The Sherlockian Interview - Peter Coe Verbica

The final four volumes (49-52) of The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories are now on Kickstarter (click here). Every day we will be featuring one of the authors in the collection. Today its Peter Coe Verbica.

What’s the name of your story in the collection?

To be a small part of the MX phenomenon is a privilege.  Authors like me are indebted to you and David Marcum and the good works you do on behalf of the neurodiverse school Doyle’s former estate at Undershaw.  The name of my story in the last of this series is “The Ambassador’s Dilemma.”

How did the story come about?

There’s a delightful interview which was filmed of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle discussing how he came to apply the scientific method to the writing of detective stories; in the interview, he mentions “little dodges” and “touches” which he uses to build up the reasons for a story’s conclusion.  While I pale in comparison to our grandmaster, I did have a particular end in mind; then, I thought through the elements which would either point or distract from what solves this puzzle.  “The Ambassador’s Dilemma” involves an unseen physical phenomenon, entirely based in science.  But you’ll need to read the story rather than have me spoil the plot line.

Have you contributed to anthologies before?

Readers can find ten of my short stories featured in The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories’ anthologies, edited by David Marcum.  These include “The Disfigured Hand,” “The Magic Bullet,” “The Adventure of the Matched Set,” “The Musician Who Spoke from the Grave,” “The Dutch Imposters,” “A Ghost in the Mirror,” “The Deceased Priest,” “The King of Spades,” “The Hyde Park Blackmailer,” and, most recently, “The Ambassador’s Dilemma.”  

Where did you first discover Holmes?

My grandmother was a lover of detective stories; she devoured them the way one with a sweet tooth might enjoy chocolates.  She always had a murder mystery at her bedside.  And my grandfather dutifully enabled her addiction with a ready supply of fresh books.  She was a wonderful conversationalist and could split a kitchen match with a revolver at fifty feet.  I have her entirely to blame for my introduction to the Holmes’ original canon.

Are there any writers/adaptations of Holmes you particularly enjoy?

The original Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce movies are the adaptations of Holmes and Watson I enjoy the most.  These actors have a convincing rapport which helps suspend all disbelief.  Rathbone, like LeRoy Nimoy, became so associated with his fictional character that it was reportedly difficult for him to break the typecast.  Recently, I attended a Diogenes Society dinner (at a location which shall remain nameless for the protection of the guilty).  A painting of Rathbone was carefully removed from its protective box and set upon the fireplace mantel with true reverence.

Do you write on any other subjects?

I’ve written a wealth of free verse poetry which is included in a bevy of anthologies across the globe; a friend asked if I could write anything shorter, so there’s also a book of Haiku that I’ve written which is published under a pen name and translated into Japanese.  I have also composed brief non-fiction articles on diverse topics, such as the Rothschild family, politics, and investments.  I wrote a dedicated speech for the USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123)’s Mast Stepping Ceremony.  One of my more popular books is Hard-Won Cowboy Wisdom (Not Necessarily in Order of Importance) which features maxims about the cowboy way of life.  I grew up on Rancho San Felipe, a California cattle ranch where we raised polled Herefords and Arabian horses. 

Where can fans find more about your work? 

Aside from the MX series, seven more Sherlock Holmes-based stories can be found in The Missing Tales of Sherlock Holmes; these  seven stories are “The Lucky Strike,” “The Mystery of the Five Keys,” “The Man Who Didn’t Smoke,” “The Noble Heart” “The Curious Case of the Bald Prince,” “The Lost Uncle,” and “Death at Hampton Court.” Additional books penned by yours truly can be found on Amazon by searching under my name.