREE

 

Hi everyone,

We wanted to share our latest call for submissions, update you on our Kickstarter campaign, and, of course, to offer you FREE eBooks. Let's get to it!

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR UPCOMING BELANGER BOOKS ANTHOLOGIES!

Sherlock Holmes: A Year of Mystery 1889 & 1890

Edited by Richard T. Ryan

“When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which present strange and interesting features that it is no easy matter to know which to choose and which to leave.” - Dr. Watson

Synopsis: The year 1889 was a particularly busy one for Holmes with a number of cases including The Hound (Sept. 25-Oct. 20); “The Beryl Coronet” (Feb. 19-20); “The Man with the Twisted Lip” (June 18-19);  “The Naval Treaty” (Aug. 1); “Cardboard Box” (Aug. 31- Sept. 2); “The Engineer’s Thumb.” (Sept. 7-8);  “Crooked Man” (Sept. 11-12);  and “Blue Carbuncle) (Dec. 27). Although things slowed a bit in 1890, prominent cases included “Copper Beeches” (April 5-20); “Silver Blaze” (Sept. 25-30) and “The Red-Headed League” (Oct. 9-11). But what other cases did our heroes encounter in these years? Find out in  Sherlock Holmes: A Year of Mysteries – 1889 &  Sherlock Holmes: A Year of Mysteries – 1890.

Submission Guidelines: The stories must be Canonical in nature and fit with the timeline. Holmes and Watson should act like they do in the original stories. As you can see above, a number of the original cases from this period are specifically dated, so please bear that in mind when you are writing your story.

Authors interested in participating should first send a synopsis of their adventure and the month of the year they wish it to take place. If your story does not need a specific month (i.e. it takes place in autumn and could be in September, October, or November) please let us know that as well. Once your synopsis has been accepted, you should begin drafting the story.

Submission length: 5,000 – 10,0000 words (it is okay to go over some).
Payment: Authors shall receive a payment of 125 dollars and a complimentary copy of the paperback edition of the book.

Rights: Authors shall retain rights to their work. We only retain the rights to the story within the publication.

Submission deadline for proposals is April 30th, 2025. Submission deadline for stories is June 30th, 2025.

Publication: Late Summer/early Fall, 2025

Send proposals and submissions in a word document that is double spaced, in Times New Roman, and in 14 point font to rich.ryan52@gmail.com with the heading ATTN: SHERLOCK HOLMES A YEAR OF MYSTERY 1889 or ATTN: SHERLOCK HOLMES A YEAR OF MYSTERY 1890.

Cover to the 1887 volume of  Year of Mystery series

The Necronomicon of Sherlock Holmes

Edited by Derrick Belanger & Brian Belanger Description: Imagine Holmes investigating the disappearance of a college student in the mysterious town of Innsmouth, matching wits with a man who can reanimate the dead, or using his deductive skills to help fight creatures from beyond the realm of time and space. These are just some of the stories which could be included in the new anthology The Necronomicon of Sherlock Holmes. The anthology will feature traditional Sherlock Holmes stories blended with one or more of Lovecraft’s tales. Belanger Books is calling for submissions from writers, new or established, which are between 5,000 – 10,000 words (it is okay to be over some). Guidelines: The stories must feel like traditional Holmes and Lovecraft stories. The stories should have the traditional Holmes and Watson working with the traditional characters, creatures, and/or gods of H.P. Lovecraft. Remember, there was a logic to the writing of Lovecraft, a rationale behind the otherworldly beings even if humans couldn’t conceive it, that should blend well with the deductive skills of Sherlock Holmes. Payment: Authors shall receive a payment of $125 and a paperback copy of the anthology. Rights: Authors shall retain rights to their work. We only retain the rights to the story within the publication. Authors are welcome to submit more than one story for the anthology. Send submissions in a word document that is double spaced, in Times New Roman, and in 14 point font to derrick@belangerbooks.com with the subject line ATTN: SUBMISSION FOR THE NECRONOMICON OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

Submission Deadline: June 15, 2025.

Publication Date: Winter 2025/2026

The new anthology will be a nice companion to our previous Holmes/ Lovecraft book 

Solar Pons: A Year of Mystery 1919

Edited by David Marcum

Introducing a new series of Solar Pons books, each one encapsulating a year in the life of Solar Pons with twelve new mysteries, one for each month of the year!

“I soon learned that I had taken up my abode with a private detective of no mean ability, a man who, openly espousing the old-fashioned methods of ratiocination and deduction, had already established for himself a reputation for skill and intelligent sleuthing for which he was held in high regard by many persons connected with Scotland Yard and His Majesty’s Government.” --Dr. Parker

1919 was a very important year in the life of Solar Pons, the Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street. The detective was building up his practice, solving crimes in the months after the end of The Great War. Then, in July, he met the man who would be his Watson, the noted Dr. Parker. Find out what mysteries Pons solved in the beginning of his career both solo and with his Boswell in this collection of twelve all new Solar Pons adventures.

Submission Guidelines: Stories must be canonical in nature and follow the Solar Pons timeline. Word count should be between 5,000 - 10,000 words (it is okay to go a little over or under).

Authors interested in participating should first send a synopsis of their adventure and the month of the year they wish it to take place. Remember, stories that take place from January through May would not involve Dr. Parker as he hadn’t met Pons yet. The stories from June through December would (or could) involve the doctor. If your story does not need a specific month (i.e. it takes place in autumn and could be in September, October, or November) please let us know that as well. Once your synopsis has been accepted, you should begin drafting the story.

Payment: Authors shall receive a payment of 100 dollars and a complimentary copy of the paperback edition of the book.

