by Rikki Lee Travolta
Author James Patrick Heatherly will be the featured guest on this week’s episode of radio show and podcast It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee to promote his new book Sherlock Holmes: The Coronet Conspiracy.
The shutdown of the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic inspired a lot of people to embark on a lot of new hobbies. In the case of James Patrick Heatherly, he decided to write his first fiction novel.
What Jim ended up writing is not just any debut novel, Sherlock Holmes: The Coronet Conspiracy is part of a four-book series being released by MX Publishing beginning in October. It is tagged as Book One in the Sinister House Series.
Set in 1888 Sherlock Holmes: The Coronet Conspiracy includes all the classic elements of the most successful novels about the world’s most famous detective. There’s murder, coded messages, and mistaken identity in a case that even Scottland Yard knows only the great Sherlock Holmes and his trusted colleague Dr. John Watson can solve.
Jim is also known to Chicago audiences for his work in film, television, and stage. In fact, that’s how I we know each other. We co-starred together in Mornings at Seven a few years back and we were supposed to play opposite each other in The Sunshine Boys but a little thing known as a pandemic got in the way.
I’ve had the great joy of seeing Jim perform on stage and on television several times since our first foray together – and the guy is amazing. Plus Jim is no slouch in academics either. He holds a BA in English and an MBA in Marketing and taught at DePaul University for over 35 years.
While the character of Sherlock Holmes is in the public domain, Jim’s four-part series was written with the blessing and endorsement of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle estate and bears the organization’s official seal.
In the interview, Jim and I discuss the origins of the story for the book series. Of course, every writer has their own style and their own process. One of the other things we talk about is Jim’s writing process, and also what he’s working on as a follow-up.
It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee airs every Friday at 3 PM CST on 101.5 FM out of Chicago’s Huntley community. For those who can’t wait, the interview is already available as a podcast on Spotify and all major apps.
The radio program and podcast aims to provide an eye-opening look into the world of entertainment. The show strives to feature diverse guests representing the best of film, television, stage, music, and literature. From A-list stars to local artists, It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee is an entertaining blend of playful fun with just the touch of journalistic integrity.
Sherlock Holmes: The Coronet Conspiracy is available for pre-order through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other top booksellers.
I am lucky enough to have an advance copy of this great new Sherlock Holmes mystery and I can assure you that if you are a fan of this genre, you can’t go wrong with Jim’s novel about the world’s most famous detective. And if you haven’t tried a Sherlock Holmes story before, this is the perfect one to start with.
