Sherlock fans bring event to Miami Valley
“People in general, and many readers, love the challenge of a good ‘whodunit’ puzzle. And, I think, we all know someone, or like the idea of someone, who is specific, precise and notices details the rest of us miss. We wish we could be that clever!” said Kathleen Dawson. “Sherlock Holmes is the epitome of that sort of cleverness. His character is popular for the same reason that many people admire and enjoy Spock, of the ‘Star Trek’ stories, and Sheldon Cooper, of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ television show.”
Dawson is a member of and volunteer publicist for The Agra Treasurers, our area’s Scion Society, or literary group focusing on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his character Sherlock Holmes. The group will be hosting a one-day symposium for Sherlockian fans on March 14 and 15.
Doyle introduced the character of Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. John Watson (as in “It’s elementary, my dear Watson!”) in 1887 with his novel, “A Study in Scarlet” published in Beeton’s Christmas Annual in England, after numerous rejections from other publications; a year later, the story came out in book form. Doyle published three more novels and 56 stories about the character, although at one point he grew so weary of his character — he wished to devote more time to other writing — that he killed off his character in the short story, “The Final Problem.” But public outcry was so great, Doyle brought him back in the novel “The Hound of the Baskervilles.”
In spite of his creator’s conflicted feelings, Holmes as a character has endured since the centuryplus span of his creation to feature in numerous many movies, fan-driven stories and television shows. And, of course, he (and his creator) are celebrated by Scion Societies or Sherlockian groups around the world. Often, these groups have clever names.
“Agra Treasurers references the 11th chapter, ‘The Great Agra Treasure,’ from Holmes’ second novel, ‘The Sign of Four,’” Dawson explained. “Our group — we have about 24 members — gets together every few months. We talk about Holmes and Sherlock, of course, but also about anything else that comes up. We usually have a fun Holmes and Sherlock trivia quiz, with humorous answers and fun prizes.”
Dawson, a lifelong Daytonian, became a Sherlockian at age 12, although she didn’t realize there was such a term at the time.
“My school was having a book sale, and I needed to get one more to get a good price on the whole order, and I thought the title ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ sounded interesting,” explained Dawson, who now lives in Englewood. “I loved it! Thirty years later, I read it again before going on a trip to England. I fell in love with the story all over again. Then I went to the area’s first Sherlockian symposium, held by a group that was a forerunner to the Agra Treasurers.”
Symposiums were held for several years, went on hiatus for a time, and are now being relaunched by the Agra Treasurers, who hope to make this an annual event again. This year’s event is called “Holmes, Doyle and Friends,” and will kick off with a get-acquainted reception on March 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hampton Inn (180 Rockridge Road) in Englewood.
The symposium on March 15 will be held at the Clarion Inn (10 Rockridge Road) in Englewood, starting at 10 a.m., with presentations, discussions and trivia games focusing on the Sherlock Holmes stories and novels by Doyle, as well as other writings about Holmes, and aspects of life in the Victorian period. Vendors will have Sherlockian books and other items for sale. The event culminates with a banquet at 7 p.m.
Advance registration before March 12 is $60 (the optional closing dinner costs an additional $30); walk-in registration is $75 but organizers request confirmation from intended participants by March 12. Registration and more information is available at www.agratreasurers.net/ events or by contacting event coordinator Ann Sie er at annsie er@yahoo.com.
Other upcoming literary events
■ Sunday, March 9, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Books & Co. at The Greene — Representatives from Antioch Writers’ Workshop (www.ant iochwritersworkshop.co m) will share information about the organization’s upcoming “Paths To Publishing” March 22 one-day seminar and its 29th Annual Summer Workshop, July 12-18, sharing details about faculty, schedules, programming, opportunities
and scholarships.
■ Sunday, March 9, 2 p.m., Wright Memorial Public Library (1776 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood) — Local artist, author and poet Pete Mitas will read from his new book “Spirited Nonsense,” inspired by the stories of O. Henry, the poems of Shel Silverstein, Mad Magazine and The Onion. He will be available for a signing afterward. The program is free.
■ Tuesday, March 11, 6:30 p.m. — Lincoln Peirce will introduce “Big Nate in the Zone,” the latest in the Big Nate series. Peirce’s Big Nate comic appears in 300 newspapers and is featured on the website Poptropica.com.
■ Thursday, March 13, 7 p.m.— Three Young Adult authors will introduce their newest books, including local author Mindee Arnett (“The Nightmare Dilemma”) as well as Kristen Simmons (“Three”) and Jenna Black (“Resistance.”)