Sherlock Holmes: A Year of Mystery 1891 and 1892
Edited by Richard T. Ryan
“‘You crossed my path on the 4th of January,’ said he. ‘On the 23rd you incommoded me; by the middle of February I was seriously inconvenienced by you; at the end of March I was absolutely hampered in my plans; and now, at the close of April, I find myself placed in such a position through your continual persecution that I am in positive danger of losing my liberty. The situation is becoming an impossible one.’
Synopsis from the editor: The Year of Mystery series reaches its trickiest point for authors, the time of The Great hiatus when the world believed Sherlock Holmes to be deceased.
Stories from January – April, 1891 may be traditional Sherlock Holmes stories. From May, 1891 through all of 1892, stories must focus on other characters in the Canon. Consider penning a story in which Dr. Watson, Wiggins, Mrs. Hudson, Mycroft or any of the Scotland Yard inspectors take center stage. There might even be a story told from Colonel Moran’s perspective.
The story can be related to and then told by Watson, or the character you choose can tell it in the first person.
After May of 1891, I will also consider one story each year of the Great Hiatus that is a recollection from the journals of Holmes during his travels. These can be set in any of the countries mentioned, and they could even be extracted from the records of Sigerson.
As for the passage above, the stories in the first four months of 1891 could be derived from the quote in which we learn how Holmes crossed Moriarty’s path in January and incommoded the professor later in the month. February might reveal how the professor was inconvenienced while March might reveal how how Holmes hampered his enemy’s plans. April is vague, but then that’s why we are writers. If you choose one of those months, I think you at must acknowledge in some way the threat posed by Moriarty and some sort of action taken by Holmes.
Given these restrictions, I’m going to ask for detailed pitches to avoid any type of duplication. I would prefer not to have any canonical character except perhaps Watson featured in more than one story per year, and I’m arbitrarily limiting Watson to two.
Submission Guidelines: The stories must meet the above criteria and fit with the timeline. Holmes and Watson should act like they do in the original stories.
Authors interested in participating should first send a synopsis of their adventure and the month of the year they wish it to take place. If your story does not need a specific month (i.e. it takes place in autumn and could be in September, October, or November) please let me know that as well. Once your synopsis has been accepted, you should begin drafting the story.
Submission length: 5,000 – 10,0000 words (it is okay to go over some).
Payment: Authors shall receive a payment of 125 dollars and a complimentary copy of the paperback edition of the book.
Rights: Authors shall retain rights to their work. We only retain the rights to the story within the publication.
Submission deadline for proposals is May 31, 2026. Submission deadline for stories is July 31, 2026.
Publication: Fall, 2026
Send proposals and submissions in a word document that is double spaced, in Times New Roman, and in 14 point font to rich.ryan52@gmail.comwith the heading ATTN: SHERLOCK HOLMES A YEAR OF MYSTERY 1891 or ATTN: SHERLOCK HOLMES A YEAR OF MYSTERY 1892
Edited by Derrick Belanger, BSI
The Belanger Books Journal of Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Inspired Stories, Poems, and Scholarship
2025-2026 Annual
Synopsis:
This anthology is looking for stories, poems, and scholarship inspired by and about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. While the anthology will contain new Sherlock Holmes stories, the intent would be for at least 25% of the material to be stories and poems inspired by the life and non-Sherlockian writing of Sir Arthur. Another 25% of material would be scholarship on Holmes and Doyle.
All proceeds from the Anthology will be donated to The Beacon Society, a 501c(3) nonprofit scion society of The Baker Street Irregulars (BSI), that serves as a link to other scion societies, providing teachers, librarians, children museums, and children theaters with local resources to bring the magic of Sherlock Holmes to life, and Dr. Watson’s Neglected Patients, a 501c(3) nonprofit scion society of The Baker Street Irregulars (BSI).
Submission Guidelines:
Stories – 3,000 – 10,000 word submissions that connect to the writing of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. These can be Sherlock Holmes stories, or stories connected to Sir Arthur’s additional writings (far too many to list here).
Poems – format and length are open. The poetry submission would have to somehow connect to the life or work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Scholarship – 1,000 – 5,000 word submissions. Essays must connect to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or his writing (Sherlock Holmes or other work).
Payment: All authors will receive a paperback copy of the anthology.
Rights: All authors shall retain the rights to their submitted work outside of the anthology and may reprint their submission one year after the anthology’s publication date.
Submission deadline: September 30, 2025
Publication: December 2025
Email submissions to derrick@belangerbooks.com with the headline: ATTN: STEEL TRUE BLADE STRAIGHT 2024 SUBMISSION. In the body explain type of submission (story, poem, story), and a brief description of how the submission connects to Sir Arthur. Please attach the submission as a word document.
Edited by Derrick Belanger, BSI
The next volume of Solar Pons Scholarship from Belanger Books!
Belanger Books is proud to bring back The Pontine Dossier in an annual edition. The Pontine Dossier: Millennium Edition 2025 will feature Pontine articles and scholarships. We would love it if you’d consider contributing.
Submission Guidelines:
An article of Pontine Scholarship about Solar Pons, characters in the Solar Pons canon, or author August Derleth. Length can vary from as few as 1,000 words to as many as 5,000 words or more. We are leaving this wide open to get as many and as varied submissions as possible.
Payment: All authors will receive a print copy of the book.
Rights: All authors shall retain the rights to their submitted work outside of the anthology and may reprint their submission one year after the anthology’s publication date.
Submission deadline: October 31, 2025
Publication: December 2025
Please submit your manuscript as a word document to derrick@belangerbooks.com. Title your email: ATTN: PONTINE DOSSIER SUBMISSION.
Multiple submissions will be accepted.
