Official Site of Award-Winning Author Gretchen Altabef
As the light was dimming and returning during the sun’s eclipse, I began to write my fifth novel. What a gift! This is my favorite part of being an author. I have no idea where the book is going, I don’t even know who’s narrating the story, although so far it’s Mrs Hudson. Everything is… Continue reading Book Number Five Began During the Eclipse!!!
This morning I woke with the beginning of a conversation between Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson which has no place in the novel I am writing. But I find it is always right to follow where the muse leads even if it seems a waste of time or ridiculous. It never is! I continued the… Continue reading Follow Your MUSE
'If you examine it carefully you will see that both the pen and the ink have given the writer trouble. The Hound of the Baskervilles I write mysteries for Sherlock Holmes to solve. I am presently writing my fourth historical mystery novel. Each one evolved in it’s own way. If there is truth in the saying… Continue reading Never give up
Dr. Watson’s Writing Tips Edward Hardwicke, The Abbey Grange. “Writing is dancing with language, walking the tightrope of clarity, and discovering what more there is to learn.” Sherlock Holmes once said: "Yes, I have taken to living by my wits." Writing a novel is nothing like anyone thinks it is. For example, how does one… Continue reading Rachel’s BLOG #5
Uncle John’s Writing Guidelines Rachel Holmes Always, always remember who the author is. Your voice is the most important one in the story. I have had a talk with my Uncle John about writing. After all, he has just finished publishing Papa’s latest adventure for the Strand. I was home for the weekend and we… Continue reading Rachel’s BLOG #4
“Amazing, ecstatic, overjoyed, fabulously flabbergasted, and of course, humbled by this fantastic award.” During the inaugural Doylean Honors celebration of the ACD Society, I was honored for excellence in Fiction!. I am grateful beyond measure for this momentous Best Fiction of 2022 Award. The awarded short story was “Sir Arthur and the Time Machine” published… Continue reading Honored for Excellence in Fiction!
It was Christmas Eve in LA and we didn’t have a tree. From the windows of our Lyft we passed a tree farm. Our night of fun began with dinner at The Grove, a glorious Hollywood creation in Beverly Hills with a 3-story high tree festooned with baubles & lights. Every other tree, lemon, orange,… Continue reading A Small Christmas Miracle
October 2021 issue of Mystery Magazine’s Special Pastiche Double Issue Again and again I rushed after his guilty coat tails, only to uncover his underlings offered as sacrifice, on his false trails the dead men’s bones crunched beneath my feet. Yet, he knew exactly where I lived. Every light I shined into his malevolence went… Continue reading In The Land of the Living Mystery Magazine
M.E. Altabef, Chang Sik Kim, J.R. Altabef, Chong Kwan Jang Nim, G. Altabef at Shim Gwang Sa, Boston. Thunder and lightning appearThe sky and earth wake upThe sound of enlightenmentMakes the universe flip upside downNobody knows that“Tong! Tong! Tong!”This sound is enlightenmentDo you have hands?Take it! Saturday March 20th @ 11 AM EST via… Continue reading Shim Gum Do Founding Master Great Zen Master Chang Sik Kim
Italian publisher Mondadori will be publishing an Italian language version of Sherlock Holmes These Scattered Houses in their Il Giallo Mondadori 2022-2023 Sherlock Holmes series. This is a great honor. I am excited that my Italian American Marcello family will be speaking Italian in these books! Of course so will Holmes and the unique villain… Continue reading Stupendo! Splendido! Exciting news!
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