Interview with Author David Marcum on The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories: Volume VI: 2017 Annual

Happy birthday, Sir Arthur!  The creator of Sherlock Holmes was born on this date in 1859. In honor of the great one, MX publishing has released the sixth volume of its ever expanding The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories titled The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories – Part VI: 2017 Annual . I interviewed editor David Marcum on what we could expect from this latest pastiche volume as well as what to expect from the ever busy author in the future.



Derrick Belanger (DB):   The MX Book of Sherlock Holmes Stories started as one volume, then became three, and now is a twice annual event. How did you get from one book in 2015 to where you are today?

David Marcum (DM): Thanks for the chance to answer some questions about the latest MX Anthology!

When I first had the idea for a new Holmes anthology in early 2015, it was with the idea of collecting a couple of dozen new traditional Holmes stories, at most, from the top Sherlockian writers, and reminding people exactly who Holmes is and why he’s become one of the most popular and recognizable figures on the plant – a man born in the 1850’s, and a hero, rather than a damaged and irredeemable jerk. As the word went out, more and more people wanted to participate, and gradually the idea grew from one bigger and bigger book, then to two, and finally to three. It ended up being the largest collection of new Holmes stories ever, broken into three separate volumes, Part I: 1881-1889, Part II: 1890-1895, and Part III: 1896-1929.

Even then, it was supposed to be a one-time thing, but many contributors had more ideas, new people wanted to join the party, and everything was in place to continue. I announced a new volume for 2016, and before I knew it, there were so many interested parties that it quickly became two volumes, Part IV: 2016 Annual in the spring, and Part V: Christmas Adventures in the fall.

Going into 2017, there was still a massive amount of interest, so this year will be the current volume, Part VI: 2017 Annual, the biggest book yet, and later this year, Part VII: Eliminate the Impossible. I already have more than half the stories for Part VII, and we’ve now planned out two more volumes for 2018.

The full cover art for Volume VI, designed by Brian Belanger

DB: This volume is your largest one yet. Tell us about some of the first time authors in this volume. What led them to contribute?

DM: There are 8 new contributors to this volume, in addition to the returning 27 authors, for a total of 35 new stories. One of the new authors is Nick Cardillo. He wrote to me out of the blue last year when he was a senior in high school, asking for an interview about being a Sherlockian. It was published in his school paper, and a few weeks later, he wrote again, asking if I could look over a Holmes story that he’d written. I was quite impressed, and wrote back and asked if he wanted to be in a book. Now he’s a freshman in college, and has gone on to write a second tale that’s going to be in next fall’s Part VII.

Keith Hann is another new writer, currently a Ph.D. student, who was sent my way by past anthology contributor Jeff Campbell. Keith has had one Holmes story published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine – already achieving one of those bucket list items that many of us still dream about!

At the time I was assembling the first three volumes, I found a pastiche on-line that was wonderful and very Watsonian. I reached out to the author, Jennifer Copping, about including a revised version in the anthologies, but didn’t hear back from her for a while. When I did, she was interested in participating, and her revised story is now happily appearing in print for the first time.

David Ruffle has been pastiche-writing for years, and I’m glad that he’s now a part of this group. Tom Turley had already written a pastiche when he and I started emailing several years ago, and he’s currently working on a series of interconnected pastiches. I’m honored that he’s bringing some of his very well-written work to this venue.

David Timson is an extraordinary audio-book reader for the BBC, and several years ago he recorded the entire Canon. When the boxed CD set was produced, he wrote a new pastiche and recorded it as a bonus CD for the collection. I reached out to him, and his story is now being made available in print for the first time, and since it was only available in that CD set, most Sherlockians will be completely unfamiliar with it.

Robert Perret has written several pastiches prior to this collection, including a story that appeared in a collection that I edited from Belanger Books, Holmes Away From Home. He always has a unique twist, and I’m glad he’s in this collection too.

Finally, Carla Coupe is a long-time Sherlockian and author, and has written pastiches in the past, as well as editing Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine. I’m thrilled that she’s written a brand new story just for this book.

DB: Volume V was a collection of Christmas Stories. Is there a theme to this volume?

DM: This book has no specific theme, rather like Parts I, II, III, and IV – just traditional Holmes stories, set in the correct time period, with no modern settings, vampires or time travel, un-Sherlockian behaviors, or “Sherlock” and “John”. The Christmas book, Part V, was themed, and Part VII later this year will also have a specific theme, in that the stories will initially seem to have a supernatural element, as did The Hound of the Baskervilles or “The Sussex Vampire”. However, the solutions absolutely have to be rational – “No ghosts need apply.” Still, when all is said and done, there may also be a hint of “What if . . . ?” about the stories in next fall’s book . . . .

David Marcum holds copies of Volume VI before his private Sherlock Holmes library

DB: How have the funds been used to help Stepping Stones and Undershaw?

DM: The royalties from these books are generously donated by the authors to assist the school in the continuing restoration and upkeep of Undershaw.  So far, the books have raised over $20,000 for the school. When Undershaw was initially saved, it was purchased by the DFN Foundation for conversion to the school. It was a lot more expensive than was initially planned, and now that the school is open, the Foundation will be pulling back somewhat, letting the school take on some of the work of supporting itself. As part of their ongoing connection to the history of Undershaw, the school will make the facility available (during times when not in session) to Sherlockians who wish to hold events there, or to visit in Doyle’s study and explore other parts of the building. The funds from the books will assist in that aspect, going toward continued restoration of the study and the building, and supporting the overall legacy of the site.

DB: What is next for the anthology and for Undershaw?

DM: The popularity of these books only continues to grow. In India, four volumes from these anthologies have already been published by Jaico, and the first of several editions translated into Japanese has just gone on sale in Japan.

As I mentioned, Part VII (later this year) will focus on seemingly supernatural stories. The first volume next year, Part VIII: 2018 Annual will focus on general stories, and the next, for which I’m also already receiving stories, will be Part IX: Some Untold Cases, featuring new takes on some of those famous adventures only mentioned in passing in The Canon.

I can’t thank everyone – authors, contributors, and the public – enough for all the support that has been directed toward this project. I’m having an incredible time, living a childhood dream of being able to read all of these new stories fresh from Watson’s Tin Dispatch Box, and I hope that this continues for a long long time!

For more on David Marcum and The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories visit the website of MX Publishing.

To learn more about Stepping Stones and Undershaw click here.

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