I attended a great author event - meet Sherry Thomas

 

I mentioned last week that I had purchased a ticket to an author event that would be held at a library in my area.  The Friends of the Georgetown Public Library do a great job of raising money.  One of their really fun ways is called The Hill Country Authors Series.  Local authors are invited to come and talk about their works.  Tickets are sold, but all the proceeds go to the library.  There's snacks served and the author will sign books as well.  Sherry Thomas was part of that and in May of this year Lynda Rutledge will be speaking.  Jeff Abbott will be the fall speaker.  I've linked to all their websites so you can see what these authors write.  I'm going to try to attend both these next two events as well.

Sherry Thomas is the author of the Lady Sherlock mystery series that now has 8 books.  I've read and enjoyed 7 of them and got a signed copy of the 8th book, A Ruse of Shadows.  I also picked up a signed copy of the first book in the series, A Study In Scarlet Women.  I've really enjoyed this author's 'tweaking' of the Sherlock Holmes story.  Thomas started out writing historical romance novels and she's also done a few YA books as well.  

Sherry was quite interesting to listen to as she shared her life story and how she became a writer.  She was born in China and came to the US when she was 13.  She told us of learning English partly through reading historical romances.  She's won two awards from the Romance Writers of America.  After writing several romances, she said she decided to try a mystery.  She was partly inspired to change up the Sherlock story a bit by reading books by Laurie R. King who writes the Russell and Holmes series.  She said that she also had watched 'Elementary', the TV series where 'Watson' became 'Joan Watson'.  Why couldn't Sherlock be a woman as well?  And Charlotte Holmes and Mrs. Watson were 'born'.

Sherry got lots of questions at the end of her most interesting talk and I was able to ask whether there would be a 9th book in the Lady Sherlock series - 'YES' was the answer.  She's working on it now.  However prior to that, she's got a book entitled 'The Librarians' coming out at the end of September.  No cover to show as yet.  However, there is something a little fun about this one (and I'll post the description below for you guys to read).  Sherry said she was asked by her publisher to write the book.  It is set in Austin, TX, at a small branch library and murder happens.  There are four 'quirky' librarians who try to solve the mystery.  Guess what branch Sherry has used as inspiration for her story - well, it's the branch that I used to work at and also volunteered for many years.  It's the branch where our mystery book group meets.  Is that 'cool' or what??  Definitely will be checking this one out.  

I had a great time and please do see what you think about 'The Librarians' description below.  Have you read any of Sherry Thomas's books?  Check them out!!

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The Librarians by Sherry Thomas - Publication Date at this time - September 30, 2025

Murder disrupts the peaceful, predictable daily routine of life for four quirky librarians who must protect their life-altering secrets in the first contemporary mystery from USA Today bestselling author Sherry Thomas.

Sometimes a workplace isn’t just a workplace but a place of safety, understanding, and acceptance. And sometimes murder threatens the sanctity of that beloved refuge....

In the leafy suburbs of Austin, Texas, a small branch library welcomes the public every day of the week. But the patrons who love the helpful, unobtrusive staff and leave rave reviews on Yelp don’t always realize that their librarians are human, too.

Hazel flees halfway across the world for what she hopes will be a new beginning. Jonathan, a six-foot-four former college football player, has never fit in anywhere else. Astrid tries to forget her heartbreak by immersing herself in work, but the man who ghosted her six months ago is back, promising trouble. And Sophie, who has the most to lose, maintains a careful and respectful distance from her coworkers, but soon that won't be enough anymore.

When two patrons turn up dead after the library’s inaugural murder mystery–themed game night, the librarians’ quiet routines come crashing down. Something sinister has stirred, something that threatens every single one of them. And the only way the librarians can save the library—and themselves—is to let go of their secrets, trust one another, and band together....

All in a day’s work.