Hello
Look at me, writing my first ever blog post like some kind of sexy hacker from a 90s movie. All I need now is four computer screens, a sassy attitude and Sandra Bullcock's hair to complete the package.
As most of you don’t know, I wrote my first book in 2016 - "Rubber Sharks and Wooden Acting: The Ultimate Guide to Bad Movies” - about one of my biggest loves, terrible films. What’s that you say? Can you still buy it? Of course you can, there are still copies available in the sale bins at local book stores and on the shelves of many reputable (and unrepeatable) charity shops. But if you're one of those modern internet types you can potter on over to Amazon for a copy:
BUY MY RUBBER SHARKS BOOK HERE
But don't dawdle about on there for too long because the exciting news is that my next book is due to be published in June and this is about my other big love, Sherlock Holmes.
Being a lecturer I like toforce share my love of
the Sherlock Holmes stories with my pupils and, thanks to the
BBC show Sherlock, as well as the Guy Ritchie movies, quite a few
have been motivated to read the books. I know. Imagine that, a
16 year old with a book. A REAL BOOK
The most recurring problem they had when reading (I mean, I'll say it again, they were actually reading and not setting fire to pensioners like the news is always saying the do) was stumbling over, what they called, "wordy words".
Some words they didn't understand because they just weren't part of their world - like conflagration or portmanteau - and others were Victorian words which are no longer used like a Dark Lantern and Pinfire Revolver. Not to mention all of the Latin, French and German phrases which are peppered throughout the book as well as the references to historic battles, Bible stories and mythology, none of which were on their cultural radar.
So, with them in mind, I started to write little "cheat" cards to use with each story. These contained short explications of the “wordy words” so they were able to quickly understand them and move on to enjoying the rest of the story. Gradually the cards got bigger and more frequent until, eventually, I wrote them into a book and that is what will be winging its way out into the mean streets of Booktown later in June.
Please keep an eye out for it....The Adventure of the Wordy Companion: The Handy A-Z Guide to Sherlockian Phraseology.
Until the book is released, and as well as many other late night rantings, I am going to be putting up a few of the most interesting Sherlockian words and their definitions from the Canon here on this blog, as well as some wonderful Victorian slang to get you in the mood. Think of this blog like an amuse-bouche or a heavy petting session on a soft leather couch, it's the tantalising build up which comes before the main event.
I'll literally keep you posted
'till the next time...
Look at me, writing my first ever blog post like some kind of sexy hacker from a 90s movie. All I need now is four computer screens, a sassy attitude and Sandra Bullcock's hair to complete the package.
As most of you don’t know, I wrote my first book in 2016 - "Rubber Sharks and Wooden Acting: The Ultimate Guide to Bad Movies” - about one of my biggest loves, terrible films. What’s that you say? Can you still buy it? Of course you can, there are still copies available in the sale bins at local book stores and on the shelves of many reputable (and unrepeatable) charity shops. But if you're one of those modern internet types you can potter on over to Amazon for a copy:
BUY MY RUBBER SHARKS BOOK HERE
But don't dawdle about on there for too long because the exciting news is that my next book is due to be published in June and this is about my other big love, Sherlock Holmes.
Being a lecturer I like to
The most recurring problem they had when reading (I mean, I'll say it again, they were actually reading and not setting fire to pensioners like the news is always saying the do) was stumbling over, what they called, "wordy words".
Some words they didn't understand because they just weren't part of their world - like conflagration or portmanteau - and others were Victorian words which are no longer used like a Dark Lantern and Pinfire Revolver. Not to mention all of the Latin, French and German phrases which are peppered throughout the book as well as the references to historic battles, Bible stories and mythology, none of which were on their cultural radar.
So, with them in mind, I started to write little "cheat" cards to use with each story. These contained short explications of the “wordy words” so they were able to quickly understand them and move on to enjoying the rest of the story. Gradually the cards got bigger and more frequent until, eventually, I wrote them into a book and that is what will be winging its way out into the mean streets of Booktown later in June.
Please keep an eye out for it....The Adventure of the Wordy Companion: The Handy A-Z Guide to Sherlockian Phraseology.
Until the book is released, and as well as many other late night rantings, I am going to be putting up a few of the most interesting Sherlockian words and their definitions from the Canon here on this blog, as well as some wonderful Victorian slang to get you in the mood. Think of this blog like an amuse-bouche or a heavy petting session on a soft leather couch, it's the tantalising build up which comes before the main event.
I'll literally keep you posted
'till the next time...
Comments
Post a Comment