Every year in January (close to the 6th), the Baker Street Irregulars hold their annual BSI and Friends Weekend. Sherlockians come from all over the world to celebrate the birthday of Sherlock Holmes. This is my fourth or fifth Birthday Weekend, and every time I go, I have more and more fun.
The first official event is the Distinguished Speaker presentation; this year Alan Bradley, author of the Flavia de Luce mystery series, spoke about the writing of weather in fiction and particularly in the Sherlock Holmes canon. Mr. Bradley was also kind enough to donate a character naming to the auction raising money for the Watson Fund and I'm delighted to report that Carla Coupe and I had the winning bid and our character name will appear in the next Flavia mystery!
The Baker Street Babes host an auction of Sherlockiana every year to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project--remember, John Watson was recovering from wounds he received in the Second Anglo-Afghan War when he first met Sherlock Holmes. Fan art, signed books on all things Sherlockian, and jewelry were up for grabs this year--and this little beauty (SH would eventually retire to raise and study bees in Sussex) came home with me.
The William Gillette Luncheon and the BSI Dinner are always opportunities to meet new people, and the traditions of toasting and remembering friends is wonderful. I'm always struck by the affability of Sherlockians and blown away by the terrific writing and acting that characterize the speeches and skits. Fellow Fatale Toni Kelner wrote recently about the fascination that enthusiasm holds, and Sherlockians are enthusiastic about many, many things.
Did I mention the books? There are books! That's what bring us together. Pastiches? Check. Facsimile reproduction of "The Empty House" with essays? Check. Scholarly research on SH? Check. Biography of ACD? Check.
The Saturday Cocktail Party is an opportunity for another auction and more socializing. There is always genteel and learned conversation on many topics, but there was also, at the table I shared, TARDIS Jenga.
One last bit of news: I'm thrilled to announce that Laurie R. King and Leslie S. Klinger have asked me to contribute a Sherlockian story to their next collection! If you haven't already read A Study in Sherlock or In the Company of Sherlock Holmes...go do it!
Ohhhh....so wonderful! This is simply the coolest event ever. Thank you so much for giving us a peek inside!
Posted by: Hank Phillippi Ryan | January 16, 2015 at 08:52 AM
I'm always happy when people get this excited about something to do with the written word. Thanks for the picture of what happens on these weekends, Dana.
Posted by: Charlaine Harris | January 16, 2015 at 08:59 AM
So, is the character Dana Coupe or Carla Cameron?
Posted by: Marcia Talley | January 16, 2015 at 09:08 AM
Thank you, Hank and Charlaine!
Marcia, we hope the character will be "Carla Sherrinford Cameron."
Posted by: Dana | January 16, 2015 at 09:11 AM
Double congrats on the short story and the character name, Dana. What fun.
Posted by: Elaine Viets | January 16, 2015 at 12:49 PM
Thanks, Elaine!
Posted by: Dana | January 20, 2015 at 12:06 PM