Interview - David Ruffle, author of The Lyme Regis Horror et al

The first of a series of interviews with my fellow Sherlockians.  This began because David Ruffle asked to interview me, so we made it a quid pro quo deal.  Here's what I asked him...

Before you were a writer, what was your profession?

Before moving to Lyme I was involved in Logistics, in particular the delivery of cars across the UK. I was Logistics Manager for a company in Oxford for eight years. Before that there was no profession to speak of! Now, I work in s small tourist-type shop in Lyme.

What was the first Sherlock Holmes story you read?

A Scandal In Bohemia. I was 12 ( long time ago!)

Who are your favourite Holmes and Watson?

I have seen no one to rival Jeremy Brett. When I write, it's him I picture as Holmes. Edward Hardwicke get my vote as Watson; steady, dependable and loyal.

Who is your favourite Doylean villain?

Baron Gruner and Charles Milverton are particularly well-drawn and deliciously evil and of course both get their come-uppance in spectacular fashion. To hark back to Granada once more; Anthony Valentine (remember him as Raffles) and Robert Hardy brought those two men to life so vividly.

Have you read any of Conan Doyle's other stories, like Professor Challenger or the medieval ones?

Regretfully, hardly any, well in fact, just one; The Lost World-proper Boy's Own stuff.

Most fans of your work will know that Lyme Regis is a major setting - have you always lived there, and if not, what attracted you to it?

I have been here just a little over eight years. I paid my first visit here in January 2004, fell in love with it and was a resident by July the same year! It has beauty, it has history and there can be no friendlier place in the UK! Or anywhere....not even the 'Blue Toon' !

In the Canon stories, Conan Doyle sends Holmes and Watson to many places in the south of England he would have known, will you be moving them to other places that interest you in future stories?

A current collaboration in progress places them in Scarborough in 1901, but as yet have not thought out the future as regards where they may pitch up again.

What is your writing routine?

I don't get much time to write in reality, but when I have an idea it tend to come our rather quickly...sometimes just a paragraph as I pass the PC. Generally l write by day if not at shop...but to be honest I don't have a thing as a routine!

Do you get anyone to read your work as you go, or do you proof it all afterwards?

I am the only one to see it until I consider it finished. The I have someone read it al back to me over a course of days and edit from there.

What made you decide to start writing about Holmes and Watson rather than creating your own characters?

Just something I always wanted to try my hand at, along with hundreds of others, hell, it's almost compulsory for Holmes enthusiasts to have a 'bash'!

What's the best thing about living in Lyme Regis?

The friendliness of the place, the atmosphere, the fact there is always something going on, making living here seem like a permanent celebration of life. You can never be tired of Lyme!

What do you want from Santa Claus this year? :-)

Good reviews from all the national papers for 'Sherlock Holmes and the Missing Snowman'!  Failing that, health for everyone I love and a rotary nasal hair trimmer.

Many thanks to David for taking the time to answer my questions - you can find the Lyme Regis Horror and other stories on Amazon, MX Publishing and a few other places.  Look out for his new illustrated story Sherlock Holmes and the Missing Snowman out soon!