Rights: Authors shall retain rights to their work. We only retain the rights to the story within the publication.

Submission deadline for proposals is May 1st, 2025. Submission deadline for stories is July 15th, 2025.

Publication: Fall 2025

Send proposals and submissions in a word document that is double spaced, in Times New Roman, and in 14 point font to thepapersofsherlockholmes@gmail.com  with the heading ATTN: SOLAR PONS A YEAR OF MYSTERY 1919 

 Sherlock Holmes into the Fire

Our latest Kickstarter project features a limited edition two volume version of Sherlock Holmes into the Fire only available as part of the Kickstarter campaign! Back it today by CLICKING HERE!

One of the most popular collections of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works is the one he specifically created to be read “...round the fire upon a winter’s night.”

His classic Round the Fire collection is concerned, he said, “...with the grotesque and with the terrible.” These stories never go out of style or lack for an audience, but they may leave their audience perplexed. Cue Sherlock Holmes! Who to better explain and contain these inexplicable others?

Each volume of Sherlock Holmes Into the Fire pairs the original tales from Round the Fire with a new Sherlock Holmes adventure, thrusting the Great Detective into these worlds of mystery, adventure, and gothic horror. Seventeen writers have pooled their talents to accept this literary challenge... do you dare to read on?

Find out more about the project and back it today by CLICKING HERE!

Free Kindle eBooks!!

Please note that the Kindle editions are free through March 2nd. 

Reading Holmes!

If you've ever wondered:

Where will I fit all of my Sherlock Holmes books? Do I need another shelf for them –– or another bookcase? How many more terabytes do I need to store them all? Which editions have the best Holmes illustrations? Whose annotations make the most sense to me?

Then Reading Holmes! is a book for you!

Reading Holmes! features all new essays on how and why authors and researchers approach the writing of Sherlock Holmes stories and scholarship. The book features some of the top names in the Sherlockian world including:

Mark Alberstat, BSI · Curtis Armstrong, BSI · Anna Behrens · Derrick Belanger · Ray Betzner, BSI · Johanna Draper Carlson · Shana C. Carter · Paul M. Chapman · Chris Chan · Thomas Cynkin, BSI · Greg Darak, BSI · Steven Doyle, BSI · Jayantika Ganguly, BSI · Bruce Harris · Linda Hein & Beth Barnard · Brad Keefauver, BSI · Les Klinger, BSI · David Marcum · Nick Martorelli, BSI · Will Murray · Rob Nunn, BSI · Madeline Quiñones · Ray Riethmeier, BSI · Aaron Rubin, BSI · Richard T. Ryan · Burt Wolder, BSI · Vincent Wright · Joanne Zahorsky-Reeves, BSI

Edited by Derrick Belanger, BSI, Richard T. Ryan, Robert S. Katz, BSI, and Brian Belanger

Get this scholarly book of Holmes essays by CLICKING HERE!

The Remarkable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

"Holmes is the quintessential force for good: the fierce intellect capable of resolving the most complex problems and doing so for us, his fellow citizens of that London suspended forever in time, somewhere between 1881 and the First World War. These were more innocent times in some ways, perhaps, or times that just seemed simpler to us in contrast to the chaos of the modern age (they really weren’t), and to walk through the pages of history offers a safe perspective. Holmes and Watson are our guides to this age, then, and we can feel entirely safe in their company".

Assembled here for the first time are ten adventures of the Great Detective from Sherlockian author Mike Adamson (Sherlock Holmes: A Tradition of Evil), each one carefully crafted and curated for the canonical collector:

• The Mystery of the Extraneous Cadaver
• His Wonders to Perform
• The Price of a Life
• The Dark Streets *
• The Babbington Inheritance
• A Very Lethal Mercy
• A Temptation Irresistible *
• Lord Berresford's Indiscretion *
• The Shadow of the New
• A Damnation in Negative

* unique to this volume

Many of these stories have appeared in collections from Belanger Books and MX Publishing, as well as Strand Magazine and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. The adventure "A Temptation Irresistible" was originally published in Strand Magazine under the title "The Affair of the Russian Violinist" in a substantially rewritten version. We present the original version of the story here, which is closer to the author's style and intent.

Get this incredible collection of all new Holmes adventures by CLICKING HERE!

The Arrival of Solar Pons: Early Manuscripts and Pulp Magazine Appearances of the Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street

In the 1920’s, college student August Derleth wrote to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, asking if any more Sherlock Holmes adventures were going to be published. Upon receiving a negative reply, Derleth decided to provide some of his own. However, rather than relating more tales of Holmes and Dr. Watson, he ended up introducing the world to Solar Pons and Dr. Lyndon Parker, living in London during the 1920’s and 1930’s. Pons solved crimes using deduction and ratiocination, often referring to Holmes as “The Master” or “My illustrious predecessor.” Since his first appearance, Solar Pons has been a favorite with Sherlockians.

Now, the estate of August Derleth has authorized an anthology of Derleth’s original versions of many Solar Pons stories, as they appeared in early pulp magazines. You haven’t read these stories until you’ve read the original versions! With notes by Pons scholar Mark Wardecker, PSI, this is an anthology no Solar Pons fan can live without!

Join us again at 7B Praed Street, where… the game is afoot!

Get the original versions of some of Pons' most famous adventures by CLICKING HERE!

Belanger Books is a small press owned by artist Brian Belanger and author Derrick Belanger specializing in new Sherlock Holmes books, Solar Pons, Children's books, Classic Sci-fi, Steampunk, and genre specific anthologies.  Some of our books have been #1 bestsellers in their categories on Amazon.