Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sabbatical Slueth about?
Wendell Walsh has a sabbatical. He teaches Logic and the Scientific Method at Flintlock University and believes he can apply his academic knowledge to the investigation of crimes. Wendell elects to join the We'll Find Out Detective Agency for a year. He turns out to be rather good at this new job. The Sabbatical Sleuth records his experiences as he cooperates with Duke Munshower and Judy Mills to apprehend adulterers, thieves and murderers. This collection of short stories is another window into the happenings of Millwood. Readers will be surprised by the turn of events.
What themes does Sabbatical Sleuth explore?
The perils of success: Success generates expectations of further triumphs; Minor slips on the upward path are magnified; Some observers will be jealous of another's success.
Why did you choose this setting and how does it shape the story?
I spent my high school years competing in baseball and basketball against teams from Millbrook and Millerton, in Dutchess County, NY. I liked the sound of "Millwood." Since there are few cities in the United States with that name, I selected the name as the locale of my stories.
What question does the book ultimately wrestle with?
It is important to respond creatively to the realization that a career path has ended.
What do you hope readers will take away from reading your book?
A conviction that the time spent reading was worth it
What themes do you find yourself repeatedly exploring in your books?
The role of chance in our lives. The ambiguity involved in ascribing a motive (meaning) to an action. The perils that accompany success. The distinction between association and causal relatedness.
Why did you choose the title “The Sabbatical Sleuth”?
The title "The Sabbatical Sleuth" is appropriate because the protagonist of the stories is a university professor who decides to spend his leave of absence from the university in a dangerous, physically demanding, but intellectually challenging, job as a private detective.
Who is the ideal reader for your book?
Anyone who likes detective stories.
How do you develop your characters?
They largely seem to develop themselves, from my point of view.
What scenes are you particularly proud of?
The question-and-answer session at the end of Professor Wendell Walsh's lecture on the value of logic and scientific methodology in criminal investigations. Wendell experiences terror when asked: "Would you be willing to provide training in logic and scientific methodology to members of the Millwood Police Force if I provided financial support for the project?" Wendell realizes he is trapped. Whatever answer he gives, his career as a private investigator may be over.
What do you want readers to understand about you as a storyteller?
I endeavor to deliver an engaging plot that will absorb the reader for about five minutes.
What are you working on next?
I am working on stories about a pair of Millwood High School seniors who bear a remarkable resemblance to each other. The stories are about episodes that involve impersonation, from drag queen to Romeo.
What do you hope your legacy will be?
He tried to entertain and stimulate thought.