hen I first conceived of the idea of a Sherlock Holmes blog, it seemed to show a lot of promise. After all, it gave me an excellent opportunity to learn more about a topic that’s been dear to me for decades, there seems to be none other out there, and then there’s the possibility of connecting with those of like minds or interests.

But upon reconsideration, I suddenly felt intimidated. After all, who am I, anyway? I don’t possess one-tenth the knowledge of the typical Holmes scholar. I envisioned being beseiged by critics who would laugh at my meagre attempts to expore the realm of the Sacred Writing, and dismiss my feeble pieces oncerning the cultural phenomenon that is the Great Detective as sheer ignorance. I would make a fool out of myself.

Just when I was bout to jettison this idea in the dustbin of improbable and ill-thought projects, I was suddenly hit by not one, but a series of epiphanies.

First, my greatest cause for hope: the Sherlockians that I have already encountered, either through their writings or their discourses on the web or newsgroups. There is a genuine and sincere air of both respect and encouragement that they foster for others. Even the most unlikely notions are seeds for lively debate and are afforded nothing but the highest esteem and consideration, like no other scholarly subject or group I’ve ever experienced. So, then, it seemed as though I would have little to fear from critics.

Second, I am an educator, and I believe the old maxim holds true: the best way to learn is to teach and share. While it’s true that a Baker Street Irregular wold indeed put me to shame, I still possess a certain amount of knowledge and resources that I can share with newcomers to the subject. I can hope that the pieces I research and present will not only help to broaden my knowledge, but commenters familiar with the topics will see fit to teach me (and other readers) a thing or two.

And lastly, I am a multimedia developer. Dealing with text, graphics, audio and video content are second nature to me. Plus, having produced, written and consulted for many blogs, I know how to bring traffic to a site, link together other resources into a constantly evolving hub, and tap into a whole new stream of people interested in Holmes through both technical means and online publicity. It’s something I do for a living, and I see no reason why I cannot apply those skills for an educational, non-profit site like this. (I do the same for DIYPlanner.com, which has built up a considerable community within a few months.)

So here it is, my heart upon my sleeve. I hope you find a little pleasure among these posts, and take them for what they are: a place to learn about the Great Detective, and pay homage to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the scores of scholars who have devoted so much of their lives to these stories, and the many writers, actors, illustrators, filmmakers and others who have continued to breathe life into Sherlock Holmes for many generations. Thank you all.