Current status: One agent looking at full manuscript.  She read my first two pages at the Writer's Conference in Nashville,  said to drop the Prologue, and send it to her.  She has had it now about ten days.  Same for another who wanted 25 pages, and one who was a referral from an agent's assistant who worked for both the one who turned me down, and the one she referred me to.  One great blurb from my editor.  I am off to Spain in a few days, and won't be back until the 5th of October.  Look for FB posts, but given the low band-width in the bar next to the hostel I will be working at, Weebly connectivity is doubtful.  For my loyal fans, I have a little something I added in my last revision, in the Afterword.  I hope you enjoy it.  Oh, new photo of yours truly.  Hopefully I look sufficiently professorial.  Smile.

     In answer to Margaret’s query regarding Holmes, “Wherever did you get that name?” Fans of the Great Detective will be surprised to know that the original name was Sherrinford Holmes and the loyal companion and narrator of his adventures was Ormond Sacker.  The name Holmes is thought to be in homage to Oliver Wendell Holmes, a writer and philosopher Doyle greatly admired.  The name Sherlock is less certain, though he did have a school classmate named Patrick Sherlock.  The name of Watson most likely was chosen from a fellow physician named Jack Watson who had recently returned from service in China and lived nearby.  I for one, am glad how things turned out, and I think most readers would agree.

  A blurb is a testimonial, usually by a published author about a book by another writer in their genre.  I was gifted yesterday by a wonderful blurb from my editor and published author John DeDakis.  John was a copywriter for CNN for 25 years and wrote the words we all heard come out of Wolf Blistzer's mouth.
  He sent me one final challenge to clean up the ending and shorten it by about 4,000 words.  He said that as a first time writer I need to keep it under 90,000.  So, some stuff I love that does not detract to the plot will have to go.
  sigh.  So it goes.
Murder by Gaslight
Blurb
Dr. Bradley Harper has rendered a superbly-imagined story of how the creator of
Sherlock Holmes solves the notorious Jack the Ripper murders. Not only does Harper
skillfully immerse the reader into the squalid conditions of London’s slums of the
1880s, he does so convincingly and engagingly in the authentic voice of Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle. In addition, Harper introduces us to the man who actually inspired the
creation of the Holmes character beloved by millions, Doyle’s mentor, Dr. Joseph Bell.
But the real treat is the touching relationship that develops between Doyle and
Margaret Harkness, a writer and feminist who rocks Doyle’s chauvinistic world. Oh!
And Mark Twain makes a cameo appearance, too. I love this story!
~John DeDakis
Novelist, Writing Coach, and Former Senior Copy Editor for CNN’s “The Situation Room
with Wolf Blitzer” www.johndedakis.com
I feel as though I just won a Pulitzer. Look for John's latest book, coming out 1 October!
Manuscript Editing | Writing Workshop Leader | Book Talks
John DeDakis is a CNN journalist who writes mystery-suspense novels, edits manuscripts, and leads writing workshops. He has written "Fast Track" and its…
johndedakis.com


Manuscript Editing | Writing Workshop Leader | Book Talks
John DeDakis is a CNN journalist who writes mystery-suspense novels, edits manuscripts, and leads writing workshops. He has written "Fast Track" and its…
johndedakis.com