A pastiche is the ultimate method of honouring the fictional character of your choice. It is also a great way of learning the craft of writing. You already have a template of sorts to guide you, some familiarity with the characters, and a ready-made readership.

When I was in my early teens, I read a number of Star Trek pastiches. They ran from the inventive and faithful to the series, to the what-were-they-thinking. There are pastiches based on The Lord of the Rings, Twilight, and James Bond and many others. For me, though, it’s all about Sherlock Holmes.

I’ve been a Holmes fan for more than fifty years. I love the characters, even the villains. I love the Victorian London setting. I love the quirkiness of the plots. I love the wit and the humanity of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. All of which leads me to my…